Wednesday, June 06, 2012

How important was the War of 1812?

It is easy to be snarky about the War of 1812.  Someone on the radio today did precisely what I have done in the past -- compare the North American war to the invasion of Russia.  I always follow that quip up by referring "of course" to the fact that the war was a real turning point for Canada.

But today I have reason to wonder.  I was in a university library looking at the section where they keep books on 1812 written from the Canadian point of view and I noticed that there are more books on 1837 than on 1812.  A LOT more.

Hunh.

All you readers, US, Canadian, or Other can now look up 1837.

1 comment:

Ἀντισθένης said...

1837 indeed. Got itself a decent beer named after the event, with a great graphic.

When I think of the War of 1812, I think of how little Canadians have to celebrate for it:
- there was no such thing as a political entity Canada
- or much sense of one
- it was a British victory
- and the balance of power that let the British win was Native allies
- the promises made to them were not kept