The “Great Coalition” in the Province of Canada

To overcome the political logjam in the Province of Canada, the “Great Coalition” of June 1864 brought together disparate and previously bitter opponents in the common cause of union. Two antagonists had been George BROWN and George-Étienne CARTIER. The latter’s biographer argues that:

“Up to then they had been unyielding adversaries, but they agreed to unite in order to bring about the federation of Upper and Lower Canada, or, if possible, the confederation of all the colonies of British North America. Indeed, the new government undertook to ‘bring in a measure during the next session for the purpose of removing existing difficulties by introducing the federative principle into Canada, coupled with such provisions as will permit the Maritime provinces and the North-West Territories to be incorporated into the same system of government.’”

To find out more about the politicians who joined the “Great Coalition,” please consult the biographies listed below: