I. What might have been the impact if the USA had won the War of 1812 and annexed Canada? Consider the impact on economic development, population growth, Indian policy and Slavery in the history of North America.
Next, consider actual Canadian war plans to raid into the USA and actual US war plans to invade Canada in the 20th century. War -- it's just a shot away . . . No status quo lasts forever . . .
II. The main objective of the United States force would undoubtedly be Montreal and on to Ottawa. The next important objective of the United States would be the occupation of the Ontario Peninsula, Including the cities of Hamilton and Toronto. The other objectives at which the American Land Forces would be moved would be Quebec, Winnipeg, the Island of Vancouver and South Western British Columbia, i.e., the area including Vancouver and New Westminster.
Great Lakes Command will, generally speaking, remain on the defensive, but rapid and well organized raids should be made across the Niagara Frontier, the St. Clair Frontier, the Detroit Frontier and the St. Mary’s Frontier, with sufficient troops to establish bridgeheads.
-- LTC Buster Brown, Canadian Director of Military Operations and Intelligence, Defence Scheme No. 1 (1921).
III. Control of the Great Lakes waterway is vital to Blue, for the transportation of iron ore, coal and grain and such control will necessitate occupation of a bridgehead covering the narrow boundary waters at and near the Sault Locks and in the Detroit Area. The bridges over the Niagara River and the Welland Canal, connecting Lake Erie and Lake Ontario are of importance to Blue for occupation of the Important industrial area of the Niagara-Ontario peninsula. The Welland Canal would become of importance as a line of communication if Blue seized the peninsula. While control of that area is of importance in crippling Crimson industry, it is probably of greater importance in denying the enemy Crimson and Red, a most convenient base for operations against highly industrialized areas in the United States.
-- US Army War College, G-2 Intelligence Division,War Plan Red: US Invasion of Canada (1935).
3 comments:
Too weird to contemplate seeing as half of the people north of Ohio have relatives in Canada.
There was a book published a while back called "Redcoats and Rebels" that portrayed a world where the Brits won. I found it in my grandfather's book collection (along with Pearl Buck's "The Good Earth," the Diary of Ayn Rand and others.) He was very well-read for a guy who didn't get his GED until he was in his late fifties.
It would have been interesting to have seen how the end of slavery would have been handled if the Brits had stayed in power. Would there have been a war over it, or would it have ended by fiat like it did in the rest of the British empire?
The town I lived in for most of my time in Canada was at the Lake Erie opening of the Welland Canal, actually. When Charles came up to visit years ago, I took him to Thorold to see the Flight Locks, where the huge tankers & such are lifted & lowered hundreds of feet over the Niagara Escarpment. Such an impressive achievement, I must admit. If you've never seen or heard of them, you should check it out. I mean, canals are interesting in their own right, but going up & down tall, steep cliffs? Blew my mind...
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