Canada has faced challenging times before - reader points out historical examples

America has long held the view that its takeover of the whole continent, known as “Manifest Destiny,” is inevitable. President Trump’s 51st state is simply the latest iteration. At times, the view has nearly become a reality with American invasions of Canada, sometimes at Amherstburg.

The first American invasion occurred during the American Revolution (1775) when a decision was made to “liberate” Canada from British tyranny.  Canadians were not interested. America was defeated at Quebec City. The United Empire Loyalists came north and settled Amherstburg. 

The War of 1812 saw several American invasions of Canada, some locally north of town at River Canard Bridge (1812) and south at Malden (1813). Subsequent invasions at Niagara and near Montreal eventually were repulsed.

In 1864 near the end of the American Civil War, invasion talk arose again.

President Lincoln had wanted to punish Britain for trading with the South and for Confederates operating against the North from Canada. One of those incidents involved Confederates from Amherstburg seizing a steamer, Philo Parsons, to free Confederate officers held prisoner on a Lake Erie island. After Lincoln’s assassination, President Grant had no interest in invasion partly because he thought Canada would collapse anyway.

In the 20th century, Manifest Destiny has arisen at times. In the 1950s, Senator Paul Martin (then a federal Minister) was invited to speak at an American meeting on joining the two countries. He said that he looked forward to the day when the Canadian flag would fly proudly over the whole continent. The silence was deafening.

Against the odds, Canada has survived.

—Terry Hall

Amherstburg

Canada has faced challenging times before - reader points out historical examples