The Confederation Conferences
In all, there were three conferences held to discuss and further the goal of a confederation of the British North American colonies:
September 1864: Charlottetown Conference
The Charlottetown Conference was meant to be a forum for the Maritime colonies to discuss uniting as an Atlantic Coast entity. The Canadian delegates, led by Macdonald and Cartier, effectively crashed the party and laid the groundwork for national unity, enticing the Maritime representatives to Quebec City the following month for further talks.
Delegate photo: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/featuremedia/feature91/charlottetown_1864.jpg
Delegate photo: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/featuremedia/feature91/charlottetown_1864.jpg
October 1864: Quebec Conference
Quebec proved to be the most intensive and politically complicated Confederation Conference. Delegates from Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island found their interests ignored while the Canadians wooed the hearts and minds of the wealthier Maritime Colonies. Once the 72 Resolutions were accepted by the delegates of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, the goal of Confederation appeared more possible than ever.
Delegate photo: http://www.craigmarlatt.com/canada/images/history&people/fathers_quebec.jpg
Delegate photo: http://www.craigmarlatt.com/canada/images/history&people/fathers_quebec.jpg
December 1866 - January 1867: London Conference
Although there was little to do by the time the delegates arrived in London beyond sign a bit of paper, British bureaucracy brought the process to a crawl. The conference itself officially ended in January but the "Canadian Bill" which ultimately became the British North America Act spent two months moving through the political machinery of the Commons and the House of Lords. Finally, on March 29, 1867, Queen Victoria signed the Dominion of Canada into being, effective July 1 of that year.
Delegate image: http://www.museevirtuel-virtualmuseum.ca/media/edu/EN/uploads/image/c006799vx_1.jpg
Delegate image: http://www.museevirtuel-virtualmuseum.ca/media/edu/EN/uploads/image/c006799vx_1.jpg