War of 1812 Canadian? That's a Stretch

BNA generals, adept at dying despite winning.

I’m teaching a Canadian History and Culture class for immigrants and international students. It’s one of my favorite lessons: the War of 1812.

                Assuming that my audience know nothing about the war—fair as most Canadians know nothing about the war—I start off with a question. In pedagogical lingo, this is known as an icebreaker. I guess it means the same thing in all lingos for when you’re intending to start something.

                “Does anyone know why the White House is white?”

                They look at me, at each other, sensitive to the likely trick nature of the question. Don’t answer with the obvious. . . . Is this a race thing?

                “Because,” I say, “a group from British North America—Canada someday—attacked Washington, lit it on fire, and burned a substantial portion of the president’s house. When it was repaired, it was painted white: the White House.”

                They give me that mistrusting look that tells me that they are waiting for the punch line.

                “No really.” I tell them about Napoleon, about British raids on North American merchant ships, about American retaliation against the nearest British colony: the Canadas. I tell them about the American attack on York (Toronto). I tell them about Johnny Horton and “The Battle of New Orleans.”

                I tell them about how Major General Issac Brock led the British forces to victory in repelling the Americans, but was mortally wounded in doing so, following General Wolfe in that proud BNA tradition of dying in victory on Canadian soil. Canadian generals would only learn to survive their triumphs when they started commanding overseas.

                They don’t know what to make of all this. Is he serious? People from CANADA burned down the White House? Canada. Seriously. The place where people say “Excuse me” when they fart by themselves?

                “Well, no,” I correct, holding up a correctional finger in that way that says what I’m saying now is important and the rest of the lesson is just chaff. “It wasn’t Canada. Canada proper wouldn’t exist for 55 years. But neat story, eh?”

                Then I play them the Arrogant Worms' “The War of 1812,” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ety2FEHQgwM I point out the nod to Horton’s song, which was about the rest of the war, a war that would last another three years, inspire the lyrics to “The Star Spangled Banner,” and end in either a stalemate or an American victory, depending what country published the history book you read.

                I teach it because it's fun, not because it's especially Canadian.

                The historian in me loves that the Canadian Government has chosen to recognize the bi-centennial of the War of 1812. The historian in me also approves of the prime minister’s whacky little quest to find the Franklin Expedition. However, the Canadian in me shrugs and says we shouldn’t try to make the War of 1812+ into something it wasn’t, and maybe you should get off that icebreaker and back to work, sir.

                In taking a war—a war fought by the British, with a victory in the north, but overall a pretty much a loss—and making it out to be a major turning point in our history is too much like Americanizing our history for me. As with the Plains of Abraham, the significance was really on the eventual Canada. The Americans have created myths and heroes out of their history, usually with some tremendous embellishment. It’s a mistake for us to do the same, to try to create some sort of false gods so we can all feel proud at the sake of facts. That’s just not Canadian.

                At the risk of being too Canadian—sarcastic, self- and nationally-deprecating—let me say I do feel strongly about the effect later battles had on us as a nation. Much of our Canadianness, our non-Britishness, came at places like Vimy, and in the days afterward when the Canadian Corps fought under the command of the unlikely General Arthur Currie. There were battles that contributed to our national identity, sure, but Canada is a nation affected by war, not defined by it. I think that’s one of the most important differences between us and U.S.

                So if you’re interested in history, by all means learn a little about the war of 1812 (thru ’15). There’s a great government website currently dedicated to it. http://1812.gc.ca/eng/1305654894724 Learn about Issac Brock, Tecumseh, Laura Secord, and, yes, the burning of the White House. But don’t feel that guilty lack of patriotism if you’re a Canadian and this story is news to you. There are far more important—and more Canadian—things to make your maple-leaf tattoo swell with a burning need to cheer and then apologize for the noise. (Gold in swimming at the Paralympics—woot!)