Loyalties in Conflict : A Canadian Borderland in War and Rebellion,1812-1840 / John Little.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Little, John, author.

Series:

Canadian social history series.

Canadian social history series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political culture--Québec (Province)--Eastern Townships--History--19th century.

Political culture.

Canada--History--Rebellion, 1837-1838.

Canada.

Eastern Townships (Québec)--History--19th century.

Eastern Townships (Québec).

Eastern Townships (Québec)--Social conditions--19th century.

Eastern Townships (Québec)--Politics and government--19th century.

United States--History--War of 1812.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (202 p.)

Place of Publication:

Toronto : University of Toronto Press, [2017]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

"Despite their strategic location on the American border, the townships of Lower Canada have been largely ignored in studies of the War of 1812 and the Rebellions of 1837-8. Originally settled by Loyalists from New York, and followed by much larger numbers of land seekers from New England, this was a potentially volatile borderland during British-American conflicts. J.I. Little's Loyalties in Conflict examines how the allegiance to British authority of the American-origin population within the borders of Lower Canada was tested by the War of 1812 and the Rebellions of 1837-8." "Little argues that while loyalties were highly localized, American border raids during the war caused a defensive reaction north of the 45th parallel. The resulting sense of distinction from neighbouring Vermont, with its radical religious and political culture, did not prevent a strong regional reform movement from emerging in the Eastern Townships during the 1820s and 1830s. This movement undermines the argument of Quebec's nationalist historians that the political contest in Lower Canada was essentially a French-English one; however, the dual threat of French-Canadian and American nationalism did ensure the border townships' loyalty to the government during the rebellions. The following years would witness the development of an increasingly conservative and distinctly Canadian cultural identity in the region."--Jacket.

Contents:

War of 1812

Militia Prior to the War

The 'exposed and defenceless situation': The Outbreak of War

'Delay, backwardness, and want of zeal': The Conscription Crisis

'Making the fur fly': Resisting American Invasion

'Like herds of buffalo': The Smuggling and Counterfeiting Frontier

'Improper communication': Policing Cross-Border Migration

Rebellions of 1837-8

Postwar Developments

Political Culture

'Incurably cursed with Radicalism': Prelude to Rebellion

'I shall die defending my home and family': Rebellion

'These dreadful frontiers': Post-Rebellion Conflict

Appendix A. Volunteer Corps in the Eastern Townships as of 29 December 1837

Appendix B. List of Prisoners Confined in the Common Gaol at Sherbrooke Charged with Political Offences, 21 December 1838.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (p. 161-173) and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 13. Sep 2017)

ISBN:

9781442692497

1442692499

9781442688544

1442688548

OCLC:

647920808