Confederate Association
Encyclopedia
The Confederate Association was a political party formed and led by Joey Smallwood
and Gordon Bradley to advocate that the Dominion of Newfoundland
join Canadian Confederation
. The party was formed on February 21, 1948 prior to the launch of the 1948 Newfoundland referendums
on Confederation. The party was opposed by the Responsible Government League
led by Peter Cashin and the Party for Economic Union with the United States led by Chesley A. Crosbie.
Two referendums were held as the result of the first vote in which three options were considered, Confederation, Responsible government
or a continuation of the Commission of Government
. The first referendum, held on June 3, 1948 saw the Confederation option receive 41.1% support compared with 44.6% support for responsible government and 14.3% support for Commission of Government. The anti-Confederate forces were hampered by the split of the opposition into Crosbie and Cashin's parties with relations between the two being tense and the overall opposition lacking unity or organization. The Confederate Association, in contrast, was better funded and better organized. A second vote was held on July 22 with only Confederation and Responsible Government on the ballot in which the Conferates won with 52.3% of the vote. http://www.heritage.nf.ca/confederation/referendums.html
Following the referendums, the Confederate Association reorganized itself as the Newfoundland Liberal Party
.
Joey Smallwood
Joseph Roberts "Joey" Smallwood, PC, CC was the main force that brought Newfoundland into the Canadian confederation, and became the first Premier of Newfoundland . As premier, he vigorously promoted economic development, championed the welfare state, and emphasized modernization of education and...
and Gordon Bradley to advocate that the Dominion of Newfoundland
Dominion of Newfoundland
The Dominion of Newfoundland was a British Dominion from 1907 to 1949 . The Dominion of Newfoundland was situated in northeastern North America along the Atlantic coast and comprised the island of Newfoundland and Labrador on the continental mainland...
join Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
. The party was formed on February 21, 1948 prior to the launch of the 1948 Newfoundland referendums
Newfoundland referendums, 1948
The Newfoundland Referendums of 1948 were a series of two referendums to decide the political future of the Dominion of Newfoundland. Before the referendums, Newfoundland was in debt and went through several delegations to determine whether the country would join Canada, remain under British rule...
on Confederation. The party was opposed by the Responsible Government League
Responsible Government League
The Responsible Government League was a political movement in the Dominion of Newfoundland.The Responsible Government League of Newfoundland, led by Peter Cashin, was formed in February 1947 by anti-Confederation delegates to the Newfoundland National Convention on the future of the colony...
led by Peter Cashin and the Party for Economic Union with the United States led by Chesley A. Crosbie.
Two referendums were held as the result of the first vote in which three options were considered, Confederation, Responsible government
Responsible government
Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability which is the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy...
or a continuation of the Commission of Government
Commission of Government
The Commission of Government was a non-elected body that governed Newfoundland from 1934 to 1949...
. The first referendum, held on June 3, 1948 saw the Confederation option receive 41.1% support compared with 44.6% support for responsible government and 14.3% support for Commission of Government. The anti-Confederate forces were hampered by the split of the opposition into Crosbie and Cashin's parties with relations between the two being tense and the overall opposition lacking unity or organization. The Confederate Association, in contrast, was better funded and better organized. A second vote was held on July 22 with only Confederation and Responsible Government on the ballot in which the Conferates won with 52.3% of the vote. http://www.heritage.nf.ca/confederation/referendums.html
Following the referendums, the Confederate Association reorganized itself as the Newfoundland Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a political party in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and the provincial wing of the Liberal Party of Canada. It is the Official Opposition and currently holds six seats in the provincial legislature.-Origins:The party originated in...
.