British Columbia in the Balance: 1846–1871

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.

“Reading a book by local historian Jean Barman is like looking at the negative of a well-loved picture. By reversing the light and the dark, she forces us to see the edges, the margins, the details pushed aside by the Technicolour myths of accepted history.”

“With the generous use of extracts from contemporary letters and tidy little character sketches, Jean Barman has produced a fresh and eminently readable approach to the history of colonial British Columbia. While meticulously documenting the work of the Colonial Office and its officials in keeping British Columbia British and ultimately Canadian, and not American, British Columbia in the Balance suggests that credit must also be given to the Indigenous women, who, through marriage, encouraged many gold seekers to remain.”

“Esteemed interpreter of our past Jean Barman brings fresh insight into disparate events that converged to lay the foundation of present-day British Columbia. She pieces together a furious chain of events that caused the distant colony of British Columbia, founded 1858, to join the British North America federation, Canada, in 1871. Barman shows how annexation to the United States was denied by internal and external forces. Canada’s future in the farthest west, as in eastern provinces and territories, resisted American manifest destiny, thereby avoiding the perilous frontier circumstances that led to wars, displacement, and wanton eradication of many tribes south of the 49th parallel. North of the border was forged a different destiny.

Following the division of Old Oregon between Britain and the United States by treaty, British Columbia was transformed by events not of local choosing. Guardian leadership was of vital importance. Directing the security of this territory squeezed between Washington State and Alaska were astute Colonial Secretaries in London and the formidable capacities shown by trader and governor James (later Sir James) Douglas. Roles played by the many unions of white males and Indigenous women were influential in these desperate times. Barman’s theme is clear and is articulated with customary bravado. The welcome result is a worthy reminder of how close the fated gold colony came to extinction.”

“Simply put, Jean Barman is a British Columbian treasure—her scholarly work, university teaching and historical writing forms a remarkable legacy. Turning her attention to James Douglas’s correspondence with his London superiors, she reveals just how tenuous the enterprise of B.C. was. With thousands of Americans chasing gold north of the 49th, Douglas asserted British law, encouraged relationships with Indigenous peoples, and built critical roads. We’re fortunate that Jean Barman has been eavesdropping on this communication with the Colonial Office; her insights underscore how modern British Columbia was born out of chaos. It’s a riveting story.”

“Told largely in the words of people who were there at the time, Jean Barman's balanced, empathetic narrative deepens our understanding of the events that created a Canadian province rather than an American state from an Indigenous realm.”

“This engaging book highlights the forgotten players in the critical 25 years that transformed British Columbia from an Indigenous space to a Canadian province. Delving into the correspondence of the governors, the Bishop, and the gentry she also highlights the unlikely roles played by everyday gold miners and the Indigenous wives of early settlers.”