Charlottetown conference (1864)

The Charlottetown conference (1–9 Sept. 1864) was the first of three conferences that resulted in confederation in 1867. The American Civil War highlighted, among other issues, the need for a coordinated British North American defence policy. The Canadians invited themselves to the meeting in Charlottetown, originally held to discuss the political union of the Maritime provinces, and made a strong case for the union of all the provinces. After four days of secret discussions, the delegates reached broad agreement on the principles of confederation.