Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by weaselweader
Invasion of Canada by Pierre Berton
4.0
“Peace, Order and Good Government” or “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”
“The key words in Upper Canada were “loyalty” and “patriotism” – loyalty to the British way of life as opposed to American “radical” democracy and republicanism.”
Pierre Berton’s THE INVASION OF CANADA is a colourful, in depth and very much grass roots telling of the story of the first two years of the War of 1812, a war that nobody really wanted, a war that didn’t really have a reason for happening, and a war that nobody really won. The USA’s declaration of war, (on England, mind you, not on Canada directly – at that time, after all, Canada hadn’t even come into official existence as a country) was a result of England’s heavy-handed, unreasonable restriction on maritime trade between the USA and Europe. The USA’s extension of that war into Upper Canada only happened after Britain had relaxed those restrictions but early 19th century communication being less than high speed or eminently reliable, the military of both countries were unaware that their cause for war had vanished.
Such nationalism as this Canadian reader has always bubbles to the surface in the face of the much more typical flag-waving and jingoistic version of patriotism exhibited by typical Americans. So it’s hard not to be a little smug when one is reading about the shellacking that general Isaac Brock, the Canadian regular military, the militia and their aboriginal allies under Tecumseh and Joseph Brant gave to the apparently overwhelming numbers and the much-vaunted military might of the USA. The American certainty that this war would be a short-lived pro forma affair was certainly crushed under the losses, nay disgracing losses, incurred at Michilimackinac, Detroit, Amherstburg, Queenston Heights, and Frenchtown. BUT It would also be shameful for any rational reader to not be embarrassed and deeply sorrowed by the historical (and continuing current) treatment accorded by the Roman Catholic Church and the Canadian government to those aboriginal First Nations when it is equally obvious that, without their assistance, that USA walkover of a nascent Canada would have been a drop dead certainty.
It is worth reproducing Berton’s closing observation in its entirety:
The “attitude – that the British way is preferable to the American; that certain sensitive positions are better filled by appointment than by election; that order imposed from above has advantages over grassroots democracy (for which read “licence” or “anarchy”); that a ruling elite often knows better than the body politic – flourished as a result of an invasion repelled. Out of it, shaped by an emerging nationalism and tempered by rebellion, grew that special form of state paternalism that makes the Canadian way of life significantly different from the more individualistic American way. Thus, in a psychological as well as in a political sense, we are Canadians and not Americans because of a foolish war that scarcely anyone wanted or need, but which, once launched, none knew how to stop.”
The final two years of this travesty and the “conclusion” of the war are described in Berton’s FLAMES ACROSS THE BORDER. Definitely recommended to those who enjoyed well-written history that is anything but the oft-encountered turgid litany of dates, places and events.
Paul Weiss
“The key words in Upper Canada were “loyalty” and “patriotism” – loyalty to the British way of life as opposed to American “radical” democracy and republicanism.”
Pierre Berton’s THE INVASION OF CANADA is a colourful, in depth and very much grass roots telling of the story of the first two years of the War of 1812, a war that nobody really wanted, a war that didn’t really have a reason for happening, and a war that nobody really won. The USA’s declaration of war, (on England, mind you, not on Canada directly – at that time, after all, Canada hadn’t even come into official existence as a country) was a result of England’s heavy-handed, unreasonable restriction on maritime trade between the USA and Europe. The USA’s extension of that war into Upper Canada only happened after Britain had relaxed those restrictions but early 19th century communication being less than high speed or eminently reliable, the military of both countries were unaware that their cause for war had vanished.
Such nationalism as this Canadian reader has always bubbles to the surface in the face of the much more typical flag-waving and jingoistic version of patriotism exhibited by typical Americans. So it’s hard not to be a little smug when one is reading about the shellacking that general Isaac Brock, the Canadian regular military, the militia and their aboriginal allies under Tecumseh and Joseph Brant gave to the apparently overwhelming numbers and the much-vaunted military might of the USA. The American certainty that this war would be a short-lived pro forma affair was certainly crushed under the losses, nay disgracing losses, incurred at Michilimackinac, Detroit, Amherstburg, Queenston Heights, and Frenchtown. BUT It would also be shameful for any rational reader to not be embarrassed and deeply sorrowed by the historical (and continuing current) treatment accorded by the Roman Catholic Church and the Canadian government to those aboriginal First Nations when it is equally obvious that, without their assistance, that USA walkover of a nascent Canada would have been a drop dead certainty.
It is worth reproducing Berton’s closing observation in its entirety:
The “attitude – that the British way is preferable to the American; that certain sensitive positions are better filled by appointment than by election; that order imposed from above has advantages over grassroots democracy (for which read “licence” or “anarchy”); that a ruling elite often knows better than the body politic – flourished as a result of an invasion repelled. Out of it, shaped by an emerging nationalism and tempered by rebellion, grew that special form of state paternalism that makes the Canadian way of life significantly different from the more individualistic American way. Thus, in a psychological as well as in a political sense, we are Canadians and not Americans because of a foolish war that scarcely anyone wanted or need, but which, once launched, none knew how to stop.”
The final two years of this travesty and the “conclusion” of the war are described in Berton’s FLAMES ACROSS THE BORDER. Definitely recommended to those who enjoyed well-written history that is anything but the oft-encountered turgid litany of dates, places and events.
Paul Weiss