Laura Secord and the War of 1812

• In 1813, Laura Secord undertook a perilous 19-mile (30-km) trek to alert Lieutenant James FitzGibbon of an impending American offensive.

• Her actions were pivotal in the British victory at the Battle of Beaver Dams.

• Secord is celebrated as a national heroine in Canada.

British Military Assistance in 1814

• The Duke of Wellington dispatched elite soldiers to Canada in 1814 to bolster defenses.

• He selected Bytown (now Ottawa) as the endpoint of the Rideau Canal, aiming to protect Canada from further U.S. invasions.

• Wellington's military successes against Napoleon directly influenced the foundation of Canada’s national capital.

Outcomes of the War of 1812

• By 1814, American efforts to take Canada had collapsed.

• The British financed robust defense structures, including:

  • Citadels at Halifax and Quebec City

  • Naval drydock at Halifax

  • Fort Henry at Kingston

• These sites are now recognized historic landmarks.

• The War of 1812 played a role in shaping the current Canada-U.S. border, maintaining Canada's independence.

Causes of the War of 1812

• After the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar, British naval dominance fueled American resentment toward British interference with shipping.

• Believing an invasion of Canada would be simple, the U.S. launched an attack in June 1812. This was proved incorrect by the mobile defenses.

Key Figures and Battles in the War

• Canadian volunteers, alongside First Nations allies, notably the Shawnee led by Chief Tecumseh, supported British soldiers.

• Major-General Sir Isaac Brock captured Detroit but was killed at Queenston Heights while defending against American forces.

• Despite his death, Brock's leadership was crucial in thwarting the invasion.

• At Châteauguay, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles de Salaberry and 460 soldiers repelled 4,000 American troops in 1813.

• The destruction of Government House and Parliament Buildings in York (now Toronto) by Americans in 1813 provoked retaliation.

• Major-General Robert Ross later led the destruction of the White House in Washington, D.C., in 1814 before his own death.

1837–38 Rebellions

• Discontent in the 1830s regarding slow democratic reforms led to armed uprisings in Upper and Lower Canada.

• Rebels failed to gain significant public support and were quashed by British and Canadian forces.

Lord Durham's Report

• Durham recommended merging Upper and Lower Canada and implementing responsible government, emphasizing majority rule.

• His suggestion for the assimilation of Canadiens into English-speaking culture demonstrated a disconnect with French Canadian identity.

Introduction of Responsible Government

• In 1840, Upper and Lower Canada merged into the Province of Canada.

• Reformers worked toward establishing a system in which the Crown needed majority support from elected representatives.

• Nova Scotia achieved full responsible government first, setting a precedent for Canada.

Confederation of Canada

• The concept of the "Dominion of Canada" emerged around 1864, embodying a vision of a united and prosperous country.

• On July 1, 1867, the Dominion of Canada was established through the British North America Act, marking a significant step toward self-governance.

Territorial Expansion of Canada

• Post-Confederation, Canada expanded through the addition of provinces:

  • 1867: Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick

  • 1870: Manitoba, Northwest Territories

  • 1871: British Columbia

  • 1873: Prince Edward Island

  • 1880: Transfer of Arctic Islands to Northwest Territories

  • 1898: Yukon Territory

  • 1905: Alberta, Saskatchewan

  • 1949: Newfoundland and Labrador

  • 1999: Nunavut

Sir John A. Macdonald and the NWMP

• Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first Prime Minister, was a key architect of Confederation.

• The implementation of the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) was initiated in 1873 to maintain order in the West during settlement.

Construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway

• British Columbia joined Canada in 1871 with the promise of a transcontinental railway.

• The railway was completed on November 7, 1885, symbolizing national unity.

• Discriminatory policies against Chinese workers marked a dark chapter in this project, which was later officially acknowledged and apologized for by the government in 2006.

Economic Growth and Immigration

• The economic boom of the 1890s fostered significant immigration from Britain and America to Canada, shaping the demographic landscape.

• Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the first French Canadian Prime Minister, played a supportive role in encouraging Western immigration, contributing to agricultural production.