I thought Canada had always had a fairly calm & civilised history. Reminds me I should look more into how they, to some extent, unshackled themselves from the British & French.
1 Like
Toronto experienced a major population boom in the late 1800s and became very conservative and known for strict morality. Up to the early 2000s there were still pockets in the west end of the city where it was impossible to obtain a liquor license.
Related - The street the brothel in the story is located on (Jarvis) is still know for prostitution, just moved further north. Typing “Hooker Harvey’s” (Harvey’s is a Canadian fast food chain) into Google Maps brings you to the location at Jarvis & Gerrard
1 Like
This is a fascinating map, just 26 years before America gained its independence.
I hadn’t realised France had such a swathe of territory.
1 Like
The United States ended up buying a large amount of it in the Louisiana Purchase
1 Like
Yes I’d heard of it but hadn’t realised it was France’s to sell.
But it of course explains the persistence of French (Acadian ie Cajun) culture so far South.
1 Like
Many of the Cajuns are actually descendants of the Acadians. The area of modern Canada that is now the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island was know as Acadia. A large portion of the population were expelled by the British to what is now the state of Louisiana (some retuned to France). The Louisiana accent turned “Acadian” into “Cajun”.
There are still parts of New Brunswick where French is largely spoken, and you still see Acadian flags flown in Canada by individuals.
4 Likes
Actually on topic.
6 Likes
I would recommend the works of the late, great Pierre Berton. He wrote many books on Canadian history but his books on the War of 1812 (The Invasion of Canada and Flames Across the Border) and the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway (The National Dream and The Last Spike) contain what you’re seeking.
Eminently readable, a great raconteur
3 Likes
Shows how we are victims of the education we receive.
If you asked me what happened in 1812 I would have said the Battle of Borodino as part of Napolean’s advance and terrible retreat in Russia.
I wouldn’t have thought of Canada at all.
When I was last there (end of the 1980’s) there was still a very strong French influence in New Orleans (The French Quarter) and, I think, in the immediate Louisiana environs. Marlon Brando’s character in A Streetcar Named Desire makes reference to Louisiana’s unique, among US states, legal system based on the Code Napoleon.
1 Like
We were at war with the United States in 1812 which continued until 1815 & included our torching of the White House in 1814. 
Yebut Tchaikovsky didn’t write a song about it did he?
1 Like
You say that like it is a bad thing.
That’s one of the reasons the White House became white. A lime whitewash was applied to protect the porous stone the building is made of but also to cover the burn marks.
Washington was sacked in retaliation for the American attack on York (Toronto)
1 Like
Québec’s legal system has some differences from the rest of Canada for the same reason
Sorry for the thread hijack, I’m unabashedly Canadian 
7 Likes
Several others have
The Man Who Burned the White House Down – David Rovics -Singer/Songwriter https://share.google/yDQwZlUeKJcUzNUjE
Was it really a song 
?
Francis Scott Key wrote some War-of-1812 lyrics which were then set to a tune.
The tune has been covered a few times e.g.
2 Likes
