The Conservative Party of Newfoundland was a political party in the Dominion of Newfoundland prior to Confederation with Canada in 1949.
History
Formation
The party was formed by members and supporters of the establishment around 1832. In the 1840s, they opposed the proposal for responsible government which was finally granted in 1855. Since the concept was opposed generally by members of the Anglican establishment, the early party was almost entirely Protestant. As politics in Newfoundland developed along sectarian lines, the Conservatives became the Protestant party (with strong links to the Orange Order), while the Liberals were the Catholic party.
Union and collapse
Under Sir Frederick Carter, the Conservatives supported joining Canadian Confederation, and campaigned on the proposal in the 1869 general election. The party was badly defeated by Charles Fox Bennett's Anti-Confederation Party. The Conservatives returned to power in 1874,