"Esteemed historian Jean Barman brings new insights on the seemingly disparate events that converged to lay the foundation of the present-day province. By examining newly accessible private correspondence exchanged with the Colonial Office in London, Barman pieces together the chain of events that caused the distant colony of British Columbia to join the Canadian Confederation as opposed to the very real possibility of becoming one or more American states. Following the division of the Pacific Northwest between Britain and the United States in 1846, it took British Columbia just a quarter of a century to be transformed from a largely Indigenous territory in 1871, into a province of the recently formed Canada Confederation. In this detailed exploration of colonial politics, including fur trader and politician James Douglas's governance and the critical role played by the many unions between white settlers and and Indigenous women, Barman expertly weaves together seemingly disparate events that converged to lay the foundations of today's Canadian province."-- Provided by publisher

1849-1871, British Columbia, British Columbia History 1849-1871, British Columbia History 19th century, British Columbia Politics and government 1849-1871, British Columbia Politics and government 19th century, Colombie-Britannique Histoire 1849-1871, Colombie-Britannique Histoire 19e siècle, Colombie-Britannique Politique et gouvernement 1849-187

Preamble: Sensing the Past; 1. Today's British Columbia Coming Into View; 2. The Year That Changed Everything (1858); 3. James Douglas and the Colonial Office (1859-64); 5. The Moderating Influence of Bishop Hills (1860-63); 6. Taking Gold Miners Seriously (1858-71); 7. Crediting Indigenous Women; 8. Along the Pathway to Canada (1866-71)