Empire 270. The Day The Brits Burned The White House (Ep 4)
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Jul 7, 2025 Maya Jasanoff, author of Liberty's Exile, delves into the fascinating dynamics of the American Revolution and its unforeseen consequences for Canada. She explores why Washington's attempts to invade Quebec fell short and discusses the impact of British strategies that led to Canada's emergence as a separate entity. The role of loyalists reshaping Canadian demographics and the significance of events like the War of 1812 in forging a distinct Canadian identity are also highlighted, revealing the complexities of North American geopolitics.
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Proclamation Line Limits Expansion
- The British issued the Proclamation Line to curb colonial expansion westward and avoid costly conflicts with Indigenous peoples.
- This halted aggressive colonial land grabs, notably frustrating figures like George Washington.
Quebec Act's Radical Concessions
- The Quebec Act of 1774 granted religious freedoms to French-speaking Catholics, adapting British rule to local conditions.
- This antagonized Anglo-Protestants and formalized settlement boundaries that angered American colonists.
Canada Stays Loyal to Britain
- Few English-speaking colonists lived in Canada, reducing its involvement in American revolutionary politics.
- The Quebec Act was designed to prevent French Canadians from joining the American rebellion.
