1867: How the Fathers Made a Deal“In the 1860s, western alienation began at Yonge Street, and George Brown was the Preston Manning of the day.” So begins Christopher Moore’s fascinating 1990s look at the messy, dramatic, crisis-ridden process that brought Canada into being – and at the politicians, no more lovable or united than our own, who, against all odds, managed to forge a deal that worked. From the first chapter, he turns a fresh, perceptive, and lucid eye on the people, the issues, and the political theories of Confederation – from John A. Macdonald’s canny handling of leadership to the invention of federalism and the Senate, from the Quebec question to the influence of political philosophers Edmund Burke and Walter Bagehot. This is a book for all Canadians who love their country – and fear for it after the failure of the constitution-making of the 1990s. Here is a clear, entertaining reintroduction to the ideas and processes that forged the nation. |
Contents
Charles Tupper Goes to Charlottetown | 32 |
Ned Whelan and Edmund Burke | 64 |
Under the Confederation Windows | 95 |
If Brother André Went to Parliament Hill | 133 |
Leonard Tilley and the Voters | 164 |
The Leadership Secrets of John A Macdonald | 199 |
Common terms and phrases
American anti-confederates appointed argued backbenchers Bagehot became bleus Britain British North America Brother André Brunswick cabinet Canada East Canada West Canadian politics Catholic caucus Charles Tupper Charlottetown conference Clear Grits coalition Coles colonies Confederation Debates confederation-makers conservative constitution-making declared defended delegates democracy Donald Creighton Dorion Edmund Burke Edward Whelan elected electoral English Constitution ered erent federal union French Canada George Brown George-Étienne Cartier Globe governors gure Hector Langevin historians John late twentieth century leadership legislative legislature Leonard Tilley London Lower Canada makers of confederation Maritime union McCully McGee ment Montreal never Nova Scotia Oliver Mowat Ontario opposition Ottawa parlia Parliament parliamentary government party leaders premier prime minister Prince Edward Island principle proposed provinces Quebec conference Quebec resolutions rati reform rep-by-pop representatives responsible government rivals Road to Confederation rouges seats sectional equality seemed Senate speech Tilley's tion uence united Canadas Upper Canada upper house vote voters