CANADA HISTORY

The Maritimes

Between 1815 and 1850, the Maritime provinces of British North America—Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick—experienced a relatively peaceful period of growth and political evolution compared to other parts of Canada. While these colonies shared some common characteristics, they each followed distinct paths, and only in Nova Scotia did a strong push for responsible government emerge during this time, driven primarily by the leadership of the reformer Joseph Howe.

Prince Edward Island: A Colony of Absentee Landlords

Prince Edward Island, originally known as Île Saint-Jean when it was a French colony, became part of the British Empire following the Treaty of Paris in 1763, which concluded the Seven Years’ War. Like in neighboring Nova Scotia, the Acadian population had established deep roots in the region, but their situation changed dramatically with the British victory. The British authorities, seeking to consolidate their control, initiated the expulsion of the Acadians, a tragic chapter known as "Le Grand Dérangement." Although many Acadians were rounded up and deported, some managed to evade capture and only reappeared after the expulsion had ended.

For the next few decades, Acadians remained the dominant population on the island. However, a significant change occurred between 1770 and 1773 when more than 800 Scottish settlers arrived, establishing themselves across the island and altering its demographic makeup. These settlers were part of a broader effort by the British to populate the colony with loyal subjects, following the model they had employed in other parts of British North America. The land on which these new settlers established themselves had been granted by the Crown to absentee landowners in Britain—people who had rendered exceptional service to the British Empire or held powerful connections within London’s political circles. This system created a significant problem for Prince Edward Island, as the landowners lived far away and often neglected the needs of the island’s residents. For decades, absentee land ownership would be a source of political contention, with local islanders demanding reform.

The issue persisted until 1873 when Prince Edward Island joined Canadian Confederation. One of the key concessions that led to the island’s entry into Canada was the promise that the Canadian government would assist in buying out the absentee landlords, allowing the islanders to gain control of the land they farmed. This resolution helped to finally settle a long-standing grievance that had shaped the island’s politics for much of the 19th century.

Nova Scotia: The Birthplace of Responsible Government

In contrast to Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia had established an early tradition of representative government. In 1758, Nova Scotia created its first elected assembly, one of the earliest examples of colonial self-governance in British North America. While the voting requirements were somewhat restrictive—voters had to be Protestant, over the age of 21, and own land—the franchise was considered relatively liberal for the time. By 1783, the Nova Scotia Assembly had been granted control over electoral rules, giving it greater autonomy from the Crown. This period of political evolution helped Nova Scotia avoid some of the unrest and violence that other colonies, such as Upper and Lower Canada, would later experience.

However, despite this early progress, the fight for responsible government—whereby the executive council would be accountable to the elected assembly rather than the colonial governor—took another 70 years. The colonial government was still controlled by appointed officials who answered to the governor and, by extension, the British authorities. Reformers, led by Joseph Howe, campaigned for a system where the people’s elected representatives would have real control over government decisions. Howe, a newspaper publisher turned politician, was a skilled orator and an articulate advocate for reform. His arguments for responsible government were grounded in the principles of fairness and accountability, and his advocacy resonated with many Nova Scotians.

By 1848, Howe’s efforts paid off when Nova Scotia became the first colony in British North America to achieve responsible government. This peaceful transition was a marked contrast to the rebellions that had rocked Upper and Lower Canada a decade earlier. Nova Scotia’s success in achieving responsible government through dialogue and reform rather than violence set an important precedent for other colonies.

Cape Breton, which had been separated from Nova Scotia in 1784, had a different trajectory. It was governed without representation until it was merged back into Nova Scotia in 1820. The merger did not immediately grant equal rights to Cape Breton’s residents, many of whom were of French descent, but the island remained an integral part of Nova Scotia thereafter.

New Brunswick: A Frontier Colony’s Growth

New Brunswick, like Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, had also experienced the expulsion of its Acadian population following the British conquest in 1763. However, New Brunswick’s sparse population and rugged landscape meant that many Acadians were able to evade capture, and British authorities did not pursue them as aggressively as they did in other colonies. The result was that Acadians continued to live in New Brunswick, although they did so in a marginalized position.

New Brunswick was initially merged with Nova Scotia for administrative purposes, but in 1785, following the conclusion of the American Revolutionary War, it was separated and became a distinct colony. The boundary between New Brunswick and the newly formed United States was ill-defined, and tensions simmered between British and American authorities over control of the territory. This issue was partially resolved by Jay’s Treaty in 1794, which helped to ease tensions between Britain and the United States, although the boundary was not fully settled until arbitration in 1831.

New Brunswick’s early political development followed a similar pattern to its Maritime neighbors. The colony established its first elected assembly in 1785, although the 1786 election was marred by controversy when Acadian Catholic votes were invalidated. Over time, the franchise was gradually expanded, and by 1810, Catholics and Jews were allowed to vote. However, like in other colonies, women were explicitly excluded from voting in 1848.

Unlike in Upper and Lower Canada, New Brunswick did not experience a strong movement for responsible government, nor did it see significant political unrest. The colony was largely governed in the same manner as its British North American counterparts, and by the mid-19th century, it was integrated into the broader push for reform and responsible government that was sweeping through the colonies.

Impact on Canadian Development

The peaceful political development of the Maritime colonies between 1815 and 1850 had significant implications for the future of Canada. While other parts of British North America were experiencing turmoil—most notably the rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada in 1837—the Maritimes were moving toward responsible government without violence. The leadership of figures like Joseph Howe demonstrated that reform could be achieved through negotiation and persuasion rather than armed conflict.

Moreover, the gradual evolution of representative government in the Maritimes helped to shape a political culture that was deeply loyal to Britain. The absence of violent rebellion in the Maritimes contrasted sharply with the American experience, where a full-scale war of independence had severed ties with Britain. As a result, the Maritime provinces developed a pro-British, anti-American identity, which played a crucial role in their eventual decision to join Canadian Confederation in 1867.

This loyalty to Britain became even more significant during the American Civil War when concerns about American expansionism and the doctrine of Manifest Destiny prompted many in British North America to push for greater unity and cooperation. The Maritimes, with their history of peaceful political reform and loyalty to the British Crown, became important partners in the drive for Confederation, helping to ensure that Canada would emerge as a distinct and united entity, capable of resisting American influence and expansion.

In conclusion, the development of the Maritimes between 1815 and 1850 laid the foundation for their role in Canadian Confederation. The peaceful push for responsible government, the integration of diverse populations, and the colonies' pro-British identity were all factors that contributed to the formation of Canada as a distinct nation, separate from the United States. The events of this period helped to ensure that the Maritimes would be active participants in shaping the future of Canada, rather than falling under American control.