Confederation Achieved

Before 1867, the British North American colonies were largely separate entities, with citizens owing allegiance to Britain. As threats emerged from the United States, the colonies began discussing confederating to gain strength in numbers and ensure their collective security and prosperity. However, the colonies would only agree to confederation if they received favorable terms that respected their autonomy. A series of conferences were held where representatives debated self-governance and the appropriate balance of power between a central government and the provinces.