Oh, Canada…
Much hay has been made of late of the “American-ization”
of MOOCs, as Yank-led xMOOCs have largely displayed (Canadian originated) cMOOCs in the media
spotlight, or at least in the (almost) daily
op ed pieces published by the NewYork Times.
I would argue that this particular spin on the origination
of the MOOC movement is really nothing
new when it comes to the dynamic tension of Canadian-American relations. Just
this week we’re treated to breaking news involving applying a
“visitor surcharge” to border crossings and the latest toe-stomping event
by our esteemed Governor over the
Peace Bridge.
But the sad, little know truth is that known of this is
really new. Attempts to throttle our northern neighbor into submission are in
fact key moments in the development of the United States, to wit:
1745 Conquest of Louisbourg
Although arguably not the first attempt to wrest Canada and
the lucrative fur trade away from France (a rather pathetic attempt from Albany
in 1689 went off the rails quickly), this first shot at conquest is notable
largely due to its purely mercantile intent. Justified under the now all but forgotten King George’s War/War of the Austrian Succession,
this was a land grab pure and simple, launched by men of wealth and power in
New England. The victory gave New
England control over access to the St. Lawrence, and thus the Great Lakes and
access to the fur trade. The treaty that ended the war reverted Louisbourg to
French control
French and Indian War
By the time of the Seven Years’ War,
the fur trade initiated by the Dutch in New Netherland had largely trapped the
beaver out of existence in much of its native habitat, particularly in New
York. The balance of power favored the French due to their military control of
the Great Lakes. Again, the English
launched mixed expeditions of colonial troops and Redcoats, first taking
Kingston, then Quebec and Montreal.
English dominion over Lower Canada was established in the ensuing peace
treaty.
American Revolution and the “second invasion” of Canada
As the American Revolution roiled into being in 1775, Upper
Canada and it’s French speaking populace were regarded as prime targets of acquisition
due to their alleged unsatisfaction with English rule. (Never mind that the Quebec Act guaranteed
their religious freedom and perpetuated the seignier system of near-fiefdom-which actually wasn’t
a horrible thing). A rather complicated two pronged invasion approach –Gen.
Richard Montgomery moving his force up the Champlain watershed with Gen.
Benedict Arnold hacked and portaged his way through the wilds of Maine- ended
in disaster and defeat at the walled gates of Quebec. Montgomery was shot down
(a valiant bantam-sized aide de camp named Aaron Burr attempted to recover his
body) while Arnold suffered a
debilitating leg wound (that in it’s own odd way led to eventual infamy).
War of 1812
Despite the relative permeability of Upper Canada to
American Loyalist (and “late loyalist”) expatriates, Americans once again
turned their avaricious eyes toward Canada with yet another poorly planned
attempt at annexation during 1812.
Ironically, as before in previous wars, illicit trade between the two
countries continued to flow across their shared waterways. The last grand
scheme to annex “the 14th colony” went down in flames under the
laudanum hazed command of Gen. James Wilkinson (and now we’re back to Aaron
Burr again) against a relatively small number of Wellington’s seasoned regulars
at Crysler’s Farm.
Rush-Bagot Treaty and demilitarization of the Great Lakes
The treaty that ended the War of 1812 largely demobilized
and mothballed the naval fleets both sides had ramped up. Military posturing
was displaced by economic development on both sides of the border.
Modern warfare: patents and lawsuits
Well, you knew I couldn’t get away without talking about patents
and subsequent infringements, right? But let’s start with a different
patent: Henry
Woodward, a Canadian, was the first co-patentee for the electric lightbulb.
Interestingly, Woodward sold his patent to Edison (sure, we all thought Edison
came up with that one on his own, eh?).
So, what do we know, eh?
Intriguingly, there are far more Canadian-American Studies programs
out there than I’d imagined: at
Western Washington
University, University of Buffalo, SUNY Plattsburgh,
University of Maine, Franklin
College, and quite further afield UC
Berkeley, Duke
and Vanderbilt
And the flip side, American Studies Programs offered
by Canadian universities. (Interestingly, “American Studies” is inclusive
enough to include Latin American Studies progams. And perhaps that’s really the
root question: who or what is “American”? ).
