Lower Canadian Support Further Reading Upper Canadian Support: A British/Canadian Perspective The Lachine Riot The Battle of Chateauguay

A British/Canadian Perspective The War of 1812 was a time of relative peace in Lower Canada. Faced with the possibility of an American invasion which posed a social, political and economic threat to their society, Lower Canadians from different social classes and political factions chose to close ranks. For instance, the francophone professional class temporarily suspended political bickering with the English-dominated government for the duration of the hostilities. They realized that their cultural interests were more likely to be protected under British institutions than they would be under American rule. The "habitant" farmers who made up the majority of the population were also wary of an American invasion. They believed that land-hungry American settlers would cause overcrowding and exacerbate the land shortage problem. In an effort to preserve their rural heritage, the "habitants" enthusiastically joined local militia units. "Les Voltigeurs", a unit created by Charles-Michel de Salaberry, successfuly fended off the Americans at the Battle of Chateauguay. The elite members of Lower Canadian society also helped to foster loyalty to the British crown during the war. For example, the new governor general, Sir George Prevost, was a bilingual British officer with a great talent for conciliation. He successfully eased the cultural and linguistic divisions within the colony. Also, the Roman Catholic clergy and the "seigneurs" (landholders) used their influence to promote the defense of established order over revolutionary American forces. Ironically, after the war ended, Lower Canada was once again torn apart by political bickering. The growing tension between Lower Canada's English rulers and the mainly-French citizenry erupted with the Rebellion of 1837.