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What is the War?
One of the most impactful events on Canada’s history is the War of 1812. This small yet significant war lasted two and a half years, and ended 1815. The countries that were involved in this war was the, United States of America, as well as the British Empire. The British Empire consisted of the United Kingdom, Great Britain, Ireland, and the North American colonies (Canada), and the native American allies. It was started when the United States continued to attack the First Nations people to expand their territory. The Natives attempted to resist the United States’ army. America then accused Britain of helping the Natives fend them off. Britain continued to neglect the United States’ independence and thus, the war of 1812 began.
The War
The war of 1812 was a defining moment in Canada’s history because it was the first time that all the different nations in Canada had to band together and fight for their land. This war was the starting point of Canada’s national identity. Without the war of 1812 we would not
be the same country we are today.
• Both the Napoleonic Wars, caused the war from 1799-1815, and by Britain messing with Americas shipping of goods to Europe. Both the American and the British fought against each other over Canada.
• The people who lived in Canada at the time such as the first nations, the African American immigrants and the British settlers all fought with England against the invading American forces.
• The war lasted 3 and half years. During which we burned the white house down in 1814. In the end Canada triumphed over America.
The peace treaty of Ghent in 1815, although people still battled for months after it was signed.
This war helped Canada to become a more independent and unified nation.
America
Before the war of 1812 started Brittan was trying to cut America off from trading with European trading ports. Thus putting America in serious finical trouble, especially after just defeating Brittan and winner there independence.
British ship captains also began to imprison (seize) American born sailor and force them into service for the British naive. This form of imprisonment was called being indenture to the navy. Sailors had to spend up to 7 years working for there captors. Due to this events America declared war on Brittan for Canada.
This was America’s first war that they declared after achieving independence over Brittan. The Americans believed that “Canada would be easy picking and would even be welcomed by the Canadians” stated by the American president at the time James Madison. On 18 June 1812, President Madison signed a declaration of war against Great Britain, supported by both the Senate and Congress. They also believed in manifest destiny witch is an attitude that America had the right to Canada and they believed it was there duty to clam it.
England
King George or Crazy King George was the king of England during both of which the war of independence and the war of 1812.
He was blamed for the loss of America.
During the war king George directed almost all of his attention towards defeating Napoleon. His son, George the 4th, was in charge the war of 1812. George the 4th did very little for the country and left almost all the decisions up to his parliament. The parliament only sent a handful of British troops over to Canada. So despite common belief the majority of people fighting against the Americans during the war would have been Canadian not British soldiers. This shows how Canadian bandied together to defeat America with limited aid from the King.
First Nations
During the War of 1812, First Nations warriors and Métis warriors played important roles in the defence of the British territories against invading American forces. Thousands of First Nations warriors and Métis warriors fought beside British troops and the Canadian settler military during the war. First Nations and Métis communities sided with the British during the war because they shared a common goal, to resist American expansion. More than 10,000 First Nations warriors from the Great Lakes region and the St. Lawrence Valley participated in nearly every major battle.
Most Canadians are unaware of the full import of the role of First Nations, as well as the pivotal role that war played in the history of Canada's treatment of aboriginal peoples. June is Aboriginal History Month, and June 21 was National Aboriginal Day. Many historians believe the British would have lost the war without the aboriginal military strength. Canada's very existence depended on First Nations and Métis co-operation. After the War of 1812, the tides turned. The aboriginal military force was no longer needed. Suddenly, British treatment of native peoples emulated the US model,
where First Nations were used and then abandoned.
After The war
After the war was ended Canada went back to focusing on developing their nation. New settlers begun to flock into Canada along the St. Lawrence River and the southern Great Lakes. Many were refugees from the United States who did not want white settlers with British loyalties. By the 1830s, the Crown had used the treaty process to obtain title to most of present-day Ontario south of the Pre-Cambrian Shield.
Once the war was over colonialism took a brutal turn for native people on both sides of the border. After decades of treating aboriginal peoples as partners in the fur trade and then as military allies, the British and then Canadians, pursued policies of containment, treaties for land, suppression of culture, assimilation, and reserves where every aspect of life was controlled by white "Indian agents." Then there were the now well-known
residential schools, aiming to "kill the Indian" in native children.
The aftermath of these unfortunate events have left aboriginal peoples in their own separate nation from Canada. Everywhere you turn there is something segregating the aboriginal peoples from everyone else.
To what extent should Canada embrace a unifying national identity?
The War of 1812 has led Canada to become a more unified nation. This is because we had to come together as one united nation to battle the invading American forces and declare our rightful independence as Canada. Without this battle Our Country would not be as united as we are today.