War of 1812 Effects On People & Outcome PDF

THE EFFECTS OF THE WAR ON SOLDIERS HOW WERE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY Soldiers who fought i...

THE EFFECTS OF THE WAR ON SOLDIERS HOW WERE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY Soldiers who fought in the war experienced harsh battle conditions. THE WAR AND In addition to injuries and the death of their fellow soldiers, they faced deadly epidemics of disease, such as measles, malaria, and smallpox, and endured terrible weather conditions. For some soldiers, these conditions ITS OUTCOME? caused them to flee the army. It is estimated that over 1500 British soldiers from units in Upper and Lower Canada deserted their troops during the War of 1812. If British deserters were captured, they were whipped or sentenced to hard labour as a penalty. Some were even executed. Wars always have short-term and long-term effects. The people who fought LIVING IN A WAR ZONE in, and lived through, the War of 1812 were affected by its brutality. They Who had the Soldiers were not the only ones to experience tremendous hardships during FIGURE 6.26 The attack that Ryerse witnessed occurred on lived with the trauma of the war, both mental and physical, for many years. most to gain from a the war. Thousands of women and children were forced from their homes, December 10, 1813. Almost all of As well, the war was a turning point in the relationships among Aboriginal British victory in the including an estimated 2000 to 4500 First Nations women and children. the community’s possessions were War of 1812? They saw their family members and friends killed, their houses burned to burned and young and old alike peoples, the British, and the Americans. The long-term effects of the war on were left to freeze in the snow. Aboriginal peoples are still being felt today. the ground, and their food stolen by American soldiers. Estimates suggest Analyze: Why do you think the FIGURE 6.25 This 1971 painting that in Upper Canada, nearly 1 in 10 families lost property and 1 in 45 lost a invading American soldiers would FIGHTING IN THE WAR entitled The 104th (New family member in the war. burn homes and possessions? Brunswick) Regiment of Foot by Robert Marrion shows a pioneer Invading American soldiers posed a real danger in Upper People fought in the war for many different reasons. Some were shipped over of that regiment during the War and Lower Canada. Read the quote in Figure 6.26 by 16-year- “When I looked up I saw the from Britain to fight in the war and defend the colony. Others were colonists of 1812. Analyze: What does old Amelia Ryerse. She describes the destruction of present- hillside and the fields as far as the eye who were already living in Canada. Some were eager to defend their country. this painting tell you about this day Niagara-on-the-Lake by American soldiers. What does could reach covered with American Others felt obligated to fight in the war to protect their family soldier’s role? her experience tell you about what life was like for people soldiers.... Very soon we saw a column and their property. during the war? Although the British government offered of dark smoke rise from every building BLACK SOLDIERS to compensate people for their lost property, the payments and what at early [morning] had been Some soldiers fought to keep their freedom. If the came years later and were far less than what was lost. a prosperous homestead, at noon there Americans succeeded in taking over Canada, Black Loyalists Many women took care of homes, children, and farms were only smouldering ruins.” and other Black settlers could be forced back into slavery. when the men went off to fight. Women also provided vital — Amelia Ryerse, settler living in As you learned in Chapter 5, Richard Pierpoint was a Black support to soldiers in camps and on the battlefield. They Niagara-on-the-Lake Loyalist who escaped slavery and fought for the British prepared meals and mended and washed uniforms. They during the American Revolution. Wanting to fight in the nursed the wounded. Some women even took their children War of 1812, he petitioned the military to create a company and followed their husbands to the battlefields. What does the image in of Black soldiers. The Coloured Corps was the first all-Black Figure 6.27 tell you about some women’s involvement in the war? company and fought in several important battles. At the time, the term coloured was used to refer to Black people, FIGURE 6.27 This image from 1860 is entitled A Soldier’s Wife but it is not a term used today. Black soldiers also served at Fort Niagara. A woman is seen in other ways. Each fighting unit had a team of about 10 loading artillery with cannonballs men called pioneers. These pioneers were good with tools during a battle at the fort during the War of 1812. Analyze: What and, instead of fighting, they would build roads and bridges might the artist want to convey for the military and repair any damage to forts. Despite about women’s participation in the this, these soldiers still faced discrimination during their war effort? service. At the end of the war, they also were given less land and compensation than other soldiers. The soldier shown in Figure 6.25 served in an all-Black group of pioneers. Why do you think the artist chose to portray the soldier in this stance? 182 UNIT 2: Conflicts and Challenges in Canada: 1800–1850 NEL NEL CHAPTER 6: The War of 1812 183  FOCUS ON HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE How do you decide which stories to tell your friends, Read Figure 6.28, which is a letter FitzGibbon parents, or teachers? Are there some stories that wrote in 1827. Why do you think Secord might have you do not tell at all? Historians also make choices been left out of the original 1813 report? about what events, people, and developments are significant enough to research and retell. “The weather on the 22nd day of When you think about the historical significance June, 1813 was very hot, and Mrs. Secord, of various events, people, and developments, whose person was slight and delicate, you can ask yourself the following questions: appeared to have been and no doubt was Did the event, person, or development create very much exhausted by the exertion she a long-lasting change? made in coming to me, and I have ever since If so, how many people were affected, and held myself personally indebted to her for her were they affected profoundly or deeply? conduct upon that occasion.” Was this the first time that an event such — Lieutenant James FitzGibbon as this occurred or an idea such as this was introduced? Does this event, person, or development FIGURE 6.28 This excerpt from an 1827 letter was one of the first times FitzGibbon acknowledged Secord’s efforts. reveal something about the past that is Analyze: How does FitzGibbon describe Secord’s actions? different from the present? How did the significance of this event, person, Secord did not receive any recognition for her or development vary for different people? efforts until 1860 when a group of War of 1812 Has the historical significance of this event, veterans were addressing the Prince of Wales. person, or development changed over time? Secord insisted on being included. Impressed, the Prince sent Secord 100 pounds. What does Figure 6.29 tell you about how Secord and her CASE STUDY: LAURA SECORD story were treated over time? FIGURE 6.30 In Lorne K. Smith’s 1920 painting, Secord is shown informing British soldiers Laura Secord is one of the most well-known of the American invasion plans in June 1813. Analyze: How does this depiction of Secord women in Canadian history. Examine the evidence compare with what you know about the role of women during the War of 1812? here and consider whether you think she is historically significant. “Perhaps Laura Secord’s true Secord lived in the Niagara region in importance lies in what her story tells us about In 1913, Secord was chosen to be the public face TRY IT how history treats women. The stubborn old of a chocolate company because she represented 1. Is Laura Secord historically significant? Use Upper Canada. When the Americans occupied lady who only wanted her fair share of the courage, devotion, and loyalty. Her portrait has at least two of the significance questions to the area in 1813, Secord and her husband, James, patronage rewards was too real and too much been printed on stamps and she is the subject of explain your answer. were forced to take American soldiers into their like a man. She had to be turned into a many paintings, such as the one in Figure 6.30. As 2. How is Secord still relevant to us today? home. She heard about the soldiers’ plans to invade noble heroine.” well, there have been plays and music praising her 3. What other person from the War of 1812 do you the British territory known as Beaver Dams. She heroic act. Consider the perceptions of Secord at think is significant? Use the significance criteria walked more than 30 km through swamps and — Mona Holmlund and Gail Youngberg, different times. What do the different sources tell questions to support your answer. forest, avoiding American-occupied roads, to warn historians you about her historical significance? the British forces about the upcoming attack. When the attack came on June 24, 1813, the British FIGURE 6.29 This excerpt is from a 2003 book which profiled and Mohawk were prepared. They defeated the women in Canadian history. Analyze: What do Secord’s Americans. Secord was not mentioned in British experiences reveal about attitudes toward women during this Lieutenant James FitzGibbon’s official battle report. time period? 184 UNIT 2: Conflicts and Challenges in Canada: 1800–1850 NEL NEL CHAPTER 6: The War of 1812 185 THE END OF THE WAR IMPACT OF THE WAR ON When the Napoleonic Wars ended in Europe in the spring of 1814, more ABORIGINAL PEOPLES British resources became available to help fight the War of 1812. The end In all, more than 10 000 Métis and First Nations warriors, including of the Napoleonic Wars also brought about an end to impressment and Tecumseh’s confederacy, allied with the British to protect their lands and to restrictions on American shipping and trade. These were two of the reasons prevent any further expansion by the Americans. Members of the Shawnee, why the Americans had declared war in the first place. With their hope of Haudenosaunee Six Nations, Ojibwe, Dakota, and Mississauga nations, along taking over Canada fading, the United States began to look for ways to end with the Métis, fought in nearly every major battle during the war. Their the conflict with Britain. significance to British victories on the battlefields cannot be overstated. However, while there continues to be debate over whether the British THE TREATY OF GHENT or the Americans won the war, most historians agree that First Nations Both sides wanted to end the war. The Americans realized they could not on both sides of the border suffered the greatest losses in status and take over the colonies in Canada. Their goal was to protect the territory territory. First Nations peoples endure to this day the consequences of and independence that they had gained during the American Revolution. the War of 1812. The war was the last conflict in which the involvement As shown in Figure 6.31, representatives from both the United States of First Nations as partners was critical. After the war ended, the British and Britain met in Europe to negotiate peace. These negotiations took What would stopped creating military alliances with First Nations. They also began motivate government months, however, and so the war continued. In fact, while they were to focus on policies of assimilation, as well as continuing to obtain policies to change how negotiating peace in August 1814, the British burned down the capital in First Nations’ land for new British settlers. Aboriginal peoples are Washington, D.C. treated? The Treaty of Ghent was signed in Belgium on December 24, 1814, FIRST NATIONS AND THE TREATY OF GHENT officially ending of the War of 1812. Despite the peace treaty being There were no representatives from First Nations present during the signed, Britain and the United States clashed again in the major Battle of negotiations for the Treaty of Ghent. What does the quote in Figure 6.32 tell New Orleans (see Figure 6.18). you about the reaction of First Nations to the treaty? While the British did The Treaty of Ghent essentially returned everything to the way it was try to negotiate an established territory for First Nations peoples, the United FIGURE 6.31 This painting, The before the war. Any territories that the British had won during the war were Signing of the Treaty of Ghent by States refused. With the stroke of a pen, First Nations lost their military and returned to the Americans. Any territories that the Americans had won were Sir Amédée Forestier, was created economic allies in North America. Promises made by the British before the returned to the British. The border between the United States and Canada in 1914. It shows representatives war in order to secure First Nations alliances were also quickly abandoned from the British and American stayed the same. Both the British and the Americans walked away from the governments shaking hands after and soon forgotten. What does the quote in Figure 6.33 tell you about the treaty believing that they had won the war. signing the treaty. Analyze: Who is perspective of First Nations peoples on the the treaty today? missing from these negotiations? “After we have fought for you, endured many FIGURE 6.32 This statement was made by hardships, lost some of our people and awakened the Chief Little Crow in 1816 after the Treaty of Ghent was vengeance of our powerful neighbours, you make peace signed. He was angered by Britain’s acceptance of for yourselves, leaving us to obtain such terms as we can.” Article 9 in the Treaty of Ghent. Article 9 offered no protection of First Nations’ interests. Analyze: What — Chief Little Crow, Lakota First Nation are Chief Little Crow’s concerns as a result of the Treaty of Ghent? FIGURE 6.33 This comment “Our ancestors did contribute to building this nation, and it from Chief Bear appeared in a should be recognized and acknowledged. But it’s also a story about National Post article on June 17, 2012. Analyze: What one word, betrayal, too. The British and the United States signed a peace treaty on or few words, in this comment the other side of the ocean—in Europe, in Belgium—and the First Nations, summarizes your understanding of of course, weren’t there to represent themselves. And all of the promises the treatment of First Nations after the War of 1812? made at the beginning, like the creation of a homeland state for First Nations, that was gone. The United States pushed the negotiations to eliminate those promises. And the British abandoned their allies.” — Chief Darcy Bear, Whitecap Dakota First Nation 186 UNIT 2: Conflicts and Challenges in Canada: 1800–1850 NEL NEL CHAPTER 6: The War of 1812 187  TERRITORY LOSSES THE QUESTION OF WHO WON THE WAR First Nations fought in the War of 1812 to protect their lands from History often looks at war in terms of who won and who lost. So who won settlement by the Americans and to create an “Indian” state. In the summer the War of 1812? There are many different perspectives on this question. Why do you think of 1815, the United States signed treaties with different First Nations, Some people argue that it was a second war of independence for the United the Americans and guaranteeing those nations the land that had belonged to them in 1811. States, and that the Americans successfully defended themselves against the Can a war be the British were able However, the United States never returned any of the land that First Nations considered significant to ignore agreements British. Others argue that the Canadians won, and see the war as a moment had prior to 1811. In fact, the advance of settlers into First Nations’ territory if there is not a clear they made with when we came together to defend ourselves as a nation, separate from winner? Why, or why First Nations? increased, pushing First Nations peoples north and west, off their land. the United States. There is a saying that states, “History is written by the not? Explain. Read the excerpt in Figure 6.34 and examine the map in Figure 6.35, victors.” What do you think this means? Who do you think was victorious in which shows First Nations lands in the United States before and after the the War of 1812? Consider Figure 6.36, which is one historian’s viewpoint War of 1812. What do these sources tell you about the outcome of the war on the War of 1812. for First Nations peoples and their lands? FIGURE 6.34 This quote from “The War of 1812 is one of those episodes in Macleod, curator of the Canadian “Native Americans that fought as British allies hoped that the history that makes everybody happy, because War Museum’s 1812 exhibit, support of a powerful European ally would allow them to roll back appeared in a National Post article everybody interprets it in his own way. The Americans on December 12, 2012. Analyze: the American settlement frontier and secure their homelands and think of it primarily as a naval war in which the pride Why is the phrase “catastrophic independence. Instead, they suffered a catastrophic defeat.” of the Mistress of the Seas was humbled.… Canadians defeat” an appropriate way to — Peter Macleod, Canadian War Museum curator think of it equally pridefully as a war of defense in which describe the outcome of the War of 1812 for First Nations peoples? their brave fathers, side by side, turned back the massed might of the United States and saved the country from conquest. And the English are the happiest of all, First Nations’ Land Losses in Northeastern United States, 1784–1850 because they don’t even know it happened.” FIGURE 6.35 This map shows the course of American expansion — C.P. Stacey, Canadian military historian onto First Nations lands in under a century. Analyze: What does Lake FIGURE 6.36 Stacey shared this viewpoint on the War of 1812 in a the map tell you about the loss of Superior 1964 book about the war. Analyze: Whose viewpoint is missing in First Nations lands before and after CANADA Stacey’s quote? the War of 1812? N Lake Between 2012 and 2014, there were many celebrations Huron rio and events in Canada to mark the 200th anniversary of the Lake Michigan Onta Lake War of 1812, like the one shown in Figure 6.37. What do these celebrations say about the significance of the war for ie Canadians today? e Er L ak FIGURE 6.37 The Niagara Parks Commission stages a re-enactment of the Siege of Fort Erie every August. Analyze: Why might someone participate in a historical re-enactment? ATLANTIC OCEAN UNITED CHECK-IN STATES land lost prior to 1784 land lost from 1784–1810 1. CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCE What were the 3. EVALUATE AND DRAW CONCLUSIONS Examine the land lost from 1810–1850 consequences of the War of 1812 for experiences of Black people, women, and present-day Canada and First Nations? Which consequences do First Nations peoples during the war. Was the 0 125 km United States border you think were unintended? War of 1812 a period of progress or decline for 2. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE In what ways is the each of these groups? War of 1812 relevant to Canadians today? Explain. 188 UNIT 2: Conflicts and Challenges in Canada: 1800–1850 NEL NEL CHAPTER 6: The War of 1812 189