JOHN A.), Brown (see BROWN, GEtORGE), Cartier (see CARTIER, SIR GEORGE E.), and many other politicians found free scope for their talents in the ranks of Reformers or Conservatives. Much of the legislation which marks this period (for example, the abolition of seigniorial tenure in 1854) was designed to adjust the life of Canada to modern conditions, even at the cost of parting with a picturesque institution or discarding an ancient view of the relations which should subsist between church and state. The Reformers, however, had no exclusive possession of the liberal spirit, for it was a Conservative administration which abolished the clergy reserves. Education in both provinces began to receive an amount of attention which had not been paid to it hitherto. Judged also by economic results the progress of Canada under the Union Act was extremely satisfactory.
As the confederation movement is consid ered separately (see the article on THE CON FEDERATION), It will be unnecessary to discuss here the causes which suggested to Canadians a larger political conception than is represented by the Union Act. But in conclusion some reference should be made to the progress of Canada as affected by its relations with Eng land on the one hand and with the United States on the other. From 1840 onwards the country enjoyed self-government in all matters of a local or domestic character, but it re mained a colony and never considered itself to be a co-ordinate part of the British empire. In the second quarter of the 19th century the fixed belief of English ministers was that colonies are a kind of fruit which drops off the parent tree when it has become ripe. The rebellion of 1837 coming when liberal principles were triumphant in the mother country prompted the adoption of a generous colonial policy which has never been abandoned, but its effect upon the rise of imperial sentiment was only indirect. Yet notwithstanding the absence of a full partnership between Canada and Eng land, the loyalty of the colony was signally il lustrated during the first century of British rule. Despite friction between races, the
pressure of foreign invasion and the existence of political privilege in both provinces, the attachment of an overwhelming majority of the population to British institutions and the British connection remained firm even through out the decade that preceded the rebellion. The division which the American Revolution created between the United States and British North America could not fail to affect the fortunes of Canada in the most vital manner. Apart from the importance of the Loyalist immigra tion, the rise of a new and powerful state on the southern frontier brought into being con ditions which thenceforth could never be ig nored. As early as 1775 a small but active minority would have preferred membership in the band of revolted colonies, and ever since there have been individual advocates of an nexation. But this propaganda has never spread widely or gone beyond the theoret ical stage. In addition to the War of 1812 and the irritation caused by the filibuster ing raids of 1838, the question of boundaries was for long periods together unpleasantly prominent. The Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842, though it was received with great dis satisfaction in New Brunswick and Quebec, did good rather than harm by settling an irritating dispute. The Reciprocity Treaty of 1854, which was largely due to the efforts of Lord Elgin, brought the two countries into more direct con tact than ever before, promoted friendly inter course and was a source of prosperity to Canada during the 13 years of its existence (1854-67). Its repeal by the United States was in large measure due to a resentment which had arisen from Great Britain's attitude during the American Civil War. The fact remains that in its birth year the Dominion of Canada was excluded, by action not its own, from reciprocity in natural products with the United States. See the articles UNDER FRENCH RULE; THE CLERGY RESERVES ; SEIGNIORIAL TENURE.