The Charlottetown Conference
Took Place on September 1 to 9 in the Year 1864 in the city of Charlottetown
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick & Prince Edward Island were considering the possibility of Maritime Union. They decided to meet in Charlottetown. The United Province Of Canada wanted to take advantage of this meeting to convince the Atlantic Colonies to join them in a larger union. They asked for permission and were allowed to go. The official representative of Great Britain approved this meeting. The first person to arrive at the conference was Robert Dickey from Nova Scotia. All 8 representatives from coalition government from the United Province of Canada argued in favor of British North American union. George-Etienne Cartier & John A MacDonald presented arguments in favor of union. Alexander Galt discussed possible financial arrangements. George Brown suggested form a united government might take. United Province of Canada also promised to build a railway connecting United Province of Canada to the Atlantic Colonies. The Conference was not all business. There was a famous Oyster & champagne lunch, seaside excursions & a grand ball. By the end of the conference, the decision was to spend more time considering a larger union. A second meeting would be held in a month's time in Quebec.