The War of 1812: Canada's True Birth

‘A diverse country, Canada’s origin as a country working to protect the collection of cultures stems from the War of 1812, when all of Canada’s people banded together. At the beginning of the war, French and British relations were troubled, climaxing in the 1812 Lachine Riot before the war. However, out of a desire to preserve their heritage, French fought for Canada’s independence. Their most renowned success was in the Battle of Chateauguay. This battle had the least amount of casualties but was also one of the most detrimental to American strategy. American General Wade Hampton had planned to break into Lower Canada in order to capture Montreal and brought with him 3000 troops. They faced a much smaller collection of French and Native American militia without any British support. The Canadian soldiers hid behind strong defensive works and made a cacophony of noise to confuse the American soldiers and appear larger than they were. Led by French general Charles-Michel d’Irumberry without any British help, this battle became a source of pride for French Canadians. From the Battle of Chateauguay, it is evident that the threat of an American invasion was effective in uniting British and French Canadians together. Canada’s First Nations also played an imperative role in the War of 1812 by aiding French and British troops with their knowledge of the land and support.