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I was taught early on in grade school through high school as part of our curriculum about world affairs in a class called "Social Studies": world geography, economy, agriculture and industries, exports and imports, political history.
Students were taught US revolutionary war, the war of 1812, the Civil War, WW 1 WW2.... We learned history and geography about Western and Eastern Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, South America, and so on..
Today we learn through US cable networks and You Tube, the newspapers. We are up to the minute on all US affairs.
The fact that Canada repelled several attempts during that conflict to invade and annex Canada, and that Canada occupied large chunks of the U.S. in present-day Michigan and Maine make Canada the clear winner. The U.S. was interested in absorbing Canada. Canada survived, prospered and exists today as a separate country - a clear win.
The situation you describe is the one that existed in 1813. However the American victory in the battle of Lake Erie and the recapture of northern Ohio and southern Michigan (including Detroit) and more importantly the American invasion and capture of Southwest Ontario changed the American position. When the treaty of Ghent was negotiated the British held the northern part of Michigan, much of Maine while the US held that very important part of Southwest Ontario. Also the British Invasion of the Chesapeake Bay Area, (Baltimore and Washington) area did alow the burning of our capital but it ended with the us repelling the invasion. These military realities made it clear neither side held or even could keep an advantage. For this reason the pre war borders were restored and the only concession the US got was the ending of impressment of US citizens into the British navy. The border between British North America and the US became more stable and permanent.
The very existence of Canada and the USA as separate political entities is due to the political problems of the late 18th century. Really we are largely very similar people of literally the same origin (British colonist). Had no American revolution occurred British North America would have become an independent nation in whole at some point likely following the model Canada followed in its path of independence from Britain. How different North America would be if that had occurred.
On a side note I will say this, while the US did invade British Canada in 1812 seeing it as a colony under the yoke of British occupation I do not believe the US would ever have acted aggressively toward an independent Canada. There is a big difference between invading the colony of a nation you are at war with and attacking your neighbor who also happens to be your close kin. Since Canada became independent no American would seriously entertain that kind of aggression. I just wanted to point that out as some Canadian histories and individuals do see and portray the US as having desire to make war on Canada or annex a free Canada by force. There has never been a serious discussion or plot to do such a thing since Canadian independence. Canadian independence from Britain changed everything in the eyes of the US. Also American obsession with the revolution and the big bad British has disappeared as well, Britain like Canada is a kin nation to us, among the closest and most trusted allies. As I stated in a previous post the war of 1812 is a foolish war that has been misrepresented in both the US and Canada. In Britain the war is forgotten and unimportant, but over here it is still discussed and considered an important part of both US and Canadian history.
One of my kids was studying the American Revolution last night for school. This is in the first years of high school. They're also doing the French Revolution, the Magna Carta, etc.
You Canadians are doing better in your public schools than public schools in the US about Canadian history. I recall being taught extensively about Canada only in sixth grade, that was the time I learned that ice hockey was derived from a sport that First Nations peoples (whom we call Native Americans) like the Ojibwa had played. Somewhere I also read about the Canadian Pacific Railroad and first heard of John MacDonald. During the rest of the time, you'd have to be really interested in Canada, history, or both to go further.
One of my kids was studying the American Revolution last night for school. This is in the first years of high school. They're also doing the French Revolution, the Magna Carta, etc.
Studying the American Revolution makes sense in regards to our own history. Loyalists and all that.
I wonder if in the US when they study the American Revolution do they touch on Canada?
Studying the American Revolution makes sense in regards to our own history. Loyalists and all that.
I wonder if in the US when they study the American Revolution do they touch on Canada?
Very little is mentioned about what later became the Dominion of Canada in American texts. I looked up the textbook I used during my substitute teaching days and found one map showing an expedition by Benedict Arnold early in the Revolution into Quebec and that is about it. I bet the vast majority of teachers, myself included, would have overlooked this. There is so much to talk about during this time period that it would be very hard for a high school history course to cover this beyond a mere mention.
A little more of Canada is mentioned during the French and Indian War and during the War of 1812 in the textbook but again nothing like the amount of text devoted to the impacts on the US itself from both wars. I said it once and I'll say it again, a lot of Americans don't know much about Canadian history. You go ask a typical American who the guy on the Canadian $10 banknote is and they will shrug their shoulders.
I took a dedicated American history course in grade 12 but I think it was elective. I remember my Teacher saying compared to Canada, American history Is written in Gunsmoke lol.. While our history is interesting and not as pacifist as some may lead on, there is something more enthralling about a Revolution and large Civil War that make for some more riveting historical events. The media plays a role as well in that large scale productions are funded and brought to the mainstream thus generating more interest in American history than what we do up here. We need to play up our history more.
One of my kids was studying the American Revolution last night for school. This is in the first years of high school. They're also doing the French Revolution, the Magna Carta, etc.
If I may ask, what are they learning about the Magna Carta?
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