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Nova Scotia was the first part of what is now Canada to win representative
government. Settlers there set the stage for future struggles
in other parts of British North America.
Topics in this section:
The Founding of Halifax and the Agitation of
the Settlers
The First Representative Government
Other Interesting or Important Documents
The Founding of Halifax and the
Agitation of the Settlers
Many of the settlers in the newly founded town of Halifax were from
New England
and expected representative government. They began agitating for
an elected assembly.
The Colonial Office in Britain agreed, and instructed the governor,
Colonel
Edward Cornwallis, to take the necessary steps. He did not do
so, however, as he believed the colony was still too endangered
by the French
in Louisbourg and Mi'kmaq
attacks.
The First Representative Government
The next governor, Charles
Lawrence, was also reluctant to grant representative government.
The settlers and the Colonial Office continued to press the issue
however, and ultimately, the first assembly was formed in 1758.
Copyright/Source
The tug-of-war over the issue is reflected in the documents below.
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To learn more about the history of Nova
Scotia:
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Copyright/Source
Other Interesting or Important
Documents:
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