My twenty-one year old son, Gabriel, has just graduated from University of Ottawa with a degree in political science and history. Gabe has offered to be my guest blogger this week.
This year marks the two hundredth anniversary of the war of 1812, a war fought between the United States and Britain. The Americans declared war on Britain for multiple reasons. One reason was a threat to Americans with respect to their trade with France. In1807, the British introduced a series of trade restrictions that impeded American trade with France, with whom Britain was at war (Napoleonic wars).[1] Another cause was British support for first nation raids. During the early 1800’s the U.S. wanted to expand into the west, and in order to do so they had to take land that was settled by first nations.[2] In order to prevent American expansion Britain supported the first nations, which angered the Americans. One final cause was American expansionism. The Americans felt that since the British were occupied with the French in the Napoleonic wars, it might be a perfect time to attack British North America, and take as much territory as possible.[3] It is clear that the Americans had reasons to attack British North America, and they declared war on June 2nd, 1812.
The war of 1812 began on June 2nd, 1812 and ended on December 24, 1814 with the Treaty of Ghent.[4] The war was fought in three main theatres. It was mainly fought on the frontier (the Canada-U.S. border), especially in areas such as the Niagara region.[5]The war was also fought in the U.S., in battles such as the Battle of New Orleans and the
[1] Robert O’Neil and Carl Benn, The War of 1812: The Fight for American Trade Rights, (New York, 2011), 10
[2] John Armstrong, Notices of the War of 1812, (New York,, 1836), 11
[3] Julius Pratt, Expansions of 1812, (New York, 1925), 5
[4] Miriam Greenblat, War of 1812, (New York, 2003), 60
[5] Ibid. 80
Battle of Baltimore.[6] It was also fought at sea, on the St. Lawrence, the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes.[7]At the beginning of the war the British, with Canadian help defended BNA. The British successfully held off the Americans in the Great lakes, with key victories such as the Battle of Queenston Heights in the Niagara region.[8] It was clear at the beginning of the war that the British, with the help of the Canadian Militia, were winning. For the Americans, the key victory was the Battle of Lake Erie, which let them gain total access to the Lake.[9] It is important to note that there were many small battles fought during the war of 1812, and that it carried on until 1814, when both sides decided to sign an armistice, the Treaty of Ghent. While different historians have different opinions as to who really “won the war”, lately the majority of authorities have argued that Britain was the winner.
[6] David Heidler, Encyclopedia of the War of 1812, (New York, 1997), 409
[7] John Armstrong, Notices of the War of 1812, (New York,, 1836), 6
[8] The Battle of Queenston Hights, (http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_queenston_heights.html)
[9] David Heidler, Encyclopedia of the War of 1812, (New York, 1997), 7
The war of 1812 was of great importance to the emerging nation of Canada. The main significance was the fact that even before Canada became a country, they were able to band together with the British to help defend what would become the great nation we live in today. The outcomes of the war also led to the militia myth, which was that Canadians believed that their militia played an important part in defeating the Americans. The militia myth, as the name implies, was by in large false, but nonetheless fostered a new sense of Canadian nationalism. Canadians felt that since they had a strong militia they might be able to become their own nation. Of course, the birth of Canada as a nation happened on July 1, fifty-three years after the war of 1812 ended. Arguably, had the war ended differently, and if they did not defeat the Americans, this great country, which we all cherish, might have never been created.
In a few weeks, there will be a giant re-enactment of the war of 1812 on parliament hill. If you have any thoughts about this topic, please respond to the blog, or better yet…please stop by the Macklem House, my door is always open.
Richard
Well done Gabriel! With a degree in political science and history, you are perhaps well prepared to advise Dad on how the School of Medicine might celebrate another sort of “war” – that initiated by Charles Darwin in 1859. This was continued after his death by his research associate, the Kingston-born biomedical scientist George John Romanes. For example, there is a certain new building that needs a name… .
Dear Don,
One of the great things about kids these days is they are happy to advise Dad on anything.
Richard
Thank you for your comments Don
Great blog–I learned more about the war (a bit past my home period) in a quick read than I had previously known!
Thanks Daniel
I am sure Gabe will be gratified with this comment from a world famous historian!
Richard
Thank you for your comment, as my dad stated it really means a lot
I left high school in 1950, totally ignorant about the War of 1812, Six years of medical school did nothing to change that. Fifty-five years later, thanks to Gabriel, I now can explain the conflict to my grandchildren when I show them Murney Tower and the Rideau Canal! Excellent explanation! I plan to re-read my 6th grade history book to see why I didn’t know anything……
Don,
What nice comments. I know Gabriel will be gratified reading your encouraging remarks.
Richard
Thank you for the very gratifying comment, I hope you do tell your grandchilden, the war helps us understand our past and how we came together even before our nation was born.
A wonderful summary of events long ago.
I remember so well walks I took down to the lake at the bottom of Barrie Street where that old fort stands. It serves to remind us of a time when relations between what are now two great nations were not so friendly.
I reflect also today, the day when the Affordable Care Act was upheld by the United States Supreme Court, that although the United States and Canada have so much in common, still culturally and in other ways they followed different paths.
Dear Victor, thanks for your comments. I believe most Canadians would agree with you that the Supreme Court ruling, five to four I might add, and all the subsequent controversy, serves to underscore the importance of our Canadian values relating to health care.
Richard
Thank you Victor, your comment helps us understand the ongoing argument with Canada-US relations. Over time our foreign policy has become more continentalist but some people still fear the US. And it is important for the world to know that Canada is a great country and has its own identity. Healthcare is a prime example of the difference between our two nations.
Happy Canada Day to you,Richard, and to your son Gabriel of whom you must be justifiably proud, graduating with honours in a tough double major of Political Science and History.
Gabriel, your precis of The War of 1812-1814 was wonderfully succinct and filled with gems for the Canadian military history buff. In many senses it captured the meaning of being a Canadian detailing some of the salient events leading to the building of our nation. And it was a quicker read than Pierre Berton’s two volume history of The War.
So this day has real significancein replying to your blog. (By the way I hope Dad will give you the opportunity to do more guest spots) Despite the fact that one of my forebearers, Archibald M. Willard painted the most famous of all American canvases, The Spirit of Independence (1776) and others ran the Willard Hotel two buildings down from The White House on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington (where Francis Keyes wrote The Star Spangled Banner), most of the Willards were United Empire Loyalists and settled along the St. Lawrence River.
One of the more significant battles of The War of 1812-1814 was that of Chrysler’s Farm which was in part fought over our family farm just east of where the original stone obolisk stood. The American General’s billet was in a farmhouse just opposite a bay from ours. To hear stories passed down over time by word of mouth from the oldtimers, before The Seaway inundated most of the battle site, did suggest that the militia and Indian Allies had a significant part in the outcome of the battle. The First Nations warriors whooping and shrieking from the trees put fear in to the hearts of the American troops who were all too familiar with the practice of live scalping.
The Chrysler Farm monument now stands just outside Upper Canada Village, near Morrisburg. The only hotel in UCV by the way is The Willard Hotel, also known as The White House. Quite a historical metaphor as it, the only teetotalling hotel on the Montreal to York stage coach run, remains intact whereas the orginal White House in Washington was burned by the British.(Actually some of the building survived but because it was so fire damaged and sootstained was painted white).
Chrysler Beach Memorial Park, to the west, was once the hill field on our farm which gently sloped down to the water to Weaver’s Point marked by Lighthouse site #9 .
My mother’s side of the family were Rawns. Five brothers, all Loyalists, enlisted in the first militia unit in Upper Canada, The First York Rangers, and distinguished themselves under Sir Isaac Brock during the decisive frontier Battle of Queenston Heights. Two of them captured a Pennsylvania cousin probably saving his life as the American Regiments were pushed back in to the Niagara Gorge, many succumbing to the withering fire of British sharpshooters and others drowning in the maelstrom as their boats foundered.
In commemoration of and payment for their services they were given land grants by The Crown on the Niagara Escarpment near the present town of Orangeville. As with settlers elsewhere in Ontario, they cleared the land, pioneering the development of our wonderful province, and, by corollary, Canada.
O Canada we stand on guard for thee!!!
Best wishes, Gabriel, to you and your family,
Garry
Dear Gary,
What a wonderful addition for the readers of this blog. It was great to learn about your family’s history and the rich historical details.
Richard
Thank you for your interesting Gary, it is nice to have a personal connection to the war. I was quite interested reading your story, and want to thank you for commenting on the blog.
Sorry for the small typo meant to write thank you for your interesting comment
Gabriel, in the interests of historical accuracy, let me make a correction to the narrative above. The Star Spangled Banner was not penned at The Willard in Washington, rather the words of the immortal Battle Hymn of The Republic were written there in 1861 by Julia Ward Howe (published in the Atlantic Monthly February 1862). GLW
Gary, thanks for this addition,
Richard