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American Civil War (1851-1861): Quebec save the Union
Part 4: Quebec saves the Union
With the securing of Kentucky, the strategic edge definitively shifted in the Union’s favour for the time being. They now controlled more of Ohio River, and could begin making preparations for a Mississippi River campaign. Ohio may have saved the Union domestically, but there were still international threats. Chief among these threats was Great Britain and the British Empire.
The Pan-American War had barely ended when the American Civil War began, so tensions were high and many in the British Empire watched with glee as America suffered. There were also those in the British establishment that saw a dark opportunity. When Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina joined the Confederacy, more and more members of the British political establishment began to openly muse about recognizing the Confederacy in order to help break American power and influence in the New World, as well as provide a natural political ally for Canada and the other British colonies.
Lord Aberdeen, British Prime Minister
On the one hand, recognizing and assisting the Confederacy could help cement a new British ally which would indirectly help secure the Commonwealth of Canada. It would also open up a new market for British goods and would certainly stop any American ambitions to rival Great Britain. On the other hand, the Confederacy supported slavery, something which the British had actively suppressed in their ventures over the past twenty years. There was also the fact that victory for the CSA was not guaranteed and might risk further American aggression toward Canada and other British territories in the Americas. It also didn’t help that many nations in the Americas were just coming out of the fairly costly Pan-American War.
In the Commonwealth of Canada, opinions were divided. Some saw an opportunity to prevent dangerous American meddling once and for all, and others saw another costly war of the British that Canada would feel the effects of. This latter sentiment was felt most of all in Quebec. By this point in time, French-Canadians were getting sick and tired of Americans crossing into their land and burning their fields and cities. In the cases of some citizens, they had seen the War of 1812, the Pan-American War, and now a new threat of war with America within their lifetimes. For many, enough was enough.
Wolfred Nelson, former rebel leader and Canadian politician
Sensing perhaps fresh support for their radical ideals, old faces of Canadian rebellion resurfaced to condemn the British and Canadian musings that put their land in danger. Old politicians and leaders of the failed Lower Canada Rebellion made their presence felt once more. Wolfred Nelson and Louis-Joseph Papineau, both now sitting members of the Quebec legislature, began raising hell against the thought of a third war with the United States of America.
Though not backed up by any concrete evidence, both men used their platform and influence to suggest that Quebec would rise up in arms and separate from the Commonwealth to avoid another war. Nelson very much insisted that Canada must not be a “plaything of passing British interests.” Papineau, for his part, also drew on the history of the rebellions and why they happened; direly pointing out that if Britain once again did not listen to Canadians, then Canadians would force them to listen to the sound of musket fire.
Louis-Joseph Papineau, former rebel leader and Canadian politician
While Papineau and Nelson were the most vocal and passionate on the subject, many Canadians of both the French and English variety were just coming out from a war and were eager to see peace. They did not want a revolution, but neither did they want yet another incursion into the region. The Quebec City Riot of 1853 didn’t help matters, and prompted the British to feel that the threat of Canadian insurrection was a real one, and would negatively impact British war plans if the two main ports of North America - Quebec and Halifax respectively - fell into enemy hands.
As a result of public pressure, the Quebec Riot of 1853, the looming theatre of war in the Crimea, and a lack of guaranteed victory should Britain decide to recognize the CSA and risk another war with the United States, the British shelved any further serious discussion about political recognition of the CSA. America could not fully appreciate it, but some French-Canadians and former rebel leaders helped them to avert yet another devastating war in North America.
With the securing of Kentucky, the strategic edge definitively shifted in the Union’s favour for the time being. They now controlled more of Ohio River, and could begin making preparations for a Mississippi River campaign. Ohio may have saved the Union domestically, but there were still international threats. Chief among these threats was Great Britain and the British Empire.
The Pan-American War had barely ended when the American Civil War began, so tensions were high and many in the British Empire watched with glee as America suffered. There were also those in the British establishment that saw a dark opportunity. When Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina joined the Confederacy, more and more members of the British political establishment began to openly muse about recognizing the Confederacy in order to help break American power and influence in the New World, as well as provide a natural political ally for Canada and the other British colonies.
Lord Aberdeen, British Prime Minister
On the one hand, recognizing and assisting the Confederacy could help cement a new British ally which would indirectly help secure the Commonwealth of Canada. It would also open up a new market for British goods and would certainly stop any American ambitions to rival Great Britain. On the other hand, the Confederacy supported slavery, something which the British had actively suppressed in their ventures over the past twenty years. There was also the fact that victory for the CSA was not guaranteed and might risk further American aggression toward Canada and other British territories in the Americas. It also didn’t help that many nations in the Americas were just coming out of the fairly costly Pan-American War.
In the Commonwealth of Canada, opinions were divided. Some saw an opportunity to prevent dangerous American meddling once and for all, and others saw another costly war of the British that Canada would feel the effects of. This latter sentiment was felt most of all in Quebec. By this point in time, French-Canadians were getting sick and tired of Americans crossing into their land and burning their fields and cities. In the cases of some citizens, they had seen the War of 1812, the Pan-American War, and now a new threat of war with America within their lifetimes. For many, enough was enough.
Wolfred Nelson, former rebel leader and Canadian politician
Sensing perhaps fresh support for their radical ideals, old faces of Canadian rebellion resurfaced to condemn the British and Canadian musings that put their land in danger. Old politicians and leaders of the failed Lower Canada Rebellion made their presence felt once more. Wolfred Nelson and Louis-Joseph Papineau, both now sitting members of the Quebec legislature, began raising hell against the thought of a third war with the United States of America.
Though not backed up by any concrete evidence, both men used their platform and influence to suggest that Quebec would rise up in arms and separate from the Commonwealth to avoid another war. Nelson very much insisted that Canada must not be a “plaything of passing British interests.” Papineau, for his part, also drew on the history of the rebellions and why they happened; direly pointing out that if Britain once again did not listen to Canadians, then Canadians would force them to listen to the sound of musket fire.
Louis-Joseph Papineau, former rebel leader and Canadian politician
While Papineau and Nelson were the most vocal and passionate on the subject, many Canadians of both the French and English variety were just coming out from a war and were eager to see peace. They did not want a revolution, but neither did they want yet another incursion into the region. The Quebec City Riot of 1853 didn’t help matters, and prompted the British to feel that the threat of Canadian insurrection was a real one, and would negatively impact British war plans if the two main ports of North America - Quebec and Halifax respectively - fell into enemy hands.
As a result of public pressure, the Quebec Riot of 1853, the looming theatre of war in the Crimea, and a lack of guaranteed victory should Britain decide to recognize the CSA and risk another war with the United States, the British shelved any further serious discussion about political recognition of the CSA. America could not fully appreciate it, but some French-Canadians and former rebel leaders helped them to avert yet another devastating war in North America.
- Coyote Knight
- Word Count: 750