In context a bit:
During the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, Canada was infested with Brit soldiers who liked to use Canada as a launching point for invasions down some river valley or the other.
After our Revolutionary War, Canada became one of the primary go to places for former colonists who remained loyalist. The Canadian towns and cities got a rather significant boost in pop after that war.
During the Civil War, Canada was a haven for Copperheads. More than a few raids were launched from Canada into American towns along the border, with full knowledge of the local yokels in the Canadian gov.
Being our neighbor hasn’t cost Canada a damn thing worth counting and has saved them bushels of grief... and defense spending.
Personally, I’m not a Canada hater. Gots lots of respect for the Canadian soldiers, past and present. But I do get rather tired of hearing the Chomsky type selective history crap when it comes to Canadian vs American relations.
“But I do get rather tired of hearing the Chomsky type selective history crap when it comes to Canadian vs American relations.”
Let me know if you ever see any; I’m no fan of it either.
During the Revolutionary War and 1812, Canada wasn’t infested with British soldiers: it was British, and didn’t have nearly enough soldiers (hence we burned their capitol, causing them to reciprocate in DC). During the Civil War, Canada was much more of a haven for escaped slaves than Copperheads. Having studied the history of the northernmost skirmish of the Civil War (in St. Alban’s, Vermont), it turned out to be more about bank robbery than a real battle. Our Civil War was responsible for truly binding Canada into a nation, as they knew pieces could be picked off (and they could do nothing about it) unless there was a stronger confederation.
I’m no America hater, but we often have an oversimplified view of the relationship to Canada. In view of the reaction to Soviet missiles in Cuba, could you imagine them in Ontario? We have much to gain with a practically unarmed northern neighbor, much like England does with an unarmed Ireland to the west.