The "Myth" of 1812

Being 2012, the government of Canada is planning to spend 28 million dollars this year to commemorate the War of 1812. This article in the Globe and Mail explains the "myth" that the War of 1812 was somehow foundational to our Canadian national identity. The author explains that our current government is capitalizing on this "myth":

History is once again there for the taking in the Conservatives' eyes, a perfect confection of flag-waving patriotism, swaggering belligerence, old-fashioned loyalty and long-gun longings.

 I have to admit that this "myth" lines up pretty well with the summary of the War of 1812 that I provide in my Social Studies class. I typically explain how the War of 1812 shows how French, English, and First Nations could have something in common that brought them together to define our nation in its earliest form as "not-American".

So why does the article claim that this paradigm is a "myth"? Apparently, the role of the Canadian militia has been over-exaggerated. The War of 1812 was really just an after-shock from the American Revolution. Proof? No Canadians were even present during the peace-negotiations in Belgium. The article also reminds us that Canadians weren't even really Canadians yet. In 1812, the term "Canadian" referred to French-Canadians and their First Nations allies. The English people who lived in the region were either British army or simply immigrants from other lands.

Debunking a "myth" makes for a good headline, but I still prefer elements of the "myth". Why did the French-Canadians not join the Americans in rebelling against Britain? Why did many First Nations people fight alongside the British army in the War of 1812? Didn't America represent "freedom and democracy", the "rights of man" and freedom from tyranny? Not to those living in the north. The fact is that they preferred an alliance with the British crown over the republicanism of the United States. This DOES bind together our national history as being not necessarily "pro-Canadian" but definitely "not-American", and should be a source of national pride to be celebrated.

After all, if we are not to some small extent "anti-American" then for what purpose is our distinct identity? If we aren't better alone, then why not just join the United States? Of course, this leads to great discussion in Social Studies class: "so what makes us better than Americans today?"

I recommend reading this entire article, and sounds like there will be lots of interesting resources to look forward to this year on the War of 1812.