Friday, January 11, 2019. Day 5.

Math: page 220, #1-11,15,17,23 & 24; work on knowledge hook

History: test on the War of 1812 on Thursday, January the 17^th

Book Presentation: Monday, January the 28^th, is the due date.

French: there is a presentation on Monday, January the 14^th

Science: there is a project due on January, the 23^rd.

Field Trip: the grade sevens are going to Fort York on Wednesday, January the 23^rd.

There is a boys basketball practice on Monday, January the 14^th.

Girls have volleyball practice on Mondays and Wednesdays at 11:45 am.

The swim team has practice at 7:30 am on Wednesdays and Fridays.

WAR OF 1812 Overview

Key Terms

1.      the French Revolution of 1789- France declared bankruptcy; the king was deposed; the people attempted to introduce liberty, fraternity, equality, and democracy

2.      Napoleon Bonaparte-a military general who rose to power during the French Revolution and invaded other European countries

3.      Louisiana- a territory from France that was sold to the United States

4.      impressments- forcing sailors to serve for another navy

5.      American expansion into the Ohio Valley- settlers began expanding west of the Appalachian territories into Native territories

6.      the Canadian militia-volunteer Canadians who served under British forces

7.      national identity- the belief that you and other people in your country share the same history, set of beliefs, and other characteristics used to define your nation

8.      propaganda- lies told by the government

9.      jingoism- a fervent belief that your nation is superior to other nations

10.    romanticism- the idealized belief of your nation and the belief that one can only excel in your homeland or its culture

11.    Tecumseh- a highly respected and key Native leader who was allied with Britain, essential in the Battle of Detroit, and uniting Native forces against the Americans; he died at the Battle of the Thames

12.    Sir Isaac Brock- an experienced officer who had a good rapport with Tecumseh and who also died in the Battle of Queenston Heights

13.    Laura Secord- a woman who took a 23 km journey to warn General Fitzgibbon of an impending American attack

14.    Charles de Sala  berry- a French Canadian officer who led the Volitgeurs who defended French Canada from American invasions

15.    the Battle of Detroit-the first battle that was largely won using psychological tactics since the fort was taken by a small group of Canadian militia, Native forces, and British troops

16.    the Battle of Queenston Heights- just south of Newark (modern-day Niagara-on-the-Lake) a battle took place between American and British forces along the west side of the Niagara River

17.    the Battle of York- America forces crossed Lake Ontario and burned down Fort York and neighbouring buildings; York is now known as Toronto

18.    the Battle of Beaver Dam-  British forces, thanks to Laura Secord, defeated American forces around present-day St. Catharines

19.    the Battle of Crysler’s Farm- British and French Canadian forces stopped a sizeable invasion of American forces from invading Montreal

20.    the Battle of Lundy’s Lane- British forces suffered casualties and American forces retreated around present day Niagara Falls

21.    the Battle of Washington- in retaliation to the burning of York, British forces burned down the White House and attempted to take Baltimore;  the original White House was unpainted because of the cost of paint; it was later restored and painted white

22.    the Battle of Baltimore- British forces attempted to take Baltimore and Fort McHenry; the Americans sank their ships at the mouth of the harbour to create a man-made blockade; the British failed to take the fort and the hail of cannon fire inspired a poet to write the lyrics that would later become the national anthem for the American people

23.    the Battle of New Orleans- although the War of 1812 had ended, news had not spread to the United States; the Americans, nevertheless, defeated the British at this battle

24.    the Treaty of Ghent- Americans and British representatives signed a treaty in Belgium because the war had reached a stalemate

25.    stalemate- neither side is able to win enough battles, border  raids that are able to gain territory or end a war

26.    the War Hawks- a term used by historians to label a group of powerfully influential American politicians who strongly advocated a war against the British since Canada , Britain’s colony, was vulnerable while the Britain fought France in Europe

27.    the Rideau Canal- a strategic canal built after the War of 1812 in Bytown (Ottawa) was intended to carry supplies in the event of a future war

28.    the Lachine Canal- a canal built to bypass the rapids around Montreal, so ships could easily sail up the St. Lawrence to Lake Ontario or Upper Canada; without canals, things were unloaded from ships and transported overland to other ships; this was time consuming and costly

29.    Mr. Merrit’s Ditch (the early stages of the Welland Canal System)- the Niagara Region had a series of canals built transport goods and people from Lake Ontario to the Chippawa River and eventually the entrance of the Niagara River, because  the falls prevented ships sailing up the river to Lake Erie

30.    the Battle of Stoney Creek- British forces defeated the American troops where the defeated from the American forces who later retreated at the 40 mile creek (present-day Grimsby)

The Causes:

1) Britain had gone to war with the Americans in 1776 and 30 years later it happened again.  The Canadians or Upper and Lower Canada were drawn into the war a second time.

2) After the French Revolution in 1789, England went to war with France led by Napoleon Bonaparte.  The Napoleonic Wars lasted until 1815.

3)  By helping the Americans in their War of Independence back in 1783, the French were getting back at the British for losing New France.

4)  France and Britain disrupted each other’s trade and fought in Europe.  These disruptions bothered American investors, citizens, and politicians.

5) British Interference with American Merchant Ships: British sailors boarded American ships carrying supplies to the Napoleonic Wars.  If British sailors were on American ships, many were captured and forced to serve again on British fleets

6) American Expansion into the Northwest: American settlers expanded into the Ohio Valley and ignored native treaties.  The British feared that Americans would settle further into Canada. 

7) Fur Trade Officials in the First Nations Territories: The British supplied arms to the natives through the fur trade which natives used against American settlers for invading their lands.

8) American and British jingoism was much to blame for the War of 1812.

Battles of the War of 1812

9) The British had a larger navy, but Canada was too large to defend.  They relied on two main characters Sir Isaac Brock, a general and Tecumseh, a Shawnee chief to win their major battles.

10) In the Battle of Detroit, Brock and Tecumseh used scare tactics to force General Hull to surrender Fort Detroit.

11) In the Battle of Queenston Heights, the Americans crossed the Niagara River at Lewiston and captured Queenston Heights just south of Newark and Fort George (Niagara-on-the Lake). 

12) Brock was killed during an advance, but his troops and the members of the Six Nations defeated and captured American soldiers.

13)  American ships crossed Lake Ontario and burned down Fort York.

14) Despite losses on both sides, American forces retreated to the 40 Mile Creek at present day Grimsby.

15) Mohawks and British soldiers, under a tip told by Laura Secord, met an American force at Beaver Dam.  Americans surrendered.

16) British forces stop a sizeable American force from invading Montreal.

17) In the Battle of Lundy’s Lane, British suffered casualties but American forces retreated.

18) British troops burned the White House.  (The White House is painted white to cover the burn marks and parts of the presidential balcony were left untouched to serve as a reminder to future presidents of the threat of foreign invasion.)

The Reality of War for Soldiers

19) Military life was dangerous, unglamorous, unsanitary, and badly paid. 

20)  It was difficult to recruit men because of the conditions, so militia or volunteer regiments were formed.

21)  Roads, food, and tents were limited. Soldiers were often sick.  Many deserted.  If caught, they were executed by hanging.

The Effects of the War of 1812

22) Thomas Jefferson felt that taking over Canada was for American troops just “a mere matter of marching.”  In reality, neither side could claim a victory.

23) The Treaty of Ghent was signed by Americans and British representatives in Belgium because the war was a stalemate.  The borders hence remained the same.

24) The War of 1812 did have three positive outcomes:  1) Canadian militias were formed. 2) Canadian identity was fostered.  3) Americans were seen as a possible threat, so roads and canals were improved for military and commercial purposes.

25) The negative effects of the War of 1812 include the following: 1) there was a disruption in farming and food. 2) Lives were lost.  3) A very small group of people –as always- financially profited from the war.

Causes and Effects of the War of 1812

1)      The politically powerful American group known as the ‘War Hawks” advocated the American congress for war against Britain.

2)      In order to regain sailors, British ships boarded and ‘impressed’ or captured sailors from American ships to serve on British ships.

3)      The British were busy fighting a war with Napoleon in France, so Canada was vulnerable.

4)      America allied with France.

5)      Americans expanded into the Ohio Valley and disrupted native villages.  The Natives allied with the British in many cases.

6)      The British sold or traded weapons with the Natives.

7)      England looked down at America.  Although it had declared independence in 1776, England did not respect its sovereignty or independence.

8)      Some thought that a war with Canada would be a ‘mere matter of marching’ and Canada would easily fall.

9)      The British formed a naval blockade, so American ships could not trade with France. This hurt businesses and trade.

10)    Southern planters could not sell cotton or tobacco to Britain because there was an embargo or ban placed on American products.

The Effects of the War of 1812

1)      The capital of Upper Canada was eventually moved from York (Toronto) to Bytown (Ottawa), so the capital would be further from future American attack.

2)      The Rideau Canal was built in case an American attack would cut off the St. Lawrence and cripple supplies from Lower Canada to Upper Canada. 

3)      More roads were built to better move troops, supplies, settlers, and goods across the land.

4)      The Maritimes prospered economically since Halifax became a major center of operations.

5)      English and French colonists were united under a common enemy- America.

6)      American settlers were discouraged from settling in Canada.  British immigration was promoted.

7)      The border known as the 49 degree parallel was established.

8)      The Great Lakes were demilitarized, but Lake Ontario and Lake Champlain were allowed to keep forces to prevent smuggling.

9)      Britain recognized America as independent.

10)    America focused on expanding westward.

11)    There was greater nationalistic pride and participation in military campaigns.

12)    Despite great Native contributions, Native groups were assimilated into the military and the dream of a Native confederacy was overturned.

13)    The Lachine and Welland Canals were built in order to increase supplies and trade.

14)    A great deal of myth making occurred since educators and historians saw the war as an opportunity to promote nationalism and to create heroes.

15)    The memory of an American invasion lingered well up until the 1860’s and arguably motivated Canadians to become a nation in 1867.

Camp Life at Point Henry, Kingston, May 1813

    This account was originally translated from French and published in 1895 by Hubert Neilson under the title Reminiscences of the War of 1812-14: Being Portions of the Diary of a Captain of the "Voltigeurs Canadiens" While in Garrison at Kingston, Etc.  The captain in question was Jacques Viger, who went on to become Montreal's first mayor in 1833.

We were ordered by General Prevost on the 17th of May to cross over to Point Henry, where we now occupy tents which we again once more put up in a wilderness of stumps, fallen trees, boulders, and rocks of all sizes and shapes; sharing our blanket with reptiles of varied species; carrying out the precepts of the most self-sacrificing charity towards ten million insects and crawling abominations, the ones more voracious and disgusting than the others.  Phlebotomized by the mosquitoes, cut and dissected by gnats, blistered by the sand flies, on the point of being eaten alive by the hungry wood rats as soon as they shall have disposed of our provisions.  Pray for us! Pray for us! Ye pious souls….

Broken down with fatigue, drenched with rain, I enter my tent to find that the birds of the air have besmirched me with lime; I have no sooner sat on my only camp stool when a horrid toad springs on to my lap in a most familiar way; I cast my wearied limbs on to my couch, a slimy snake insists on sharing with me the folds of my blanket, I hastily retire and leave him in possession.  

Copyright the Discriminating General 1999