Canada in the US Civil War

[crazy canuck]

The main impact of the Civil War in Canada is that it (and the huge US army that resulted) was a leading factor in Confederation, which happened in 1867 but negotiations started in 1864.

Damn, the US had a great chance to bring Canada into the Union!   

Yeah, using best to prevent that was one of the main reasons for Confederation.  But for that we too would have dysfunctional health care.

[Valmy]

But more importantly the new Canada-United States union would have won 11 Olympic Hockey Gold Medals.  Instead you tragically have to be happy with 9.

[crazy canuck]

But more importantly the new Canada-United States union would have won 11 Olympic Hockey Gold Medals.  Instead you tragically have to be happy with 9.

[Razgovory]

Well the number seemed high to me.  I mean, that's a lot of people who left their country to fight for cause not their own, especially in a country that doesn't have a lot of people in it to begin with.  There was a lot of talk about the British possibly recognizing the Confederacy, but if so many Canadians felt so strongly about the issue that wouldn't seem wise.  Wiki also said the guy who wrote what would be the Canadian national anthem fought joined the Union army.

[viper37]

Well the number seemed high to me.  I mean, that's a lot of people who left their country to fight for cause not their own, especially in a country that doesn't have a lot of people in it to begin with.  There was a lot of talk about the British possibly recognizing the Confederacy, but if so many Canadians felt so strongly about the issue that wouldn't seem wise.  Wiki also said the guy who wrote what would be the Canadian national anthem fought joined the Union army.

Recognizing the Confederacy and being allied with them is another matter.
Had the South won Gettysburg, this could have had the same impact in Europe as Sarratoga had in the American Revolution.

Anyway.  I suspect we could find many different categories of people:
- Lots of people from Canada, French Canadians mostly, emigrated to the US between 1840-1930, in search of job opportunities.  It's possible people from here, unemployed and without lands felt it was a good idea to join their distant cousin in the war going on in the south.
- Free blacks.
- Anti-slavery elements in the British society.

I suspect it's mostly #1, english and french canadians living and working in the US, soon joined by friends and family members in search of opportunity.

[derspiess]

Plus it's cold as balls in Canada.

[viper37]

Plus it's cold as balls in Canada.

But there's no snakes or venomous spiders.  Or 'gators.  It's a good tradeoff.

[crazy canuck]

Plus it's cold as balls in Canada.

Clearly you have not spent a winter in Chicago.

[Barrister]

Well the number seemed high to me.  I mean, that's a lot of people who left their country to fight for cause not their own, especially in a country that doesn't have a lot of people in it to begin with.  There was a lot of talk about the British possibly recognizing the Confederacy, but if so many Canadians felt so strongly about the issue that wouldn't seem wise.  Wiki also said the guy who wrote what would be the Canadian national anthem fought joined the Union army.

Remember it's the British government who talked of aligning or aiding the south, not politicians in Canada.  Cross-border ties between the NE US and Canada have always been strong.  Border controls were also loose to non-existant at the time

[Valmy]

It was?  Well when did that change?  The border between Canada and the US is absurd.

[Malthus]

It was?  Well when did that change?  The border between Canada and the US is absurd.

Border controls used to be a lot looser in my memory. Things got noticably worse after 9/11.

[derspiess]

Plus it's cold as balls in Canada.

Clearly you have not spent a winter in Chicago.

Not an entire winter, no.  I'm not that stupid.

[Barrister]

It was?  Well when did that change?  The border between Canada and the US is absurd.

Probably around the time you were required to have a passport to cross the border.

[derspiess]

It was?  Well when did that change?  The border between Canada and the US is absurd.

When I went to Niagara Falls in the late 80s it was a joke.  It's only fairly recently that you needed a passport.

[Malthus]

It was?  Well when did that change?  The border between Canada and the US is absurd.

Probably around the time you were required to have a passport to cross the border.

For land crossings, that would be - 2009.

http://canada.usembassy.gov/traveling_to_canada/passport-requirements.html