DOCSLIB.ORG

The Canadian Rebellions of 1837 and 1838 As a Borderland War: a Retrospective Tom Dunning

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Canadian Rebellions of 1837 and 1838 As a Borderland War: a Retrospective Tom Dunning Document generated on 09/25/2021 10:20 a.m. Ontario History The Canadian Rebellions of 1837 and 1838 as a Borderland War: A Retrospective Tom Dunning Consequences of Rebellious Acts: The 1837 & 1838 Rebellions Article abstract Volume 101, Number 2, Fall 2009 Historians of Southwestern United States history and culture have created the concept of a borderland to explain the historical circumstances of the area URI: https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/1065615ar where Anglo-America ran into Hispanic America. Its application to the Upper DOI: https://doi.org/10.7202/1065615ar Canada-Great Lakes area during 1837-1838 will allow a re-interpretation of the Canadian Rebellions of 1837 and the subsequent invasions of 1838 as part of a See table of contents borderland war. Hopefully this approach will eliminate any tensions over the nationalist component of the Canadian Exiles or American Patriot Hunters. I also want to focus on the Battle of Prescott or the Windmill as the significant event of this borderland war, relying on the writings of two of the Exile Publisher(s) narrativists, William Gates and Stephen Wright. Finally I hope to contribute The Ontario Historical Society some reflections on the significance of these Exiles/Patriots after almost twenty years of an acquaintance of sort with them. ISSN 0030-2953 (print) 2371-4654 (digital) Explore this journal Cite this article Dunning, T. (2009). The Canadian Rebellions of 1837 and 1838 as a Borderland War: A Retrospective. Ontario History, 101(2), 129–141. https://doi.org/10.7202/1065615ar Copyright © The Ontario Historical Society, 2009 This document is protected by copyright law. Use of the services of Érudit (including reproduction) is subject to its terms and conditions, which can be viewed online. https://apropos.erudit.org/en/users/policy-on-use/ This article is disseminated and preserved by Érudit. Érudit is a non-profit inter-university consortium of the Université de Montréal, Université Laval, and the Université du Québec à Montréal. Its mission is to promote and disseminate research. https://www.erudit.org/en/ 129 The Canadian Rebellions of 1837 and 1838 as a Borderland War: A Retrospective by Tom Dunning moved to Tasmania [Van Diemen’s Cassandra Pybus.3 Land, (VDL)] in 1985 to take up an Whilst important works, they are academic position at the University not definitive in the sense of closing off Iof Tasmania, teaching North American further discussion and debate about the history. I soon became aware of the ex- significance of these men, their actions istence of a group of North Americans, and their experiences. This issue will il- referred to as the “Canadian Exiles,” who lustrate the ongoing significance of the had been transported to VDL in 1839- Exiles. It is with great pleasure and appre- 40 for invading Canada. I published my ciation that I make this contribution to first article about these men in 19911 and this edition of Ontario History. gradually, through Stuart Scott, became I want to return to material and is- aware of a dedicated group of scholars sues I first raised in two articles: one who had been chronicling their history. from 19954 and another in 1999.5 I want Some of these individuals are represented to revisit the idea that the invasions of in this issue of Ontario History. I was for- Canada can be usefully conceptualized tunate to meet some of them at a small as a borderland war. Hopefully this will conference at Brock University in 1997, eliminate any tensions over the national- organized by Stuart Scott. Work on the ist component of the Canadian Exiles or Exiles has accelerated with the publica- American Patriot Hunters. I also want to tion of book-length studies by Scott2 focus on the Battle of the Windmill at and by my colleagues at the University of Prescott, as the significant event of this Tasmania, Hamish Maxwell-Stewart and borderland war, and rely on the writings 1 Tom Dunning, “Convict Resistance: the American Political Prisoners in Van Deimen’s Land,” Tas- manian Historical Research Association (THRA) Papers and Proceedings, 38 (June, 1991), 88-97. 2 Stuart Scott, To the Outskirts of Habitable Creation: Americans and Canadians Transported to Tas- mania in the 18�0s (New York: iUniverse Press, 2004). 3 Cassandra Pybus & Hamish Maxwell-Stewart, American Citizens, British Slaves: Yankee Political Prisoners in an Australian Penal Colony, 1839-18�0 (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2002). 4 T. P. Dunning, “The Canadian Rebellions of 1837-38; An Episode in Northern Borderland His- tory,” Australasian Journal of American Studies, (AJAS) 14 (December, 1995) 31-49. 5 Thomas P. Dunning, “The Adventures of Patriot Hunters: Danger, Memory, Place and Virtue at the Windmill”, Canadian Review of American Studies 29 (1991) 109-121. Ontario History / Volume CI No. 2 / Autumn 2009 130 ONTARIO HISTORY ty years of an acquaintance of sorts with them. Hopefully Abstract this will form a useful intro- Historians of Southwestern United States history and culture have created the concept of a borderland to explain the histori- duction to this collection of cal circumstances of the area where Anglo-America ran into articles. Hispanic America. Its application to the Upper Canada-Great Historians of South- Lakes area during 1837-1838 will allow a re-interpreta- western United States his- tion of the Canadian Rebellions of 1837 and the subsequent invasions of 1838 as part of a borderland war. Hopefully tory and culture have created this approach will eliminate any tensions over the national- the concept of a borderland ist component of the Canadian Exiles or American Patriot to explain the historical cir- Hunters. I also want to focus on the Battle of Prescott or the cumstances of the area where Windmill as the significant event of this borderland war, rely- Anglo-America ran into His- ing on the writings of two of the Exile narrativists, William Gates and Stephen Wright. Finally I hope to contribute some panic America. These histori- reflections on the significance of these Exiles/Patriots after ans have shown little interest almost twenty years of an acquaintance of sort with them. in national mythologies or Résumé: Les historiens spécialisés dans l’étude de la culture et westward movement. Rather de l’histoire du sud-ouest des États-Unis, ont développé le con- than seeing lines of political cept de ‘région frontalière’ pour rendre compte des circonstances sovereignty, they describe historiques du face à face des Espagnols et des Anglo-Américains continuous terrains through dans cette région. Reprenant ce concept, et l’appliquant à la which they trace commercial région des Grands Lacs et du Haut-Canada pendant les années 1837-1838, nous réexaminons dans cet article les rébellions de ties, migration patterns, class 1837 et les invasions qui ont suivi en 1838. Nous les réinterpré- and racial structures and tons comme des épisodes d’une guerre de régions frontalières, une cross-cultural relationships. approche qui pourrait notamment permettre, nous l’espérons, These areas are the scenes d’éliminer les tensions créées par l’élément nationaliste chez les Exilés canadiens ou les Patriotes américains. Notre étude, qui of intense negotiations, of s’appuie sur les récits qu’en on fait deux exilés, William Gates cultural conflict, and of the et Stephen Wright, traite plus particulièrement de la bataille reshaping of multiple social de Prescott, celle dite du Moulin à Vent, un événement dé- roles and identities.6 terminant de cette guerre. Après avoir travaillé depuis près de South-western histori- vingt ans sur les Exilés / Patriotes, je cherche ainsi à ouvrir de nouvelles perspectives sur cet épisode de l’histoire canadienne. ans have principally used this concept, but it is certainly employable in other socio- of two of the Exile narrativists, William geographic regions. Its application to the Gates and Stephen Wright. Finally I hope Upper Canada-Great Lakes area during to contribute some reflections on the sig- 1837-1838 will allow a re-interpretation nificance of these men after almost twen- of the Canadian Rebellions of 1837 and 6 See Gerald E. Poyo and Gilberto M. Hinojosa, “Spanish Texas and Borderlands Historiography in Transition: Implications for United States History,” Journal of American History, 75, (September 1988), 393-416. canadan rebellons as a borderlne war 131 the subsequent invasions of 1838 as part colony in British North America. It was of a borderland conflict.7 clearly an area for Loyalist colonisation, completely separate from the old seignio- pper Canada was a borderland from rial lands of Quebec.9 Uits inception in 1791, when the The first lieutenant governor, John British divided the territory of Quebec Simcoe, was a military leader with Amer- along the Ottawa River to form Lower ican Revolutionary war experience. He Canada and Upper Canada.8 It was the set up his capital near the American resettlement of Loyalist refugees after border at Newark. Here, Simcoe, in a the American Revolution that led to this fortress, established a nineteenth-cen- division. These refugees included thou- tury version of British garrison govern- sands of discharged soldiers, American ment, which placed a military executive Tory civilians, Indian allies of the British, in charge of a local elite, which itself free blacks, escaped slaves, religious dis- depended on monarchical patronage, senters and various ethnic groups. After in this instance through direct crown initial settlement in New Brunswick and financing of such items as Loyalist war Nova Scotia, many of these people agi- claims.10 Simcoe, however, was not con- tated for a new province. In response, the tent with this convenient arrangement. British undertook a vigorous program to He wished to substitute commercial val- develop and secure a first, wholly inland ues for the old imperial-military ones in 7 John Francis Bannon in The Spanish Borderlands Frontier (University of New Mexico Press: Albu- querque, 1974), first suggested comparison with the Anglo-American frontier.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Canada Rebellion 1837 Mss
    Canada Rebellion 1837 Mss. Coll. No. 55 .5 linear feet Historical note The Canadian Rebellion of 1837 was a movement in Lower Canada toward establishing a French Republic on the St. Lawrence River that was led by Louis Joseph Papineau. During the same year William Lyon MacKenzie led a similar armed revolt in Upper Canada which failed, he then fled to the United States and established headquarters on Navy Island on the Canadian side of the Niagara river and tried to continue the rebellion with the aid of sympathizers from the United States. Among the battles fought during the “Patriot War” was the 1838 Battle of the Windmill, November 12-16. Fought near Prescott, Ontario, across the St. Lawrence River from Ogdensburg, NY, some 300 ragtag, mostly U.S. invaders, attempted to cut off the communication lines of British troops by overtaking Fort Wellington in Prescott. The invasion was a complete failure, with only about 200 landing at Windmill Point. The insurgents were repelled by British regular troops, navy ships and local militia over the four day fight. 159 of the invading force were taken prisoner. The leader of the invaders, Nils Von Schoultz, was executed a few weeks later. Scope & contents This collection (formerly known as Patriots War Collection) consists of several original letters relating to the Battle of the Windmill plus photocopies of other letters, clippings, a list of Americans captured and photos of Windmill Point, Prescott, Ontario. Also included is an article "Mackenzies 1837 Rebellion" as well as copies of The New Yorker from 1838 and The Albion from 1835 to 1844 that contain relevant articles about the rebellion.
    [Show full text]
  • The Battles of the Windmill
    It is an unknown fact of history that there were actually two Battles of the Wind­ mill and, although the first Battle of the Windmill is well known to historians it is time that the second battle of the Windmill be recorded for posterity since we have such record in the diary and field notes of James West, Provincial Land Surveyor and Civil Engineer. The windmill, now decapitated and converted into a lighthouse in 1872 stands on Windmill Point V/2 miles east of the Town of Prescott on the St. Lawrence River. It was erected in 1822 by a West Indian merchant named Hughes and served the farmers in Grenville County. The village, adjacent to the mill, is now nothing but roofless, window- less stone ruins. The first Battle of the Windmill occurred because of the unrest in both the United States and the five Canadian provinces in the 1830’s. There was a rebellion in both Upper and Lower Canada in 1837, the uprising under William Lyon Mackenzie in Upper Canada at Toronto and the rebellion in Lower Canada under Louis-Joseph Papineau. After the unsuccessful uprisings, Mackenzie, Papineau and other Canadian leaders stirred up strong sympathy among the American population when they had fled across the border. This was instrumental in the formation of secret, underground Patriot Hunter’s The Lodges both in the United States and Canada. By the middle of 1838 they probably numbered 150,000 members, all of whom were dedicated to the forcible overthrow of Canada’s so-called “Oppressors”. After the senseless acts at Prescott in November 1838 and a few weeks later at Windsor, both American and Canadian popular support of the Battles Movement dwindled until the Hunter organization disappeared in 1842.
    [Show full text]
  • Ft Wellington and Vicinity Prescott, Ontario
    GUIDE TO FT WELLINGTON AND VICINITY PRESCOTT, ONTARIO A WISE NATION PRESERVES ITS RECORDS-GATHERS UP ITS MUNI­ MENTS-DECORATES THE TOMBS OF ITS ILLUSTRIOUS DEAD-REPAIRS ITS GREAT PUBLIC STRUCTURES &. FOS" TERS NATIONAL PRIDE AND LOVE OF COUNTRY'BY PERPETUAL REFER­ ENCE TO THE SACRIFICES & GLORIES OF THE PAST • • • JOSEPH HOWE /SAIIOKAL EARKS OF CANADA-HISTORIC SITES FORT WELLINGTON Prescott Ontario A brief history of the famous Fort Wellington and other historic sites in its immediate vicinity adjacent to the beautiful and incomparable waterway of the St. Lawrence river, along which were enacted events that mark the con­ tests of the British and French andihe British and the United States for the possession of Canada. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HON. CHARLES STEWART - - Minister W. W. CORY. C.M.G. - Deputy Minister J. B. HARKIN - Commissioner. National Parks of Canada. Ottawa HISTORIC SITES OF PRESCOTT AND VICINITY FORT WELLINGTON. WINDMILL POINT, FORT DE LEVIS, CHRYSLER'S FARM, POINTE AU BARIL The group of historic sites to which attention is directed in this brochure all lie in the vicinity of Prescott, Ontario, on the north shore of the beautiful St. Lawrence, one of the world's most magnificent waterways. Before the advent of the railway or the construction of the Rideau canal the St. Lawrence river was the only direct means of communication between Quebec, Montreal, and the region now known as the province of Ontario, with the exception of the then far-away and still more precarious Ottawa. Many of the historic events that marked the contests of the British and French and the British and the United States troops for the possession of Canada were therefore enacted on the great river.
    [Show full text]
  • The Battle of the Windmill Revisited: As Recounted by Lieutenant Andrew Agnew, 93Rd Highland Regiment of Foot, 8 December 1838
    Canadian Military History Volume 9 Issue 4 Article 7 2000 The Battle of the Windmill Revisited: As recounted by Lieutenant Andrew Agnew, 93rd Highland Regiment of Foot, 8 December 1838 Andrew Agnew Scott McLean Queen’s International Study Centre Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh Part of the Military History Commons Recommended Citation Agnew, Andrew and McLean, Scott "The Battle of the Windmill Revisited: As recounted by Lieutenant Andrew Agnew, 93rd Highland Regiment of Foot, 8 December 1838." Canadian Military History 9, 4 (2000) This Feature is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Canadian Military History by an authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Agnew and McLean: Battle of the Windmill Revisited The Battle of the Windmill Revisited As recounted by Lieutenant Andrew Agnew, 93rd Highland Regiment of Foot, 8 December 1838 Scott A. McLean he failure of William Lyon McKenzie, Louis (1967), and accounts of the conflict may also T Joseph Papineau, and other like-minded be found in contemporary issues of the reformers to bring about meaningful change Kingston Chronicle and Gazette. However, the in the political, economic, and social structure information remains somewhat cursory and of Upper and Lower Canada in 1837 did not limited in colour and detail. The letter end to possibility of rebellion, and in fact a reprinted below was written on 8 December greater threat came in 1838, with widespread 1838, the very day Nils von Schoultz was filibustering along the American border.
    [Show full text]
  • London Journal of Canadian Studies Article
    London Journal of Canadian Studies Article The Canadian Civil Wars of 1837–1838 Phillip Buckner1,* How to cite: Buckner, P., ‘The Canadian Civil Wars of 1837–1838’. London Journal of Canadian Studies, 2020, 35(1), pp. 96–118. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444. ljcs.2020v35.005. Published: 30 November 2020 Peer Review: This article has been peer-reviewed through the journal’s standard double-blind peer review, where both the reviewers and authors are anonymized during review. Copyright: © 2020, Phillip Buckner. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licence (CC-BY) 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited • DOI: https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444.ljcs.2020v35.005. Open Access: London Journal of Canadian Studies is a peer-reviewed open-access journal. * Correspondence: [email protected] 1 University of New Brunswick, Canada © 2020, Phillip Buckner. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY) 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited • DOI: https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444.ljcs.2020v35.005 The Canadian Civil Wars of 1837–1838 Phillip Buckner Abstract Canadian historians have traditionally stressed that the rebellions of 1837 and 1838 in Upper and Lower Canada were revolts against British imperial authority. Less stressed has been the fact that the rebellions were also civil wars and that British troops were aided by substantial numbers of loyalists in defeating the rebels.
    [Show full text]
  • Fort Wellington & the Battle of the Windmill
    Fort Wellington & The Battle Of The Windmill national historic sites of canada Management Plan April, 2001 FORT WELLINGTON & THE BATTLE OF THE WINDMILL NATIONAL HISTORIC SITES OF CANADA Management Plan FOREWORD The Government of Canada is committed to the protection and presentation of our human heritage. As Minister of Canadian Heritage responsible for Parks Canada, it is my responsibility to safeguard the integrity of our national historic sites. It is in the spirit of this mandate, which was entrusted to me by the people of Canada, that I approve the Fort Wellington and the Battle of the Windmill National Historic Sites of Canada Management Plan, an example of our commitment to the protection of our historic places for the enjoyment of present and future generations. Fort Wellington and the Battle of the Windmill National Historic Sites of Canada, located in and adjacent to the Town of Prescott, Ontario were designated as being of national significance shortly after the end of World War I at a time when there was growing interest in preserving Canada’s past. Both sites played an important role in the defence of Canada. Fort Wellington played an important role in defending the St. Lawrence River during the War of 1812 and the Rebellion of 1837. The Battle of the Windmill site was the location of a victory of a British force over an invading force of Americans and Canadian rebels in November 1838. They stand as a testament to the time when relations with our southerly neighbour led to open hostilities. Parks Canada has the responsibility to preserve these places and to inform Canadians of their national historic significance.
    [Show full text]
  • FORMER TIMES Issue 14
    GLAMORGAN SPRING BAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC. issue 14 march 2020 22 Franklin Street open 10am - 4pm tuesdays & fridays Swansea TAS 7190 ☞ 6256 5077 ☞ 6257 9011 From our Secretary t has been some time since our last issue, time has just Our next General Meeting is not scheduled until flown by, and we do apologise for our laxity. We hope 8th May, whether this goes ahead or not will depend on you enjoy this issue of Former Times. the situation and advice we receive closer to the date. IWe are pleased to include an article by our North American Please every one, respect the situation and stay safe. correspondent Dr John Carter on a political prisoner John Berry and his connection to Van Diemen’s Land. Society Membership Membership of the Glamorgan Spring Bay Historical We also mark the recent passing of Life member Grace Society stands at 94 financial and Life members. Freeman, with a tribute from Judie Hastie. And, notice from Amos Family Bi Centenary Committee on the Recent new members include Josephine Fenn-Smith, marking of he arrival of Meredith & Amos families in Michael Meredith, Christine Woods, Vicki Hill, Margaret March 1821. Evers, Julie Hawkins, Rae Campbell, Lyn Hatton, Jennifer Agius, Francine Targett and Hilary Burden. We welcome Remember this newsletter is for all, and articles are you all to the Society. welcome and gladly accepted. If you do have something of an historical nature, especially to do with our area, the Late last year the Society recognised the work of former Society is happy to include it in future issues.
    [Show full text]
  • Battle of the Windmill National Historic Site Management
    July 2017 Battle Of The Windmill National Historic Site of Canada Management Statement ii Approval Approved by: ________________________ _____________ Katherine Patterson Date Field Unit Superintendent Georgian Bay and Ontario East Parks Canada Battle Of The Windmill National Historic Site iii Management Statement The Parks Canada Agency manages one of the finest and most extensive systems of protected natural and historic areas in the world. The Agency’s mandate is to protect and present these places for the benefit and enjoyment of current and future generations. This management statement outlines Parks Canada’s management approach and objectives for the Battle of the Windmill National Historic Site. The Battle of the Windmill National Historic Site is located east of the Town of Prescott Ontario on the St. Lawrence River in the Township of Edwardsburg / Cardinal. The site was acquired by the Department of the Interior in 1923 and subsequently designated as a national historic site in 1925. The designation relates to the site’s involvement in the rebellion of 1838 and victory at the site by a British force consisting of imperial and colonial forces over an invading force of American “Hunters” and Canadian rebels. The historic site consists of an area of land and water surrounding the windmill and extending north of the windmill in a narrow strip of land between old Highway 2 and Highway 2. The resources of national historic significance consist of the following: the windmill tower, archaeological remains including the structures from the village of Newport destroyed during the battle, artifacts related to the battle, resources from the windmill’s construction, post-battle period, lighthouse conversion and occupation from 1873-1923.
    [Show full text]
  • British Efforts to Secure Kingston from Rebellion in the Winter of 1837-1838 Robert W
    Document généré le 25 sept. 2021 07:25 Ontario History “This Period of Desperate Enterprise” British efforts to secure Kingston from rebellion in the winter of 1837-1838 Robert W. Garcia Consequences of Rebellious Acts: The 1837 & 1838 Rebellions Résumé de l'article Volume 101, numéro 2, fall 2009 Nous étudions dans cet article les mesures prises par les autorités militaires britanniques en poste à Kington, pour répondre au déclenchement de la URI : https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/1065616ar rébellion du Haut-Canada en décembre 1837. Cette rébellion eut lieu à un DOI : https://doi.org/10.7202/1065616ar moment particulièrement difficile, la plupart de la garnison régulière de Kingston venant d’être envoyée au Bas-Canada pour y éteindre la révolte, Aller au sommaire du numéro laissant ainsi la ville ouverte aux attaques des Patriotes. De plus, la construction de Fort Henry, commencée en 1832, n’était pas encore achevée; or ce fort devait être l’un des éléments essentiels d’un système de fortifications qui visait à protéger le principal dépôt militaire de la province, les entrepôts de Éditeur(s) la Marine Royale et l’entrée du canal Rideau. Commandé par Richard The Ontario Historical Society Bonnycastle, du régiment Royal Engineers, un petit nombre d’officiers britanniques d’active et des vétérans du cadre de réserve, prirent des mesures énergiques pour organiser et entraîner les volontaires et les recrues encore ISSN inexpérimentées de la malice canadienne. L’efficacité de cette préparation fut 0030-2953 (imprimé) mise à l’épreuve à la fin de février 1838, quand les Patriotes lancèrent une 2371-4654 (numérique) attaque majeure en vue de s’emparer de la ville de Kingston.
    [Show full text]
  • 2- Battle of the Windmill National Historic Site Windmill Tower (Continued)
    Battle of the Windmill National Historic Site Windmill Tower Prescott, Ontario HERITAGE CHARACTER STATEMENT Windmill Tower was built in approximately 1832, as a wind-powered grist mill. During the Rebellion of 1837-38, it was the site of the Battle of the Windmill, and milling operations permanently ceased at this time. In 1872, it was converted to a lighthouse. Since 1978, it has been interpreted as a battle site. Environment Canada Canadian Parks Service is the custodial department. See FHBRO Building Report 88-76. Reasons for Designation The Windmill Tower was designated Classified because of its important historical associations, its functional design and its environment. The current physical form of the Tower is a result of its evolving historical function: gristmill, Rebellion battlesite and defence location, and lighthouse. It was initially built as a grist mill, one of a very few wind-powered mills in English Canada. During the Rebellion of 1837-38, it was the scene of an important battle when Americans who supported the Rebellion attempted a landing at Prescott in 1838 which led to a battle at the Windmill. To defend against further invasions, the tower was occupied for the subsequent year by British troops. In 1872, the tower was converted to a lighthouse to facilitate use of the St. Lawrence as a transportation route. Finally, as a result of its role in the Rebellion, it was designated by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board in 1923, and it is currently interpreted by the Canadian Parks Service as a battle site. Windmill Tower is a rare surviving example of an English-built wind-powered mill in Upper Canada.
    [Show full text]
  • To Excite the Feelings of Noble Patriots:” Emotion, Public Gatherings, and Mackenzie’S
    A Dissertation entitled “To Excite the Feelings of Noble Patriots:” Emotion, Public Gatherings, and Mackenzie’s American Rebellion, 1837-1842 by Joshua M. Steedman Submitted to the Graduate Faculty as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy History ___________________________________________ Dr. Ami Pflugrad-Jackisch, Committee Chair ___________________________________________ Dr. Kim Nielsen, Committee Member ___________________________________________ Dr. Roberto Padilla II, Committee Member ___________________________________________ Dr. Rebecca Mancuso, Committee Member ___________________________________________ Dr. Cyndee Gruden, Dean College of Graduate Studies The University of Toledo August 2019 Copyright 2019, Joshua M. Steedman This document is copyrighted material. Under copyright law, no parts of this document may be reproduced without the expressed permission of the author. An Abstract of “To Excite the Feelings of Noble Patriots:” Emotion, Public Gatherings, and Mackenzie’s American Rebellion, 1837-1842 by Joshua M. Steedman Submitted to the Graduate Faculty as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in History The University of Toledo August 2019 This dissertation is a cultural history of the American reaction to the Upper Canadian Rebellion and the Patriot War. This project is based on an analysis of newspaper articles published by William Lyon Mackenzie and his contemporaries, diplomatic cables between Washington D.C. and London, letters, and accounts of celebrations, toasts, and public meetings which occurred between 1837 and 1842. I argue Americans and Upper Canadians in the Great Lakes region made up a culture area. By re-engaging in a battle with the British, Upper Canadians, and their American supporters sought redemption. Reacting to geographic isolation from major metropolitan areas and a looming psychic crisis motivated many of these individuals to act.
    [Show full text]
  • The Patriot War , D Ri G Which a Y Strife Raged
    PAT I T WA THE R O R. R E T B ROSS . BY OB R . Pu bl sh ed in et roit Ev en n New s 1890 . Rev sed b t h e aut h or fo r th e M c h an P on eer and ! i D i g . i y i ig i H r l t isto ica Soc ie y . ) I CHAPTER . R EVIEW OF —THE POLITICAL SITUATION AND CAUSES THAT LED TO m m REVOLT THE LEADER S IN TH—E M OVEMENT AND THE MILITAR Y OPERATIONS THEY INSTIGATED SOME —OF THE STIRRING SCENES ENACTED A LONG THE CANADIA—N BORDER FIGHTING FOR FR EEDOM UNDER PECULIAR DIFFICULTIES FEELINGS OF THE CITIZENS or T HE UNITED STATES TOWARD THE FACTIONS . of 1837 -8 u n blo od The patriot war , d ri g which a y strife raged fi r l o n n n n fund n t eo e ce y the Ca adia fro tier, has a of i teres to the p l n m n n m m n p e of Michiga . The ost i teresti g ove e ts of the war were con ducted alon g the Michigan border ; man y citizen s of this State fought u nder the twin stars of the rebel forces ; fou r engagements n in n an d an d s were co tested the vici ity of Detroit, the last deci ive n u e a u n battle , which exti g ished the hop s of the p triots, was fo ght withi i o n n n .
    [Show full text]