Canadian Confederation At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 Britain, and therefore British North America (BNA), declared neutrality. The North saw the proclamation as British support of the South which the British recognized as a belligerent. English diplomacy did little to defuse this view. In the beginning BNA sympathies were generally anti-slavery and anti-secessionist. However, as the war went on bringing economic difficulties, the fear of American attack and a perception that the North's …showed first 75 words of 4192 total…

…showed last 75 words of 4192 total…al peace and prosperity would happen of their own accord once racial distinctions were rooted out of public administration and institutions were given freedom. As a pragmatic politician who strongly denounced the discriminatory elements of the Union regime, he invited fellow French Canadians to get involved in political life. Without being aware of it, therefore, Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine was urging his compatriots to take the road that was to lead to Confederation.