The Charlottetown Conference on Atlantic Union began on September 1st, 1864. Although the Conference was intended to discuss Maritime interests, it soon became a question of a larger federal union. Delegates from Upper and Lower Canada requested an invitation to speak about the possibilities of a union of the British North American Colonies. They had soon won the attention of the entire conference and had proposed the Federal Union of Canada and the Atlantic Provinces.

The direction of the Charlottetown Conference was not predictable with people sometimes being inattentive and often discontented with the ideas presented. The following sections will explore the entire Conference and its outcome.

Continue to next section: Arrival of the Delegates