Golden Age of PEI

Politics
1. Belfast Riots: William Douse and Alexander Maclean of the Family Compact lost their seats to the Reforms in Belfast in 1846 due to, as they claimed, the excessive violence that occurred. A by-election in 1847; however, the subsequent riots that occurred called the election off once more. Both Protestant Scots and Catholic Irish, who generally despised one another, lived in Belfast; consequently, they voted at the same place. The Irish generally supported the Reformers while the Scots supported the Tories. This political rivalry coupled with bad blood resulted in massive fights that killed three people, one Scot and two Irish men. An election was called for the third time with 200 militiamen. This time, Douse and Maclean won the Belfast seats; however, this could have been because the Reformers drew out of the election.
2. Responsible Government: After George Coles joined and became the leader of the Reformers, they slowly gained popularity; though, this was because of Governor Henry Huntley, who feuded with the Tories and supported the Reformers as revenge. The Tories went to the Colonial Office for a new governor and were indeed granted Governor Donald Campbell who supported the Family Compact strongly. In 1849, the Reformers were in complete control over the Assembly; the only thing that stood in the way of responsible government was Campbell. The Colonial Office urged Campbell to grant responsible government, while the Assembly withheld all money from the government until responsibility was granted. Campbell did not have the chance to crack under the pressure, rather his sudden death brought in the new governor, Alexander Bannerman, who immediately granted responsible government. In March of 1851, George Coles became the Island’s first premier.
3. Franchise Act: In 1853, the Liberals passed the Franchise Act which allowed all men over 21 to vote, rather than only those who owned property.
Education
1. Free Education Act: In 1852, George Coles passed the Free Education Act in which the government would pay for a teacher for each community, so long as the community built its own school. Consequently, almost all of the Island's communities built one room schoolhouses and educated their children with a certified teacher.
2. Post-Secondary Education: Post-secondary education began on the Island with Prince of Wales College, in 1834, and St. Dunstan's University in 1855.
3. The Bible Question: In some communities, Catholic students studied under a Protestant teacher. This became an issue when the teacher began interpreting the Bible for the students, which is strictly against what the Catholics believed. In 1856, the provincial school inspector, Mr. Stark, announced that the Bible will be read in all schools and an explanation for the passages would be included; consequently, the Bishop, along with other Catholics, were furious. The school inspector did not inform Premier Coles; Stark was subsequently fired. However, many Protestants agreed with Stark and grew furious with Coles. Meanwhile, the Conservatives used the disagreement to their advantage in the upcoming election. In the next election for the Assembly, the Conservatives rallied all the Protestants together and won in 1859. Edward Palmer amended the Education Act so that it would include Bible reading but no interpretation.
Land Question
1. Rise of the Escheat Party: William Cooper formed the Escheat Part by appealing to the poor Irish and Scottish Catholics tenants that could not really afford their rents. The party's popularity spiked in 1836 when Cooper urged to followers to not pay their rents and when Cooper was suspended from the Assembly. Lord Durham's report bashing the proprietary system allowed the Escheat Party to reach the pinnacle of it its power; the party won by a landslide and Cooper was elected speaker.
2. Decline of the Escheat Party: The Colonial Office refused to even see William when he went to appeal to them for escheats on PEI. However, the Colonial Secretary did send a letter to the new Governor of Prince Edward Island, Charles Fitzroy, saying that escheatment will never happen on PEI and asked to Fitzroy to make the letter public. Cooper sunk into depression and did nothing in his time in the Assembly. Finally, Cooper moved to California and the Family Compact won the next election.
3. Land Purchase Act: In 1854 George Coles passed the Land Purchase Act which allowed the government to but land from the proprietors and sell it back to the tenants. However, Coles needed £100,000 loan from the Colonial Office to but the lots; the Colonial Office refused and left Coles to buy small pieces at a time out of the government revenues.
4. The Land Commission: In 1860, the Colonial Office appointed a commission to make yet another report on the land question. The landlords, being so confident, insisted that the findings of the report be binding. The Land Commission, however, released a report that called for the Colonial Office to help the Island’s government buy out the landlords. The landlords were furious and got out of their binding with the report by a small loophole.
Economy
1. Shipbuilding: During the Golden Age, shipbuilding became the Island’s number one industry and made the Island the world’s second largest shipbuilder. Often times, ships would be built, filled with lumber, and then sent to England to be sold there; however, it would not be uncommon for people to build their own trading fleets.
2. Agriculture and Trade: Farmers began growing a surplus of crops and livestock in the Golden Age that allowed them to trade with other colonies in British North America, England, and America. Many merchants even gave farmers credit and would collect their debts by buying crops. Farmers would also peddle their produce on their own; however, they would often barter their wares rather than ask for money.

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Golden Age of PEI

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