Entered Confederation: 1871

British Columbia before Confederation, 1870 Copyright

Gold was found in the Fraser River in 1858. This brought thousands of new settlers to colonies on Vancouver Island and the mainland. The growth of these colonies caused many people, such as Amor De Cosmos, to want to join Canada. They had three main reasons:

• The colonies owed a lot of money, and they knew they could get some economic help from Canada.

• The colonies' leaders were named by the British government. People in British Columbia wanted to be able to elect their own government and make their own decisions. By joining Canada they would get their own provincial government.

• Many people in British Columbia and Ottawa feared that the United States might try to take over the colonies. If they entered Confederation this would stop, as the colonies would then be part of a larger country.

British Columbia joins Canada, 1871 Copyright