Commentary
Confederation was largely a defensive act prompted by fear of the United States. The architects recognized that a fragmented British North America risked being overtaken or becoming a battleground. With the end of the American Civil War, diminishing British interest, and tensions heightened by Fenian attacks, Confederation aimed to protect British institutions north of the border.
The agreement that established the Dominion was far from unanimous. In 1867, there was no Canadian identity; it was a loose federation of colonies struggling to resist American influence. Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland rejected the union. In Halifax, the first July 1 was marked by mourning, with black ribbons hanging from trees in protest. The Dominion was formed with less political unity than we see today, yet it was driven by more purpose than is evident now….