The War of 1812

Question 1

Who fought in it?

Answer 1

• Between US, British Empire, & Aboriginal People
• Technically not fought between Canada and the US because Canada didn’t exist at the time -> just happened to be on what would later become Canadian Land (Ontario and Quebec)

Question 2

War of 1812: what is it? why does it matter?

Answer 2

• war fought between US, British, and Aboriginal people on what would later become Canadian land
• Confirmed existence of 2 distinct geopolitical entities in North America -> British North America and US
• Marked a turning point in the relationship between Aboriginal people and the British government in North America

Question 3

Turning point the Revolutionary War

Answer 3

• British won many important battles until 1777/1778 -> then tides turned thanks to the US’s assistance from France and Spain
• Turning point: Battle of Yorktown
• Then came period of negotiation -> peace treaty was signed to acknowledge independence of 13 colonies
• Established boundaries between US and British Empire

Question 4

phases in war of 1812

Answer 4

• Phase 1: 1811
• • US vs. Aboriginal people (Battle of Tippecanoe)
• Phase 2: 1812
• • US vs. Great Britain
• Phase 3: 1812
• • Alliance between Isaac Brock (Britain) & Tecumseh (Aboriginal people)

Question 5

tensions in North America leading up to War of 1812

Answer 5

• Problem 1: British Presence in the Northwest (South of Great Lakes) -> they didn’t respect the conditions that were laid out in the peace treaty and were still in places they weren’t supposed to be
• Problem 2: Aboriginal people in the Northwest -> British supported Aboriginal people and helped during the rebellion of the Shawnee tribe south of the Great Lakes
• Problem 3: The Napoleonic War -> British people stopped ships that came through and accidentally arrested Americans they thought were British -> US was mad

Question 6

Who won the war of 1812?

Answer 6

• Difficult to decide who won, but Aboriginal people definitely lost -> previously, Aboriginal people had been seen as military allies, but this ended after the War of 1812 -> they then started to be seen as a problem that needed to be addressed
• War of 1812 was last time Aboriginal people were seen as a powerful force

Question 7

Treaty of Ghent

Answer 7

all land captured during the war was given back to its original owners after the War of 1812 was over

Question 8

French relationship with Aboriginal people before 1812

Answer 8

• needed them to survive since French didn’t know how to survive in North America -> crucial for survival
• Saw them as trading partners, people they could convert, and as military allies

Question 9

English relationship with aboriginal people before 1812

Answer 9

• Mixed relationship
• Aboriginals didn’t like British people
• in 1763, only the British government was allowed to survey or buy land -> they claimed ownership of it over the Aboriginal people (Aboriginals couldn’t move it, etc.); Brits started a process of dispossession of Aboriginals and their land
• During Revolutionary War, aboriginal people fought with british, not Americans, because British didn’t want to live on the land (they just wanted to trade on it), whereas Americans wanted to live there)

Question 10

war of 1812 as turning point in aboriginal relations

Answer 10

• aboriginals stopped being seen as powerful force
• Following war -> Land-purchase policy, transfer of responsibility from British military to the civil authorities, Assimilationist policies

Question 11

Tecumseh: who was he? why does he matter?

Answer 11

• Shawnee leader of a Pan-Indian confederation
• Led battle against Americans at Tippecanoe
• Aligned with British during War of 1812
• Fought in the Battle of Thames alongside the British and against the Americans, where he was killed