More on 1812 Commemorations, Canadian Edition
A few months ago I and several others had a conversation (here, on other blogs, and on Twitter) about the dearth of commemorations of the War of 1812 in the United States. As part of the discussion, we noted that the war was receiving far greater attention in Canada as a moment of national creation (some five and a half decades in advance).
This is not, apparently, without controversy north of the 49th parallel. This morning, I read a post by Ian McKay and Jamie Swift, authors of a new book on Canada as a “Warrior Nation,” arguing that the 1812 commemorations in Canada are an outcropping of the militaristic political style of current Prime Minister Stephen Harper:
According to Stephen Harper, or more likely one of his hirelings, the war helped establish Canada’s “path toward becoming an independent and free country…. The heroic efforts of Canadians then helped define who we are today, what side of the border we live on, and which flag we salute.”
This though there was no such thing as Canada at the time. The famously undefended border has become a militarized “security perimeter.” And few Canadians are known to indulge in patriotic displays of flag-waving.
No matter. In 2012 Canada is being treated to sanitized glorifications and events designed to attract tourists. In early June the anniversary of the Battle of Stoney Creek will bring scores of re-enactors to suburban Hamilton. There will be music, costumes, games, readings and tours. And certainly musket fire.
Framed this way, I’m almost surprised that the United States hasn’t more heavily promoted the War of 1812—stalemate though it may have been—as the “Second War of Independence,” finally ridding us of the British menace. Maybe for the sestercentennial in 2062.
I use this College Humor video to teach: http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6583679/the-war-of-1812-the-movie
It actually captures well the inability of Americans to get a handle on the War. The collective memory of 1812 exists as a series of disjointed snapshots: Perry on the Lakes; Lawrence on the USS Chesapeake–”Don’t Give Up the Ship”; the White House burning, Jackson at New Orleans, and so on…
Comment by Lawrence B. A. Hatter — May 16, 2012 @ 2:53 pm
Thanks for sharing that movie, Lawrence. Definitely captures the popular imagination about the War of 1812. (How many could even pinpoint that “The Star-Spangled Banner” was written during it?)
Comment by Joseph M. Adelman — May 16, 2012 @ 6:03 pm
I think McKay and Swift are quite right. The militaristic move is also a turn towards English Canada’s British roots; the Harper government restored the “Royal” designation of Canada’s armed forces last year, after 40 odd years. This move evokes Canada’s Second World War heritage and highlights contemporary connections with the Canadian/Commonwealth monarchy.
Comment by Lawrence B. A. Hatter — May 17, 2012 @ 1:26 pm