Before Canada became a nation in 1867, the area of North America that now composes Canada was a large expanse of widely scattered communities of British and French origins. It was an area with diverse landscapes that physically divided them from the north of the United States. There was little connection among communities politically or economically. These colonies of British North America traditionally traded with Britain and with the United States, very little among themselves. These colonies even had customs duties that, to some extent, restricted such trade. In the mid 1800s, important events and changes took place.
在1867年加拿大成為一個國家之前，組成現(xiàn)在的加拿大的北美地區(qū)，遼闊寬廣，到處是分散的英國人和法國人的移民社區(qū)。這片土地景色多變，很自然觀地將其與美國的北方分辨開來。這些社區(qū)之間很少有政治或經(jīng)濟上的聯(lián)系。傳統(tǒng)上，這些英屬的北美殖民地與英國和美國進行貿(mào)易，而相互之間卻少有往來。這些殖民地甚至還沒有關稅，在一定程度上限制貿(mào)易往來。19世紀中期發(fā)生的幾件重大事件，使情況有了變化。
Britain repealed(廢除,撤銷) the Corn Laws and Navigations Acts, which had been economically beneficial to the colonies at the same rate it applied to all other trading countries, a situation to which the colonies had never been accustomed.
英國撕毀了給好幾代殖民地人帶來經(jīng)濟利益的谷物法和航行法案，并開始對殖民地課以與其他所有貿(mào)易國家同樣高的稅率，這是殖民地從未遇到過的情況。
From 1861to 1864, Americans were involved in a major civil war. Britain had traditional economic ties with the southern part of the United States that provided cotton to British markets. In the meantime, since the war was essentially between the North and the South, the North resented Britain’s connection with the South. In addition, during the last year (1864) of the American Civil War, the American Government of the dominant and ultimately victorious North, refused to renew a ten-year free trade agreement with United Canada, the large British colony in the central part of British North America. These arbitrary events brought concern and even fear to these colonies. With the loss of traditional trading arrangements and the end of the civil war, the North being victorious, the colonists feared that the Americans might turn on the British colonies in retaliation(報復,報仇) for Britain’s moral support for the South.
1861到1864年，美國陷入全面內(nèi)戰(zhàn)。過去是美國南方為英國市場提供棉花，英國與之有著緊密的傳統(tǒng)經(jīng)濟聯(lián)系。在此期間，由于這實際上是一場南北方之間的戰(zhàn)爭，北方當然不滿英國與南方之間的這種傳統(tǒng)關系。此外，在美國內(nèi)戰(zhàn)的最后一年(1864年)，占據(jù)優(yōu)勢并最終獲勝的北方的美國政府，拒絕延續(xù)與聯(lián)合加拿大——英屬北美中部最大的英國殖民地——簽訂的十年自由貿(mào)易協(xié)議。這些獨斷專橫的事件帶給這些殖民地的是擔憂甚至是恐懼。傳統(tǒng)貿(mào)易協(xié)議的廢除和以北方作為勝利者的內(nèi)戰(zhàn)的結束，使殖民者們害怕美國人可能會轉而對付英屬殖民地，以報復英國對南方的道義支持。
The need for new markets, and a solid defense system from potential invasion by the United States, brought an acute awareness to these diverse colonies that they should look to each other for resolutions to these problems. They felt uneasy trying to cope against these adversities(逆境,苦難) on their own. Sir John A. Macdonald from United Canada, the dominant personality at this time, also saw the acceleration of American settlers moving north and spreading throughout the flat prairie (大草原) lands to the west. This would potentially(潛在的) put a wall between the colonies in the East and the lonely western British colony in what is today part of British Columbia on the west coast of North America. Macdonald felt that the situation was urgent.
對新市場的需求，以及為了建立對付美國潛在入侵的可靠防御系統(tǒng)，使這些松散的殖民地清醒地認識到，它們應該共同尋求解決這些問題的辦法。它們急于設法處理這些難題。聯(lián)合加拿大的約翰?A?麥克唐納先生，這個時期的關鍵人物，也看到美國人加快了向北方移民的速度，從大草原到西部到處都是。這很可能會將東部的殖民地與孤立的西部英屬殖民地——北美西岸的現(xiàn)在的英屬哥倫比亞的一部分——分隔開來。麥克唐納感到情況緊急。
In the summer of 1864, the maritime colonies of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New found land scheduled a meeting to discuss the possibility of a customs union or free trade area to compensate for the latest setbacks(挫折,失敗) in trade relations with Britain and the United States. Macdonald managed to get permission for some delegates from United Canada to attend as observers. For a number of years, United Canada was experiencing problems of political deadlock (僵局). Canada West was predominantly(主要地) English-speaking Canada East was predominantly French-speaking. A central government, set up in 1841, required a majority from both Canada West and Canada East for all legislation to become law. It was very difficult to pass significant legislation when two opposing views were constantly being debated and legislative bills were constantly being defeated. The Canadians saw a new, wider union, a potential new national institution or central government, as a possible solution for breaking out of this constant political disorder.
1864年夏，新斯科舍的沿海殖民地，愛德華太子島和紐芬蘭計劃召開會議討論建立關稅聯(lián)盟或自由貿(mào)易區(qū)的可能性，以彌補最近在與英國和美國貿(mào)易關系上遭到的損失。麥克唐納設法得到許可讓聯(lián)合加拿大的一些代表作為觀察員出席。多年來，聯(lián)合加拿大都面臨著政治僵局的難題。加拿大西部以說英語為主，而東部則以說法語為主。1841年成立的中央政府，則要求一切法案成為法律之前，要得到加拿大西部和加拿大東部的多數(shù)同意。在兩種對立觀點爭論不休，法律草案一再被否決的情況下，要通過重要的法案非常困難。加拿大人認識到一個更為廣泛的新型的聯(lián)盟，一種可能的新型國家制度或中央政府，可以作為避免這種時常發(fā)生的政治混亂的一個可行的解決辦法。
The Canadian delegates sailed on board a cruise ship down the St. Lawrence River, into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, to Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island. This convention expanded to discussions of the possibility of all the British colonies uniting into one nation.
加拿大的代表們乘坐一艘游船沿勞倫斯河航行到勞倫斯灣，抵達愛德華太子島的夏洛特敦。在那里，大會廣泛討論了聯(lián)合所有英屬殖民地建立一個國家的可能性。
After much complicated debate at another convention in Quebec City that same year, the delegate submitted a draft of an agreement for the formation of the dominion of Canada. The bulk of the work had been done by a group of men of seemingly high virtue, who became know in history as “the Fathers of Confederation(聯(lián)邦)”. United Canada was divided into the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Some allowances were given to Quebec because it was a predominantly French-speaking Catholic province and had special needs, unlike other provinces. The colony of Nova Scotia was divided into Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. These four provinces formed the original new nation. A flexible approach, in later years, persuaded other colonies to join.
同年，在魁北克城的另一次會議上，經(jīng)過錯綜復雜的討論后，代表們提交了一份建立加拿大國家的協(xié)議草案。大部分工作是由一些那時德高望重的人完成的，他們成為歷史上有名的“聯(lián)邦國父”。聯(lián)合加拿大被劃分為安大略省和魁北克省。一些特權給了魁北克，因為它與其他省不同，是一個以說法語為主的天主教省，有其特殊需要。新斯科舍和新布倫斯威克。這四個省形成了新國家的雛形。在以后的歲月里，他們以靈活的方式說服了其他殖民地加入了這個國家。
A federal system, with powers distributed between the central and provincial governments, was created. The provinces were assigned powers to have their own governments to deal with more local or provincial issues, the federal system would promote harmony among provinces, with different perspectives on nationhood. This was a compromise, so that the bigger provinces of Ontario and Quebec wouldn’t completely dominate the smaller provinces. The country was to be called the Dominion of Canada, but would still remain loyal to Britain as a member of the British Empire.
一種在中央和省政府之間分享權力的聯(lián)邦體制創(chuàng)建起來了。各省被賦予權力，擁有自己的政府以處理更多的地方事務。這種聯(lián)邦體制可望促進各省之間彼此協(xié)調，盡管它們站在本民族立場上有不同的觀點。這是一種折衷的辦法，致使較大的安大略省和魁北克省不能完全支配較小的省。這個國家被稱為加拿大自治領，但仍然是大英帝國的一個成員，效忠英國。
The new legislation that created Canada was a British act of Parliament called “The British North America Acts of 1867”. Canada officially became a nation on July 1st, 1867. This would be the anniversary occasion each year, for joyous celebration of a national holiday commemoration(紀念,慶祝) the birth of Canada.
使加拿大成為一個國家的新法案是一項叫做“1867年英屬北美法案”的英國國會法案。1867年7月1日，加拿大正式成為一個國家。每年的7月1日為周年紀念日，在這個法定假日里舉行慶典活動，紀念加拿大的誕生。
The development of the country, as we know it today, was an evolutionary(進化的,演變的) process over more than eight decades. Manitoba became a province after some controversial events involving the federal government and the Metis, French-speaking descendants of French fur traders who married American Indian girls. This ethnic(人種的,種族的) group settled near Fort Gary, the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba what is called today.
正如我們今天所知道的那樣，這個國家在80多年里不斷發(fā)展演進。在幾次涉及聯(lián)邦政府和梅蒂斯人的有爭議的事件之后，馬尼托巴成為加拿大的一個省。梅蒂斯人是美洲印第安女孩與法國毛皮貿(mào)易商的后裔，講法語。這個族群定居在加里要塞附近的溫尼伯城，即今馬尼托巴。
John A. Macdonald, the new and first Prime Minister of the new nation, made a deal with the western-most colony in Vancouver guaranteeing on the building of a railroad from the east to the west if that colony would join Canadian Confederation. The property of the Metis, to which the letter felt legally entitled, was in the path of the new railway. The federal government essentially took the land. The Metis were compelled to move further west, but not without a fight. (The Metis and the federal government were on an inevitable(無法避免的) collision course. Twice, Metis revolts rested the might(權力,威力) of the federal government and relationship between French-and English-speaking in Canada). The federal government was able to defeat the Metis in both clashes. Louis Riel, the leader of the Metis was hanged for treason(叛國,謀反) in 1885 for his leading role in resisting the federal government. He became a martyr to French-Canadians. His death only added fuel to the growing discontent(不滿意) between French and English Canada.
約翰·麥克唐納，這個新興國家的第一任總理，與溫哥華的最西邊的殖民地達成協(xié)議，保證說如果該殖民地加入加拿大聯(lián)邦，他將建一條從西到東的鐵路。梅蒂斯人的地產(chǎn)——他們認為是合法擁有的——正好在這條新鐵路線上。聯(lián)邦政府完全剝奪了他們的土地。梅蒂斯人被迫向西，但并非沒有抵抗。(梅蒂斯人不可避免地要與聯(lián)邦政府進行抗爭。他們的對聯(lián)邦政府的兩次反叛考驗了聯(lián)邦政府的權威和說法語與說英語的加拿大之間的關系。)在兩次沖突中，聯(lián)邦政府都成功以失敗了梅蒂斯人。1885年，梅蒂斯人的領袖路易斯·瑞爾，因帶頭試圖反抗聯(lián)邦政府以叛國的罪名被絞死。他成為說法語的加拿大人的死難者。他的遇難對說法語和說英語的加拿大之間日益激化的糾紛無疑是火上澆油。
Throughout this whole period, 1869 to 1885, the federal (or central) government ignored the appeals of the Metis. It appeared that, according to Macdonald and his followers, the creation of the new nation was more important than relieving the plight(困境) of a relatively small minority group. The Metis probably deserved much better of the federal government. Different versions of these events are still debated in Canadian classrooms today.
在整個1869年至1885年期間，聯(lián)邦政府都沒有理睬梅蒂斯人的訴求。很顯然，在麥克唐納和他的繼任者們看來，建立一個新國家比解除一個相對弱小的少數(shù)民族的困境更重要。也許，梅蒂斯人可以享受到聯(lián)邦政府更好的待遇。今天，在加拿大的教室里，對這些事件的不同看法不在爭論不休。
Macdonald was also criticized for concealing the fact that he took some money illegally to complete the railway. In 1873 as “The Pacific Scandal” became known, the construction of the railway suspended temporarily. The determined Macdonald and his government, obsessed(擔心,困擾) by the possibility of the Americans moving in and taking over the west, boldly pushed railway construction to completion.
麥克唐納還被指責隱瞞事實，非法挪用資金完成鐵路建設。那次有名的1873年的“太平洋丑聞”曾使鐵路建設一度停了下來。后來麥克唐納和他的政府，由于擔心美國人入侵并接管西部，堅定果斷地推動完成鐵路建設。
Manitoba became a province in 1870, British Columbia in 1871, Prince Edward Island in 1873, Alberta and Saskatchewan in 1905. The admission of Newfoundland into Confederation in 1948 completed the Canadian Confederation of ten provinces from sea to sea, as they exist today. The railway, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) was completed before the agreed deadline.
1870年馬尼托巴成為一個省，1871年英屬哥倫比亞加入，1873年愛德華太子島加入，1905年艾伯塔和薩斯喀徹溫加入。1949年，紐芬蘭島獲準加入聯(lián)邦，使擁有10個省的東岸到西岸的加拿大聯(lián)邦完整起來，也就是今天的加拿大。那條鐵路，即加拿大太平洋鐵路在預定完工日期之前也已建成。
Canada’s becoming a nation was not an easy road. Canada’s remaining a nation has perhaps been an even harder road. There were many challenges facing it over the first one hundred or more years. The most serious challenge has been, and still is, staying together as a country. Relations between French-speaking and English-speaking Canada have been difficult to improve. This persistent(持續(xù)存在的) theme in Canadian history began with the defeat of New France by Britain during the Seven Years War from 1756to 1763 (or the French-Indian War, as it was known in North America). In the last twenty years, referenda(普通投票) held in Quebec for possible separation from Canada, were narrowly defeated. This challenge still lies ahead.
加拿大的立國之路崎嶇不平，繼續(xù)保持下去更是充滿艱辛。在開始的100多年里，她面臨許多挑戰(zhàn)一直是并且現(xiàn)在仍然是保持國家的統(tǒng)一。說法語與說英語的加拿大之間的關系是最難處理的。這個加拿大歷史上的房屋主題，始于1756年至1763年的七年戰(zhàn)爭(或者在北美，通常叫做法印戰(zhàn)爭)期間英國打敗新法蘭西的時候。近20年里，魁北克舉行的旨在使該省脫離加拿大的公民投票，在那里勉強被失敗。這個挑戰(zhàn)在今后的日子里還會依然存在。
So far, the country has remained strong, and has traditionally played a significant role in international affairs. Canada has much promise for the 21st century. It will need to find creative diplomatic strategies to keep the internal rumblings(摩擦聲,隆隆聲) beneath the surface from exploding into self-destruction. It will need to find a way to fulfill the dreams of “the Fathers of Confederation” of so many years ago. A good guess is that the odds are in favor of Canada achieving those dreams and truly becoming the nation that was originally intended.
迄今為止，這個國家還是強大的，并一直在國際事務中扮演著重要角色。加拿大對21世紀寄以厚望。好需要具有創(chuàng)造性的外交策略，避免隱藏在外表下的內(nèi)部摩擦導致自我毀滅。她需要找到一條道路，實現(xiàn)多年以前“聯(lián)邦國父”的夢想。一個美好的期待是，機遇關照加拿大去實現(xiàn)這些夢想，真正成為最初所設想的那樣一個國家。
