I Vow to Thee, My Country: An Alternate Canadian History Timeline.

[H.R (Slash) Pickens]

Part. 1- Prologue.

Canada. The Second largest country in the world, rich in culture, and more importantly… History. Today, Canada is a part of the G7, sits on the United Nations Commission for UNEF, a founding member of NATO, and a leader of Human rights and peace around the world. To understand Canada, her people, and who she is now, we must go back. WAY back.

Canadian History Starts in the 16th century, with men such as John Cabot, Jacques Cartier, and Samuel De Champlain, going forth and exploring the new world. The French sailed up the St. Lawrence, and set up settlements in what is now Montreal, and Quebec City. Many, however, were not the quiet type. These were adventurers, explorers, and entrepreneurs, and they would NOT sit still.

Canada’s first taste of economy was that of the fur trade. French Canadians, with help from their newfound Native allies. They were called the Voyageurs. They ventured deep into the Canadian Interior, braving the harsh Canadian climate. Alongside other groups such as the Coureurs De Bois, These brave explorers set out travelling by canoe, would follow the rapids, lakes and rivers inland. They were mainly couriers, carrying supplies to trading posts as far as Lake Superior. They would be some of the first Europeans to interact with the Natives of the land.

Not all would be rosy and rainbows in New France though. Lasting over 100 years, a series of conflicts, aptly named the “Beaver Wars” would rage across the eastern end of North America. As the Iroquois expanded, eating up their smaller neighbours, Soon, the Iroquois began attacking in earnest. They attacked Huron frontier villages, and soon, the French called the tribes together to negotiate. An agreement was reached, but the Iroquois resumed the war, due to the French refusing to buy their furs, wanting the Huron to act as the middleman.

While Indian raids were not constant, and remained on the frontier, many inhabitants of new France were terrified of them. The biggest event though, would be the fall of the Huron. Those that did not flee to neighboring tribes or to the French, were captured by the Iroquois to be assimilated. Soon after, one by one, the neighboring tribes began to fall. Soon through, As the thirteen colonies began emerging after the British kicked the Dutch out of North America, the Iroquois and French would become allies to counter the new Thirteen Colonies.

As they say, all good things must come to an end, and boy did it come to an end. The Seven Years’ War saw Great Britain defeat the French and kick them out of Canada. Most infamously, was the battle of the Plains of Abraham. The Ensuing Treaty of Paris, would see the British annex all of New France, but France would retain their Antilles Holdings in the Caribbean. With an uncertain future ahead, the people were hesitant, but as a wise man would say many years later- “Glory to those who look forward!”.

.

 

[shearsforest]

What's the PoD?

 

[H.R (Slash) Pickens]

What's the PoD?

Mexican American War. Its a small POD that butterflies things. i have the butterflies and stuff already planned out. biggest change is US foreign policy and a couple different presidents, and I wont divulge the rest until a bit later. Spoilers.

 

[farmerted555]

My two cents: Bigger Gadsden Purchase.

 

[H.R (Slash) Pickens]

My two cents: Bigger Gadsden Purchase.

unfortunately that wont work for Canada though. but Canada WILL be expanding. just a little later. I have the basics planned out already. but good idea though.

 

[Dr Dee]

unfortunately that wont work for Canada though. but Canada WILL be expanding. just a little later. I have the basics planned out already. but good idea though.

Is the idea that a mega Gadsden Purchase will draw US attention towards the South West and Mexico, butterflying away US expansion into the Pacific Northwest? Or is the timing wrong for that?

 

[H.R (Slash) Pickens]

Is the idea that a mega Gadsden Purchase will draw US attention towards the South West and Mexico, butterflying away US expansion into the Pacific Northwest? Or is the timing wrong for that?

actually, my POD will be the Mexican American war, so it will be much earlier, and the USA will sort of maintain most of its borders up until [Spoilers]. but dont worry. you will see soon enough.

 

[H.R (Slash) Pickens]

Chapter. I-A House of Cards.

Trouble is brewing in North America. The Americans are getting restless, the Haitians are rebelling as are the Irish, and the British fear Quebec might too. In 1774, they pass the Quebec act, granting the Quebecois many freedoms, and extending its territory. The American Revolution in the 1770’s would be the first time the United States (or soon to be) would attempt to invade Canada. Many loyalists fled to Canada, and many attempts would be made by the fledgeling US to sway the rest of British North American colonies to its side. To their surprise though, many said no, and in 1775, the US invasion of Quebec began. It was over almost as soon as it started. Across the ocean, as the French revolution tore through the motherland, hundreds if not thousands of French Royalists fled to Quebec, bolstering its population and bringing more “frenchness” to the colony.

28 Years later, and the Napoleonic Wars are in full swing in Europe. The US accused the British of “Impressment” and harassing neutral US merchant ships. Once again turning its eyes northward, the United States launched another invasion. The War of 1812 had just begun. The Canadian Militia, along with a contingent of British troops and their native allies, beat back the US invasion. The War of 1812 would see infamous battles such as the battle of Lundy’s Lane, Queenston Heights, New Orleans, the Sacking of York, and the response, the burning of Washington DC. the War ended in 1815 due in no small part to the large anti-war sentiment especially those in New England. For Canada, this was a huge victory, for the US, it was simply a speed bump in their ever growing expansionism an what they called “Manifest Destiny”.

The War of 1812, while a setback, did not deter the US from expanding west, and south. After all, it was the “American Spirit” of never giving up and to keep trying; darkly mirroring the Canadian spirit. From the Louisiana purchase, Indian Removal act, and Mexican-American war, they were seen by many as a steamroller that would just keep going. The War of 1812 would also set the basis of European-Indian relations for the foreseeable future. Seen as allies, the government of the Canadas’ view on the natives had been benign neglect, happy to let them do whatever they more or less please, but with more and more fleeing to Canada, this would force them to take action. The Treaty of Ghent in 1815, returned the borders back to the way they were, with neither side gaining, or losing anything. Many were content, but none more content than the natives. As part of the peace deal, the Ohio Valley was to be “Native Land”, and while white settlers were allowed on it, the Natives there could be immune to many of the US policies.

The Mexican-American war was the United States’ first successful conquest. Seizing Texas, and every Mexican territory north of the Rio Grande River. For Canada, this was a wake up call. Many saw Mexico as the predominant power in North America, and the US crushed them. The 1840’s Oregon Crisis would bring US expansionism a THIRD time to the British North American Colonies. Under the slogan ``Fifty-four Forty or Fight!” they demanded much of the Oregon Country. This issue would eventually be solved by dividing the two nations along the 49th Parallel. As the US expanded, waged war on the Mexicans and Indians, Canada was having her own issues.

The Canadian Rebellions of 1837-38, brought Responsible Government, and United the two Canadas into the United Province of Canada. Many of the rebels would flee to the United States. Surprisingly, some of the biggest groups most vocal about the reforms would be the Natives, who fled the outright warfare waged in the US against them. Following the Indian Removal Act in the US, Native-Americans fled in the hundreds, and sometimes even the thousands, north of the 49th Parallel.

The natives had been supporters of the British who had for the most part, tried fairly hard to protect them from US expansionism. Despite the treaty, the US followed it to the bare minimum. While the US could not enforce certain policies, especially that of the Indian Removal act, they got creative. During this time, Many would flee to the Ohio Valley, or further north, to Canada. The Canadian Rebellions of 1837-38 brought many of these issues to the forefront of the demands. Disillusioned with the Status-Quo and a lack of say, both white settlers, francophone AND anglo, and Natives, demanded greater autonomy from Britain, and “Responsible Government”. Men like William Lyon Mackenzie, and Louis-Joseph Papineau, would become leaders of this reform. With a government without accountability, violent election fraud, a bad economy, and an expansionist USA to its south, these reformers would for Political Blocs and groups, and as the situation worsened, Britain focused troops in Lower Canada, it made it clear the British intent of crushing this rebellion with force. With no troops left in Upper Canada, the opportunity arose for a revolt.

Many of the rebels who were arrested in Upper Canada following the 1837 uprisings were put on trial, and most were found guilty of insurrection against the Crown. One of the most severe punishments was the sentencing of 100 Canadian rebels and American sympathizers to life in Britain's Australian prison colonies.

The root cause of resentment in Upper Canada was not so much against distant rulers in Britain, but rather against the corruption, lack of say in local politics and injustice by local politicians—the so-called "Family Compact". However, the rebels were not really convicted because their views aligned with the liberalism of the US, and thus caused some kind of offence to the Tory values of the Canadian colonies. Rather, as revealed in the ruling of the British Court, the justification was that: the Crown, as protector of the lives, liberty and prosperity of its subjects, could "legitimately demand allegiance to its authority." They would go on to say that those who preferred republicanism over monarchism were free to emigrate, and thus the participants in the uprisings were guilty of treason.

The Oregon Crisis of the 1840’s was by no means a simple matter of drawing a line on the map. Here, the US treatment of natives would come to a head. The British would send a Royal Navy squadron, and the US would send some manner of soldiers. Negotiations went back and forth, but in the end decided on extending the 49th parallel to the pacific Ocean, with Vancouver Island, going to Canada. All Natives though, the Us forcibly expelled them from the US side of the Oregon, and most moved to the British side. In 1858, the Colony of British Columbia was founded, at this time, its population was majority Native Indian. It would stay this way until the late 19th Century upon large waves of immigrants and settlers moving westward.

Slavery across the British Empire was abolished in 1807. Most of the world by that point had done so too. The Americans didn’t seem to get the message however, and Practiced it up until the 1860’s. On April 12, 1861, The Civil War began. Canadians could only watch in object horror as the US tore itself apart. As the drums of war beat in America, matters were only made worse with the French invasion of Mexico, and Britain unofficially supporting the Confederacy, made the already frosty relationship between the Colony and Washington DC ice-cold. During the war, Union ships would more often than not, violate territorial waters, and with African-American slaves fleeing as well as the Native Indians and even civilians caught in the crossfire fled to Canada, Conflict as all but inevitably, and twice they were brought to a head.

The Chesapeake Affair was a minor international diplomatic incident that occurred during the American Civil War. On December 7, 1863, Confederate Sympathizers from the Maritimes (Canada) stole a Union steamer off the coast of Massachusetts. When US authorities arrested the men off the coast of Halifax, tensions rose, as the British sent troops to North America, and threatened to bring them into the war against the Union. One year before that though, the US captured two Confederate envoys from a British Royal Mail steamer; the British government protested vigorously. The United States ended the incident by releasing the envoys. These events nearly brought Canada into conflict with the US, and helped speed up the process of Confederation.

Even towards the End of the Civil war, US politicians seemed more than content with the idea to expel the British from the continent, seize Rupert’s land, and “Liberate the Oppressed Peoples of Canada”. With the lease for the land owned by the Hudson’s Bay Company, The British North American Colonies realized they had to act quick less the Americans somehow “Acquire it”. Ever lingering was that fear of US invasion. One by one, the colonies joined into the delegation. From the likes of Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, to those across the continent such as Rupert’s Land and British Columbia. With the US purchase of Alaska in 1867, this process only sped up, and after three conferences, some talking, more talking, and some writing, the British North America Act would be signed by the Queen herself, granting Confederation to all British North American Colonies. July 1st was when it would be the day it first came into effect. Canada was now a Semi-Autonomous Dominion within the British Empire, but with an uncertain future ahead, and an aggressive neighbor to its south, and mounting internal issues, they could be sure of one thing. Trying times lay ahead, and it would test Canada and push her to her very limits.

 

[H.R (Slash) Pickens]

Chap. II-Teething Issues

The Latter half of the 19th century was quite the turbulent one for the young Canada. With Americans, Fenians and itself to contend with. In 1867, when Canada achieved responsible self-government, Few nations or anyone really saw the beginnings of a world power, that and most people could care less. As far as most were concerned, this was just another extension of the British Empire. Those in Washington though, who were still bitter about the “British Involvement” in the Civil War, would attempt to put forward motions to annex Canada and rid North America once and for all from the British and other Imperialist Powers. The rest of the US Congress however, were more concerned with rebuilding themselves. It looked as if Canada was the most powerful, the richest and largest country in North America, but fun fact, No.

Although Canada would grow exponentially due to its annexation of the lands owned by the HBC known as “Rupert’s Land”, Canada was facing issues from the get go. In the mid 1860’s, the first of the Fenian raids begun. Lasting until the late 1880’s, they would wreak havoc on Upper and parts of Lower Canada.

In 1869, Canada formally annexed Rupert’s Land. This would cause much fear and anxiety in the largely native population there, who had fled to it during the most recent of the US-Indian Wars, as well as many expatriates fleeing the bloodshed and destruction of the US Civil War. One man would rise to prominence. Louis Riel. He would lead negotiations with Ottawa on the creation of a new province. Manitoba. In midst of this though, a young man by the name of Thomas Scott would find a new passion for his new hobby: Being dead, courtesy of a trial and hanging on charges of conspiracy for plotting to Kill Riel. This would cause a political storm. The Metis and much of the residents of this newly acquired land, and Quebec felt that the action was justified, but in the Protestant Majority caused mass uproar among the populace. Left with no other choice, Prime Minister MacDonald sent a force to Winnipeg to reestablish peace and order, but with explicit orders to use as little force as possible. Many outside Ontario though, saw this as an overreaction on Ottawa’s part and often likened it to using a hammer to kill a fly, unnecessarily blowing it out of proportion. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and negotiations were successful. With most of Canada siding with the Metis, MacDonald caved in. All sides withdrew, and the Federal troops sent there, now served as mainly heavily armed policemen, to help enforce the law and maintain peace and order. Riel had largely won. Many of his goals such as separate schooling for French and English, and the right to practice Catholicism.

After the US Civil War ended, many veterans of the war, now found themselves unemployed, notably those of the Ex-Confederate armies, and so joined the Fenian brotherhood, a group dedicated to freeing Ireland from the rule of the British. Their belief was that by seizing Canada, they could hold it for ransom to gain Irish independence. These raids would last on an off for over a decade from 1966 all the way to 1878. At its peak, Fenian numbers numbered well over one hundred thousand.

The Early Fenian raids were nothing more than a couple hundred men at most coming across the border from the US, seizing some towns and villages, looting, burning and then retreating. The Fenian raids would also see the first battle fully led and fought by an all Canadian force at the First battle of Ridgeway. This defeat, emboldened the Fenians who later became more and more audacious in their raids. This also led the Canadian Government to start focusing more and more on it’s military, which grew exponentially during the raids. By 1878 the Canadian militia consisted over one hundred thousand with its regular force almost 50 thousand.

Painting of the First Battle of Ridgeway (1866)​

1876 would see the largest battle of the Fenian Raids, during The Second Battle of Ridgeway. It was here that the Canadian Regular Army, and Militia numbering 32, 000 with over a dozen cannon defeated a force of 30, 000Fenians, who over Seventy Percent were veterans of the Civil War. In total, there would be 8 large Raids with numerous smaller on and off skirmishes often dismissed by Ottawa as nothing more than Banditry. The Fenian Raids also showcased that while the primary role of the NWMP was being mounted police units, they could also serve as cavalry as seen as their infamous exploits in western Canada.

During the Fenian Raids, the Canadian Government set out to build a rail network that spanned Canada, “From Sea to Shining Sea”. (one of the reasons British Columbia joined confederation was the promise of a rail network through the Rocky Mountains) and by 1886, they had finally completed it.

In 1898, the Spanish-American War caused what is considered by many modern historians as the “Third Blue Scare” in Canadian history. These, are defined as by a period of which Canada, and Canadians were fearful of a US invasion, and Canadian military expenditure sees a sharp increase due to their fear. They also debate whether or not it was due to their fear of the US, or due to Canada’s participation in the Second Boer War in South Africa. When the US intervened in Cuban War of Independence, it not only gave the world a first look at the US’ military capabilities, but also their (to some) blatant aggressiveness in expanding what some called “The American Empire”.

The Spanish-American War caused somewhat of a scare in Canada. Many in Canada felt that US expansion would eventually mean conflict, which nobody wanted. The term “Blue Scare” came from modern historians trying to describe the feeling of fear, and the attitude of the Canadian Government during times of US expansion, or strained relations between these events. More often than not, during these times, you would see a surge in Canadian Nationalism, Anti-Americanism, and Military expenditure. The third blue scare, lasted, to many historians from 1898, all the way to 1905. Many in Canada, feared that the US would then, go after the Mexico, and then inevitably, them, and the rhetoric of many politicians was that of buying time, and trying to lobby the British Government in London to pursue a network of alliances in the Americas, and rapid industrialization, and militarization of the country. - Excerpt from “When David and Goliath Clashed-Canada Vs. USA” by historian Thomas Wright.

In 1899, war raged in South Africa. Boers, the descendents of Dutch Settlers of the former Cap Colony owned by the Netherlands, were unhappy with British Rule. Soon, it escalated into open war which lasted until 1902. This war would mark the first overseas deployment of Canadian Forces ever. This war would not only change Canada, but would also influence Canadian Military Doctrine for almost half a century.

The Canadian populace as heavily divided on the issue. Many within the Native and Quebecois were against the war, feeling threatened by the continuation of British Imperialism to their national sovereignty. Many of the Anglophone community in Canada supported the war claiming that it “Pitted British Freedom, justice and civilization against Boer backwardness”. French Canadians opposition would culminate in a three-day riots in different areas of Quebec. In the end, the Prime Minister, Sir Wilfrid Laurier reached a compromise. Over 10, 000 soldiers and support personnel would be sent to South Africa, with approximately 8, 815 soldiers in a combat situation, being the largest foreign involvement from the time of Confederation until the Great War/ The War of 1918.

Canadian Cavalrymen during the Boer War (c. 1900)​

For Canada, this war would also prove the viability of Cavalry, with many from the Canadian Military saying that: “The Plains of South Africa resemble the prairies in our west, and the effective use of Mounted Infantry and Cavalry can prove vital to the securing of large portions of area with smaller amounts of soldiers, and its mobility gives it a tactical advantage on the battlefield.” This also transformed the role of the NWMP to serve not only as mounted police back in Canada, but changed their role to that of during wartime, mobile light infantry. Ottawa would also raise multiple Regular Cavalry units in Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, and British Columbia.

During the War, Canada would engage the Boers during notable engagements such as at Paardeberg, Zand River, Doornkop and Leliefontein. As the war dragged on however, and when the war entered its Guerrilla phase, leaks of atrocities committed by the British colonial units, and the British Army itself swayed public opinion, and eventually, towards the end of the war, Canada had even begun to pull its troops from combat and move them home. This process was also in no due part to the ongoing Alaska Boundary Conflict with the US back home in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.

One of the largest, if not THE largest factor in swaying public opinion against the War in South Africa would be the British “Scorched Earth” policy, which included the systematic destruction of crops, slaughtering of livestock, burning down homesteads and farms to prevent the Boers from resupplying from a home base. In this process, they would also forcibly relocate woman and children to internment camps. Disease and Starvation were rampant and had high death rates. As stories and evidence leaked to the Canadian Public, the opinion of the masses slowly turned against the war, with some Francophone newspapers going as far to say that “British Harsh Imperialist Policies” were the reason for the conflict, and with the undeclared Border War raging between Canada and the US over the Alaskan Panhandle, Canadians felt that their troops should be recalled to fight. When the war finally ended, many returned home, and a few were sent west to deal with the conflict, but for now, for many of those troops, the war was over.

---

 

[StormRyder]

This seems interesting. I'll watch and see were it goes.

 

[Dr Dee]

Yes, this made a great start didnt it?

 

[StormRyder]

Yep it did.

 

[H.R (Slash) Pickens]

im still here, just taking FOREVER to write this. procrastination is a bitch ain't it.

 

[H.R (Slash) Pickens]

Chap. III- Gold, Maps and Guns

In 1896, gold was discovered in the Klondike Region of what is present day Yukon. From then up until around 1901, Hundreds of thousands of prospectors went there in search of gold and wealth. Some would become wealthy, but the majority went in vain, often leaving disappointed. Some however would stay, and it was this event that laid the groundwork for Canada’s northern expansion later on.

Many people, both Canadian and American went to the Klondike in search of Gold. On the route there, to accommodate prospectors, boom towns sprung up along the routes. This would put the Northwest Police at the forefront of security, and peacekeeping in the region, and also led to constructions of many forts in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, often taking over old HBC Trading posts, and converting many into smaller forts, or bases from which the NWMP operated from. These forts, and posts would be most numerous on the popular trails used by prospectors to head to the Klondike such as the Dyea/Skagway Routes, White Pass Trail, and the Chillkoot Trail.

As more and more prospectors arrived with hopes of fortune, a new settlement formed. Dawson City. Created in the early days of the Klondike gold rush, when prospector Joe Ladue and shopkeeper Arthur Harper decided to make a profit from the influx to the Klondike. The two men bought 178 acres (72 ha) of the mudflats at the junction of the Klondike and Yukon rivers from the government and laid out the street plan for a new town, bringing in timber and other supplies to sell to the migrants. There was a caveat though. There was a Native settlement near by, and in what would become somewhat Canadian solution to this issue, they simply forced them up and onto a reservation roughly 4km Down river.

(Map of Different Routes to the Klondike)​

Dawson City soon became the premier city during the gold rush, rising from 30,000 in the spring of 1898, to almost 100,000 towards the Winter of 1898-1899. Dawson City in the beginning however, was not the nicest place to live though. The centre of the town, Front Street, was lined with hastily built buildings and warehouses, together with log cabins and tents spreading out across the rest of the settlement. There was no running water or sewerage, and only two springs for drinking water to supplement the increasingly polluted river. In spring, the unpaved streets were churned into thick mud and in summer the settlement reeked of human effluent and was plagued by flies and mosquitoes. Land in Dawson was now scarce, and plots became more and more expensive, while a small log cabin might rent for far cheaper. As a result, Dawson's population spread south into the empty Hän village, renaming it Klondike City. Other communities emerged closer to the mines, such as Granville on Dominion Creek and Grand Forks on Bonanza Creek.

Unlike its American counterparts, Dawson City was a law-abiding town with few serious crimes being committed. The NWMP are generally regarded as an efficient and honest force during the period, although their task was helped by the geography of the Klondike which made it relatively easy to bar entry to undesirables.

These new boom towns would bring prosperity to their surrounding areas, and boost the Canadian population. This soon however, would bring Canada once again into the conflict with the United States. The presence of gold and a large new population greatly increased the importance of the region and the desirability of fixing an exact boundary. Canada wanted an all-Canadian route from the gold fields to a seaport. There are claims that Canadian citizens were harassed by the U.S. as a deterrent to making any land claims.

The head of Lynn Canal was the main gateway to the Yukon, and the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) sent a detachment to secure the location for Canada. This was based on Canada's assertion that that location was more than ten marine leagues from the sea, which was part of the 1825 boundary definition. A massive influx of American stampeders through Skagway very quickly forced the Canadian police to retreat. They set up posts on the desolate summits of Chilkoot and White Passes. This was still disputed territory, as many Americans believed that the head of Lake Bennett, another 12 miles (19 km) north, should be the location of the border. To back up the police in their sovereignty claim, the Canadian government also sent the Yukon Field Force, a 200-man Army unit, to the territory. The soldiers set up camp at Fort Selkirk so that they could be fairly quickly dispatched to deal with problems at either the coastal passes or the 141st meridian west. Soon, this escalated into the Alaska Boundary Dispute, and later Border War.

(NWMP Troops pose for a picture in the Yukon)​

The Alaska boundary dispute and War was a territorial dispute between the United States and the United Kingdom, which then controlled Canada's foreign relations. (Note that Canada still participated in it win other ways) It was resolved by arbitration in 1903. The dispute had existed between the Russian Empire and Britain since 1821, and was inherited by the United States as a consequence of the Alaska Purchase in 1867. The final resolution favored the American position, as Canada did not get an all-Canadian outlet from the Yukon gold fields to the sea. The disappointment and anger in Canada was directed less at the United States, and more at the British government for betraying Canadian interests in favor of healthier Anglo-American relations.

Although the dispute existed from the days of when the Russian Empire controlled Alaska, it would reach new heights from 1900 to 1903 when both the Canadian Government and US Government began sending troops and Militia Units to enforce what they both believed to be their own claim to the region. Canadian NWMP units would build wooden forts and outposts along the routes to the Klondike, and when they sent a 200-man Army unit to the new Fort Selkirk to back up their claim, the United States sent a 500-Man National Guard unit to the region, outnumbering their Canadian Counterparts of more than 2-1. The US then began encroaching on what the Canadians believed to be their own territory. Soon, both the United States and Canada began sending more and more units to the region, and as the Klondike Gold Rush began winding down both sides began building more outposts and forts. By 1902, the United States had 2,200 Soldiers in the region, against Canada’s 1,750 Units. When the South African War ended, many of these veteran soldiers were sent up North creating a large contingent of veteran troops, supported by NWMP units.

Soon, the conflict escalated to open battle when in March of 1902, US Troops and Canadian Troops had a standoff along the Skagway/Dyea Route. It is unknown who fired the first shot, but as gunfire erupted between them, both sides dug in and by the days end, there were a total of 4 dead, and 7 wounded. (3 american dead, and 3 wounded and 1 Canadian Dead and 4 Wounded). The soon the to be called Skagway-Dyea Incident was marked as the first battle among many in the region.

Both sides then began setting up even more posts, and often engaging in short skirmishes and firefights with each other. The US would make bold moves attempting to dislodge the Canadians from their peaks and outposts, and in a tit-for-tat, the Canadians would do the same. By 1903, Canada had 3,100 Soldiers in the Region, and the US had 5,720 Soldiers in the Region. The Largest battle of the Conflict would be the US Attack on Fort Selkirk. This attack, involving over 5,000 Soldiers in total. (Approx. 3,000 US Soldiers, 2,000 Canadian) lasted a week and ended with the Canadian successfully repelling the US forces. The Battle was costly for both sides, with 173 Casualties for the Canadians (42 Dead, 131 Wounded) and 239 Casualties for the US (77 Dead, 162 Wounded). After the battle however, the conflict would wind down considerably, with no major set piece moves by either side for the rest of the conflict. The This is not to say they did not engage in short, intense skirmishes from time to time, and often would dig in at certain positions, outposts and forts and shell each other with field guns. The Conflict would only end in a resolution in 1903. Both sides though, would keep a military presence there even after the Arbitration.

(Map of the Boundary Dispute)​

When word got back to London in late 1902 about the undeclared border war between the United States and one of their Dominions (Canada), the British were about as furious as they were panicked. In 1903, the Hay–Herbert Treaty between the United States and Britain entrusted the decision to an arbitration by a mixed tribunal of six members: three Americans (Elihu Root, Secretary of War; Henry Cabot Lodge, senator from Massachusetts; and George Turner, ex-senator from Washington), two Canadians (Sir Louis A. Jette, Lieutenant Governor of Quebec; and Allen B. Aylesworth, K.C., from Toronto), and one Briton (Baron Alverstone). All sides respected Root, but he was a member of the U.S. Cabinet. Canadians ridiculed the choice of the obscure ex-Senator Turner and, especially, Lodge, a leading historian and diplomatic specialist whom they saw as unobjective.

The tribunal considered six main points:

Where the boundary began.

What "Portland Channel" meant, and how to draw the boundary line through it. Four islands were in dispute.

The definition of the line from "the southernmost point of Prince of Wales Island to Portland Channel", which depended on the answer to
the previous question.

The line from Portland Channel to the 56th parallel north.

The width of the lisière (border or edge), and how to measure it.

Whether mountain ranges existed in the area.

The British member Lord Alverstone sided with the U.S. position on these basic issues, although the final agreed demarcation line fell significantly short of the maximal U.S. claim (it was a compromise falling roughly between the maximal U.S. and maximal Canadian claim). The "BC Panhandle" (the Tatshenshini-Alsek region) was not quite exclaved from the rest of British Columbia.

This decision angered many in Canada, and the Canadian judges would refuse to sign the award. Canadians protested the outcome but that the US had chosen politicians instead of jurists for the tribunal, and that the british had ‘sold out’ Canada for their own interests (UK) and for the sake of their relationship with the United States. Intense Anti-British emotions would erupt throughout Canada, and they would see a surge in Canadian Nationalism, separate from an Imperial Identity. Suspicions of the U.S. provoked by the Award is argued to have contributed to Canada’s Rejection of the free trade Agreement in 1911, and Canada passing the National Fortification Act in 1907. Canadians would also vent their anger more against the British Government through their desire for an Independent Canadian Navy and the passing of the Naval Service Act in 1910, and something that would change the Americas for decades to come. This new show of what was essentially Canadian disregard, and utter contempt for British Policy and Authority, an act that would change the fate, and affect the Americas for decades to come, and what it was?

Canada established a Canadian Embassy in Mexico City, Mexico.

 

[Plateosaurus]

Canadian History Starts in the 16th century, with men such as John Cabot, Jacques Cartier, and Samuel De Champlain, going forth and exploring the new world.

WRONG

It's starts with the Indeginous Peoples once they entered from Alaska, hundreds of thousans of years ago.

 

[H.R (Slash) Pickens]

WRONG

It's starts with the Indeginous Peoples once they entered from Alaska, hundreds of thousans of years ago.

Guess I should have specified MODERN then.

 

[TheMann]

I like it so far, though the idea of Canada being loudly anti-British is a bit of a difficult one to sort out in 1910, even with London siding with the Americans after the violence on the trail to Dawson City.

 

[Seandineen]

Could this anti British mindset, lead to greater support for the USA, thus, butterflying support for Vietnam draft dodgers, fifty years later?

 

[StormRyder]

Good update and nice choice on Alaska for making relationships poor. It looks like a not quite hostile but not quite your best friend Canada is forming compared to the US.

 

[H.R (Slash) Pickens]

To all of you responding I appreciate the feedback and responses a lot! And I will address these points you guys are making about things such as the Anglo-Canadian and Canadian-American Relations at least somewhat and more in the coming chapters.