Maritimes in Canadian Confederation

three provinces were brought into the union kicking and screaming. The Maritimes were

criticized for their tardiness. It was said that they were over-conservative and the

politicians were thought of as incompetent. They received little sympathy for their

Many Maritimers were interested in the idea of Maritime Union. They thought their

needs would be more fully fulfilled through the smaller union. It was a common fear

that the Canadians would overrule their wishes. The Canadian settlements were much

larger and would obviously have more political power than the considerably smaller

settlements in the Maritimes. The Maritime Union would be a much more regionally based

system where every community would be a larger part of the government.

Many historians believe that Maritimers were being unreasonable. William Baker states

in the article, “You begin by claiming there is a stereotype about the Maritimes and

Confederation- that the Maritimes were lethargic, conservative, parochial communities

which had to be pummeled into accepting Confederation”(Baker 36). This statement

respect shown to the decisions made by Maritimers. They are

railroad from the federal government if they joined Confederation. This was an

rails were a very efficient and reliable source of transportation. They were offered a

mother country. Basically, Britain was sick of dealing with the problems of all the

Some topics in this essay:
Confederation- Maritimes, Joining Canadians, North America, Maritime Provinces, Canadian Confederation, Maritime Union, Nova Scotia, Union Tupper, Americans Maritimers, America Brunswick, british north, north america, british north america, nova scotia, canadian settlements larger, settlements larger, political power, north american, canadian settlements, didn’t trust, prince edward island, rest british north, rest british, idea confederation,