1867: How the Fathers Made a Deal, by Christopher Moore (TPB, 1997, $2.50)
This book taught me a lot. Mostly, I found out how little I know of Canadian history. In the beginning I couldn't even figure out how the Confederacy, which lost the war in 1865, could have won in 1867.
I learned that Canada didn't become Canada until 1867, that the Maritime Provinces were on the Atlantic Coast (not the Pacific), and that Ontario and Quebec were part of one province. The western/upper part, Ontario, was Protestant and secular, the eastern/lower part, Catholic and religious. Somehow the possible merging of the three Maritime colonies inspired the Province of Canada, the forth colony, into discussing a union of them all.
At the time, Canada had its troubles. Their governmental structure wasn't working. The United States, angry at Britain for their support of the Confederacy, took its revenge on Canada by canceling its free trade agreement. Britain no longer wanted the cost of keeping its troops in America. The United States and their Manifest Destiny had Canadians worried about invasion. Even if the US didn't invade militarily,there was still the problem of western American settlers flooding north into Canada. What if they decided to detach themselves from Canada and join the US! Meanwhile, everyone seemed to want a railroad. A railroad would move people, goods, and soldiers if necessary. A railroad would connect the Maritimes with Canada. A railroad would bring prosperity, even riches. For all these reasons, a union was a good idea. But what kind of union? How could a compromise be reached when each side was barely speaking to the other? What would they call it? And would Britain allow it?
Not only did the Confederacy happen, but within 4 years Canada would change its western border from Ontario to the Pacific Ocean. And yes, the railroad would get built, though not till 1885.
The story of the Confederacy is an amazing one. It is the story of how Canadian politicians worked along side people they hated, managed to compromise, and somehow created a country. Look for this book on the new non-fiction table. (L-Can)
