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 14^th 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”? ).