Spring 2012

Spring 2012 Vol. 5, No. 1

BUILDING OUR FUTURE FROM THE FABRIC OF THE PAST

The War of 1812 Comes to Lang Pioneer Village! By Laurie Siblock, Assistant Manager The War of 1812 was a defining event in Canadian history and visitors to Lang Pioneer Village Museum can learn all about it at our Heritage Celebration Weekend, August 18 and 19, as reenactors and interpreters bring the era to vivid life. For citizens in the British colonies and First Nations warriors, the stakes in the conflict were high. Rene Chartrand, Canadian historian and former military curator for Parks Canada, aptly described the stakes as “you lose the war, you lose the country.” Not only did the British colonists and forces pull together to defend their land, so too did First Nations warriors and French Canadians. The participation of the First Nations in particular was crucial to the outcome of the war. The War of 1812 was instrumental in shaping a Canadian national identity, in the creation of our military and

War of 1812 Primer By Laurie Siblock, Assistant Manager

Chief Tecumseh meeting with Major General Sir Isaac Brock Use of image authorized by, but not affiliated with, the Government of Canada

the setting of international borders between the U.S. and Canada, yet most Canadians know so little about the conflict that it is often called “the forgotten war.” 49th Regiment of Foot reenactors Because of its Photo courtesy of: Mark Stubbs monumental significance to Canadians and the fact that so few know anything about it, the federal government will be spending $28 million over the next four years to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of the War of 1812. Attending a War of 1812 commemorative event should be a priority for all Canadians. Yet, because there are no battle sites in the Central Ontario region where Lang Pioneer Village Museum is located, there is little going on in

In 1812, Britain was fighting for its survival in the midst of the Napoleonic Wars. U.S. interests were interfered with when the Royal Navy blockaded France, preventing American trade ships from reaching any port controlled by the French. Americans were also angered by the practice of impressment, whereby the Royal Navy boarded American ships and removed any seamen deemed to be British, pressing them into service on Royal Navy ships. The “war hawks” in the U.S., intent on territorial gains, sought to conquer and acquire Upper and Lower Canada and also saw the war as an opportunity to drive the Indians out of what would later become Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. They felt further justified in declaring war on Britain because, when attempting to expand into Native territory, they found that Native warriors were armed with British guns.

the area to commemorate the war. Therefore residents in the area are less likely to be able to attend an event that will raise their awareness and engage their interest in this critical episode in Canadian history. The lack of commemorations in the area is one motivating factor for our desire to organize a War of 1812 event at Lang Pioneer Village Museum, but it is not the only reason: we wanted to create an event that would distinguish itself from other events that are more focused on the battles that took place during the war. We selected our four event themes to highlight aspects of the war other Continued on page 2

When American Congress declared war on June 18, 1812, a majority of the 77, 000 inhabitants of Upper Canada were recent American immigrants who had moved across the border to take advantage of cheap land and low taxes. Others were Loyalists, who remained loyal to Britain during the American Revolutionary War, yet still most Americans expected to be greeted as comrades and liberators, and assumed the conquest of Canada would be, to use former president Thomas Jefferson’s oft-quoted phrase, “a mere matter of marching.” In fact, the U.S. was woefully unprepared for war, and the initial ineptitude of the military, combined with the tactical brilliance of British Major-General Sir Isaac Brock, led to an initial string of embarrassing defeats for the Americans. Brock’s boldness and success at Fort Mackinac, Detroit and Continued on page 2

The War of 1812 Comes to Lang Pioneer Village! continued from front cover than specific battles, and we focused on dynamic themes that would appeal not just to locals, but to a broader audience. Our main themes include:

combat weapons and strategies, as well as how they impacted the outcome of the war.

infrastructure developments to the area such as the Trent-Severn Waterway.

• The Role and Experience of Women: Through the exploration of

• The Role of the First Nations: The

individual women’s lives, including, but not limited to, War of 1812 heroine Laura Secord, visitors will gain an understanding of the role of women during the war and the impact the war had on the lives of women.

Of course, no War of 1812 event would be complete without a battle re-enactment, so we’ve also got an exciting battle planned that will pit American invaders (portrayed by reenactors from Norwood District High School) against British regulars (49th Regiment of Foot), Canadian Militia (East Northumberland Secondary School reenactors) and First Nations warriors (Curve Lake First Nations) in the “Battle of Lang Mill.” In addition to celebrating 200 years of peace between Canada and the United States, we have another good reason to celebrate over the weekend of August 18-19: this year marks the 45th anniversary of Lang Pioneer Village Museum. During the War of 1812 event, there will also be public ceremonies and cake for everyone to highlight this milestone in the Museum’s history. If you don’t come for an exciting step back into a pivotal moment in Canadian history, then come for the cake!