Reciprocity Treaty

Canadian Economic History | Rohan Anand (996880629)Fall 2011

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This essay is a well-researched documentation of the Reciprocity movement and Treaty of 1856 with an overview of its history, origins, context and analysis of its effects and impacts. | Reciprocity Treaty of 1856 |

TABLE OF CONTENTS |

S. No. | Sub-Topic | Page No. |

1. | Introduction | 2 |

2. | Historical Context | 3 |

3. | Origins | 4 |

4. | British Policy & The Treaty | 5 |

5. | Negotiations at Washington | 6-7 |

6. | Early Popularity and Criticism | 8-9 |

7. | Effects of Reciprocity | 10-13 |

8. | Abrogation of the Treaty | 14-16 |

9. | Reciprocity and the Confederation | 17 |

10. | Concluding Remarks | 18 |

INTRODUCTION

Great Britain's abrogation of protective tariffs in 1846 led Canada to look for new export opportunities for its products. It turned to its neighbour to the South, the United States1 and an agreement called, ‘The Reciprocity Treaty’ was signed on June 5th 1854, with the aim to regulate commercial relations between the United States and the British possessions in North America2 i.e. Canada. Reciprocity meant, the attempt to create in North America, a single market area, covering several distinct political jurisdictions, in which certain specified types of products could be freely exchanged.3 The Reciprocity treaty consisted of seven articles; the first two related to the fisheries, the third to reciprocal trade, the fourth to the navigation of the St. Lawrence river, the fifth to the duration and abrogation of the treaty, the sixth to the extension of the provisions of the treaty to Newfoundland and the last article, to the ratification of the treaty.4 Its principal provisions5 were; firstly, American fisherman were given free access to Canadian (British colonies) coastal fisheries and could land on-shore to dry nets and cure fish. Similarly, Canadian fishermen received the same privileges to American fisheries, north of the thirty sixth...