Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences, 1864

Background. In the spring of 1864, leaders from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island contemplated a Maritime Union. However, political impasse in the Province of Canada and economic vulnerabilities, including the loss of preferential access to U.S. markets, motivated a desire for broader federal unification. A conference was called by the Colonial Office and scheduled for 1 September 1864 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, at which the Maritimes were to consider a union; Canadian delegates also attended.

Charlottetown Conference. The Charlottetown Conference took place from September 1 to 9, 1864, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Initially intended for Maritime Union, the delegates from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island agreed by September 7 that a federation of all provinces was desirable if terms were satisfactory. This shift allowed the Canadian delegation to influence the agenda, leading to further discussions in Halifax regarding the constitution.

Quebec Conference. The Quebec Conference was held from October 10 to 27, 1864, in Quebec City. Macdonald requested Governor-General Charles Monck to invite representatives from the Maritime provinces and Newfoundland to meet with United Canada delegates. The conference finalized negotiations from Charlottetown and Halifax, resulting in the Seventy-Two Resolutions, which became the basis for Canada's government and the British North America Act.