Movement for the annexation in British Columbia - a political option developed after 1860, seeking to include the colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia to the United States. The movement originated with the expiration of the gold rush on the Fraser River. The colony entered the phase of an acute recession and its inhabitants sought to solve the economic problems. The supporters of the movement were mainly recent arrivals from the USA and from other countries that have no connections with the United Kingdom. The movement intensified in 1867, when the United States bought Alaska from Russia (see: purchase of Alaska). Rumors spread that the British were already negotiating with the Americans about the renunciation of the colony in exchange for the settlement of the so-called Alabama's claims. The activists of the movement then issued their first petition, directed to Queen Victoria.
The petition put an ultimatum to the crown. They demanded the creation of a permanent, low-cost ship connection between England and the colony, and the British takeover of all the debts of the colony. Otherwise, the colony would denounce the obedience and look for the protection of the United States. It is not clear how many people signed a petition, or whether it reached the Queen, but it is certain that it did not have any effect.
The second petition, circulating in Victoria, was addressed to US President Ulysses Grant and Commissioner Alaskan Vincent Callyer. The petition called on the American authorities to take over the colonies under their control. 144 people signed the petition, which accounted for about 3.0% of the city's population. Despite such little interest, the petition gave the argument to supporters of the confederation grouped in the Confederate League to intensified efforts for the union with Canada. The proexeration movement exhausted its possibilities after British Columbia's accession to Canada as a province.
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