pre1867

pre1867 is a non-formal label used to denote events, institutions, or legal frameworks that existed before the year 1867. Because 1867 marks several major turning points in different regions, the exact meaning of pre1867 varies with context. In historiography, the term functions as a simple chronological marker rather than a precise epoch.

In Canadian history, pre1867 most often refers to the era before Confederation when the British colonies in what is now Canada were governed separately within the British Empire. The pivotal event is the passage of the British North America Act (Constitution Act) in 1867, which created the Dominion of Canada and established a federal framework for Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Earlier milestones include the 1763 Royal Proclamation, the 1791 constitutional split into Upper and Lower Canada, and the 1840 Act of Union uniting Upper and Lower Canada as the United Province of Canada.

In the United Kingdom, the term is commonly used to indicate the period before the Reform Act 1867, which expanded the franchise and reformed parliamentary representation. It is also used more broadly to refer to constitutional and imperial policies prior to that date. The label thus signals a dataset of pre1867 laws, institutions, and political arrangements that were altered or replaced by late-19th-century reforms.

As a contextual rather than formal designation, "pre1867" invites careful interpretation tied to the subject and geography being discussed. It serves as a convenient shorthand in histories, biographies, and legal histories that span long periods.

See also: Confederation, Constitution Act 1867, Reform Act 1867, British North America Act 1867.