In the year 1867, the nation we know as Canada was born. The Confederation in this year was born only after things had been overcome. Many political and economic pressures were placed on the colonies, and a federal union of the colonies seemed to be the most practical method of addressing these pressures and conflicts. While the Confederacy was a solution to many problems, it was not popular with all colonies involved. In the maritime colonies opinions on the subject differed widely. Some were doubtful, some happy, some angry, and many hoped for a prosperous future.1 It was the initiative of the Maritime Provinces that first created the concept of union. Leaders from Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia had discussed the possibility of a maritime union for many years. Lieutenant Governors Arthur Hamilton Gordon and Leonard Tilley of New Brunswick, Premier Charles Tupper of Nova Scotia, and Colonel Gray and W. H. Pope of Prince Edward Island were all supporters of the concept of maritime union for solutions to the problems they were encountering.2 The trade was important in the Maritimes. Until 1846, Britain had provided the British colonies in North America with a market for their goods, but then began a policy of free trade. Since no tariffs were imposed on any country, the colonies lost a secure market for their goods. Many colonists were concerned that some might view the union with the United States and the British colonies of North America as a lively business with large quantities of lumber and grain imported from the United States. When the Americans ended the Reciprocity Treaty in 1865, many seafarers became uneasy about the future economic consequences. It became evident that to develop a thriving trade; new economic ties should be developed. When George Coles, a persistent politician, insisted that Prince Edward Island had not been provided with strong leadership, Gray was forced to abandon the argument of Confederation. For the islanders, a government dominated by the Above and the Below held little appeal. A colony as small as Prince Edward Island would have very few representatives in a federal government. They were not willing to pay taxes to build an intercolonial railway, which could not run on their island. The islanders also opposed the Confederacy on the issue of absentee landlords. Their dislike of the owners......middle of paper......s. These lands were “usually in less desirable locations and discouraged any successful transition to agriculture.”24 The British North America Act came into force on July 1, 1867, creating a union known as the Dominion of Canada, but this did not bring the debate on the Confederation is over. problem. Many Nova Scotians continued their opposition to the idea and it would be a long time before all Nova Scotians accepted the fact of Confederation. “These Nova Scotians, unhappy with Britain's treatment of them, found their loyalty greatly diminished. However, the more they thought of taking responsibility for their affairs from England, the greater the trust they had to place in Confederation.”25 Confederation struck a balance between the rights of English-speaking and French-speaking Canadians. However, many divisions, conflicts and debates would occur not only in Quebec but also in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick over this balance. Economic disparities between the Maritimes and the rest of Canada would also create many problems in the years after 1867. As a result, Confederation can be seen as a beginning and not an end..