The Question of Canada

The Revolution Heads North
(1776-1800)

Vive le Québec libre!

After the tide had turned in the American Revolution towards the revolutionaries favor, the rebel forces grow bold. Culminating in an attempted invasion of Lower Canada. With a keen eye towards the city of Quebec. The invasion is launched through the northern hinterlands of New York towards Montreal.
The attack is initially successful, but the capture of Montreal was costly for the Americans. Only a short time after securing the city, the continental troops are pushed back to New York.

Despite these setbacks in the Eastern Townships, pro-American factions in Nova Scotia & New Brunswick revolt against Britain.
The Treaty of Paris (1783) cedes Nova Scotia, St. John’s Island, New Brunswick , and Cape Breton to the U.S., but Britain retains Upper and Lower Canada as strongholds.

High Noon in the Maritimes

Stung by the unfavorable outcome of the American Revolution, Britain began the process of heavily reinforcing the cities of Quebec. Creating a sort of fortress colony against American expansion.
In response, the U.S. fortifies the cities of Halifax and Moncton.

Early American settlers trickle into Upper Canada, but British authorities deftly resist settlement attempts.

The American-Canadian War, Take Two
(1812-25)

Target: Ottawa

The U.S. starts strong, taking Niagara, Detroit, and parts of Ontario.

1813: The British counterattack fiercely, retaking parts of Ontario and burning U.S. border towns.

1814: Stalemate—both sides are exhausted, but America manages to hold Upper Canada while Britain barely clings to Quebec.

Slugfest

Britain refuses to give up Quebec, and American settlers keep flooding Ontario.

1819: War breaks out again—America finally seizes Montreal & Quebec City, but Britain refuses to surrender the rest of Canada.

1825: Treaty of London ends the war—Britain concedes:

• Upper Canada (now U.S. territory)
• Lower Canada (Quebec, now U.S. territory)
• Britain retreats to Hudson Bay, still controlling the rest of Canada.

The U.S. establishes:

• East Cree Autonomous Zone to calm tensions.
• Upper Canada Territory (future Ontario)
• Lower Canada Territory (future Quebec)

Hudson War

Britain fortifies Rupert’s Land, determined to prevent further U.S. expansion.

American settlers illegally flood the Red River colony (Manitoba), causing tensions.

1830: Small-scale skirmishes—Britain cracks down on American settlers.

Prairies of Gold and Red

1840: America funds local uprisings in the Red River region (Louis Riel’s movement, but way earlier).

1845: U.S. troops march into the Red River after pro-U.S. militias declare independence.

1848: Britain, exhausted from European conflicts, surrenders Manitoba & Saskatchewan in the Treaty of Edinburgh.

• New U.S. territories:
• Buffalo Territory (Alberta)
• Selkirk Territory (Red River)
• Assiniboia Territory (Saskatchewan)

The Final Showdown
(1866-69)

The Cold Cold War

The U.S. passes the Annexation Bill, and settlers flood into British territories north of the Prairies.

Britain refuses to surrender Hudson Bay, sending troops.

1867-1868: War breaks out.

• America crushes British forces in Keewatin.
• Britain defends Mackenzie & Yukon fiercely, but they are cut off from supplies.
• The U.S. offers a deal—Britain keeps Newfoundland for now, but must surrender everything else.

1869: Treaty of Halifax:

• Britain keeps Newfoundland, but only for a few more decades.
• The U.S. absorbs Keewatin, Athabasca, Mackenzie, and Yukon as territories.

The Arctic & Indigenous States

The U.S. creates autonomous Indigenous territories:

• Nunavut, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, and Nunatukavut remain self-governing Native zones.
• Mohawk becomes a state, recognizing past pro-U.S. movements.

Keewatin, Athabasca, and Mackenzie remain territories due to low population.

The Later Divisions

New states formed:

• 1948: Newfoundland Admitted
• 2010: Toronto split off from Ontario.
  • The state of Chatham is created due to Southwestern Ontario being cut off from Northern Ontario by the creation of Ontario.
• Saskatchewan becomes a state.
• Mackenzie and Yukon remain territories.

1900: The U.S. fully controls former Canada, except Newfoundland.