CANADA’S ROLE IN THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

Mike UnsworthMichigan State University Libraries

unsworth@msu.edu

OUTLINE• British North America

• Opinion on Conflict

• Economic Impact

• Movement of People

• Involving Britain in the Conflict

• Northwest Conspiracy

• Canadian Confederation

• Postscript

• Questions

British North America

UNITED STATES &BRITISH NORTH AMERICA

“…bad neighbors in a dangerous neighborhood.”John Boyko, Blood and Daring : How Canada Fought the American Civil War and Forged A Nation, p. 2

Opinion on Conflict:

SOUTHERN VICTORY COULD RESULT IN A CHANGED BALANCE OF POWER

ECONOMIC IMPACT

MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE (1)

MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE (2)

MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE (2)

CONFEDERATE HOPE:FOREIGN INTERVENTION

BLOCKADE RUNNNERS’ DESTINATION

TRENT AFFAIR,NOV. 8, 1861

BRITAIN REINFORCES NORTH AMERICAN COLONIES

CHESAPEAKE AFFAIR, DEC. 1863

NORTHWEST CONSPIRACY

LAKE ERIE SCHEMES

1st Lake Erie Expedition: Nov. 1863

2nd Lake Erie Expedition: Sept. 18 & 19 1864 (1)

2nd Lake Erie Expedition: Sept. 18 & 19 1864 (2)

ST. ALBANS RAIDOctober 19, 1864

ARSON IN NYC HOTELS: NOV. 25, 1864

BUFFALO RAID: DEC. 15-16 1864

IMPACT: 1867 CONFEDERATION

POSTSCRIPT: TWO CANADIAN

DIXIEPHILES

George Taylor Denison III

Alexander Keith, Jr.

“..a course, ill-bred vulgarian of no social standing…”

Blockade Runner Capt. John Wilkinson

QUESTIONS