THE HISTORY TEXTBOOK PROJECT: Canada

Americans must realize that Canada, like Mexico, views the history of North America in an "un-US" way. This is the theme of the book by New York Times writer Irvin Molotsky in The Flag, the Poet and the Song. The Story of the "Star-Spangled Banner". The title was probably chosen to attract readers. We all know that the Betsy Ross story is a legend, like George Washington and the cherry tree. The tune of the "Star-Spangled Banner" was that of a popular 18th-century drinking song, which was adapted for the patriotic song by soldiers. It did not become the official US national anthem until the presidency of Herbert Hoover, and there was considerable opposition to it because of its bellicose theme. Another candidate was "America the Beautiful". It is significant that yesterday, September 11, 2001, after the bombing of the World Trace Center and the Pentagon, Congressmen stood on the Capitol steps and sang "God bless America". This song is more appropriate to a peace-loving country, like Ben Franklin's pèaceful turkey, than a bellicose song against America's mother country. Ironically, in that mother country, for the first time ever, the Queen ordered the Guards Band to plan the "Star-Spangled Banner" in the courtyard of Buckingham Palace, in front of a tearful crowd. as an expression of solidarity in the aftermath of the bombing of the World Trade Center. She would have shown more godly solidarity if she had ordered the band to play "God bless America".

The 1812 was is viewed in the US as a victory over an aggressive enemy. Canadians resent this distorted view. Molotsky quotes one Canadian as saying that no country is as jingoistic as the United States. The British burning of the White House is popularly viewed as a disgraceful lack of respect for an icon. Very few Americans know that it was an act of retaliation for the burning of Toronto, then called Yorktown, where the Americans burned down the city and released prisoners from the jails to join in the looting, In contrast, the British commander at Washington gave strict orders that only official buildings should be burned. Madison thought the war lost and the government prepared to abandon Washington. Only the British failure to take Fort McHenry in Baltimore saved the American government.

To continue the story of Canada and the US through the expansion westward, a good source is the excellent American TV series, "The Real West". The westward movement of the US was carried out by all kinds of gangs searching for gold, while the US government pushed the Indian tribes around ruthlessly. Some fled to Canada, where the westward movement was carried out under the auspices of the Royal Northwestern Mounted Police, which enforced good relations with the Indians, who regarded them as their friends and protectors.

Ronald Hilton - 9/13/01