Exploring the impact of New France on the American Revolution, the chapter discusses the contrasting sentiments in Canada and the 13 colonies, British endorsement of French Canadians' legal system, and the availability of free land in British Canada. It delves into reasons for emigration from the colonies, the economic impact of the American Revolution, British alliance with Native Americans, challenges during the War of 1812, and the economic interdependence between the United States and Britain. The chapter also speculates on a Union invasion of Canada post U.S. Civil War, creation of the Dominion of Canada, and the history of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland potentially joining the United States.
Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Alan Taylor is Tyler’s pick for one of the greatest living historians. His many books cover the early American Republic, American westward expansion, the War of 1812, Virginian slavery, Thomas Jefferson, the revolutionary settlements in Maine, and more. He’s currently the Thomas Jefferson Chair of History at the University of Virginia.
Tyler and Taylor take a walking tour of early history through North America covering the decisions, and ripples of those decisions, that shaped revolution and independence, including why Canada didn’t join the American revolution, why America in turn never conquered Canada, American’s early obsession with the collapse of the Republic, how democratic the Jacksonians were, Texas/Mexico tensions over escaped African American slaves, America’s refusal to recognize Cuban independence, how many American Tories went north post-revolution, Napoleon III’s war with Mexico, why the US Government considered attacking Canada after the Civil War, and much more.
Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video.
Recorded May 9th, 2024.
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Photo Credit: (c) Dan Addison UVA University Communications