But oh no!!!! Canada had secret plans to invade the United States as well!!! ... but really... we're not dastardly beasts.. really. :) LOL
Anyways, this book is a fascinating glimpse into the history between what is called "the friendliest border". We weren't always so friendly, from the war of 1812, to the threatened trade of Canada as reparation by Great Britain for how they played both sides in the American Civil War, to the War of the Pig. I know.. a war over a pig?!?!?!
I laughed.
I shook my head.
And the history I learned... oh my! :)
The things they don't teach you in school.
Like did you know that part of buying Alaska...was not only protection from Russia...but as a first step to buying British Columbia...and then slowly buying the rest of Canada? Could you image that the entirety of the North American continent being one huge country? Or how about trading Canada for Ireland or even have Canada AS an Irish Republic to launch attacks at Great Britain? This was a scheme by the Fenians (catholic Irishmen). It failed if only because most Irish in Canada were Protestant and the two simply didn't cooperate with each other.
Canadian Pride was well-establish since the start of my beloved land. We started off declaring "We are a northern people...more manly, more real, then the weak-marrowed bones and superstitions of the effeminate south". (p.57) Our success at Vimy Ridge solidified our national pride. To this day, part of being Canadian is to tease our neighbour to the south.So why build a plan to attack Canada? As a means to attack Great Britain. The awareness was that to attack Great Britain you would first need to take out their northern neighbour.
Included in the last 1/3 of the book is a reproduction of the American plan of attack. The War Plan Red.
How we went from that to having such a friendly border... I don't know... but we've managed it. :)
Should you read it?
Yes! If you are interested in the history of the border between Canada and the United States. I found it fascinating... but I'm a Canadian. I intend to hold on to it until my lad is old enough to read it for himself. I suspect he'll find it interesting as a teenager. It is a book written for young adults and up.
War Plan Red
Author: Kevin Lippert
Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press
Pages: 128
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.
Amazon.ca: War Plan Red: The United States' Secret Plan to Invade Canada and Canada's Secret Plan to Invade the United States
Amazon.com: War Plan Red: The United States' Secret Plan to Invade Canada and Canada's Secret Plan to Invade the United States
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This looks like a fun history book! I'm gonna look it up - as a Canadian-born American citizen, I think I'd love it. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think you might too. :)
DeleteWhat a fascinating bit of history! I'm in the middle of two other books right now, plus moving, but I want to look this one up as soon as things settle down for us.
ReplyDeleteI did not know that!! How interesting! I always thought we've had peace with Canada! We will study geography of Canada this coming school year, but I'm interested in the history now, too, LOL.
ReplyDeleteI found it to be a fascinating read, and I hope that you will too. :)
ReplyDeleteWow that looks like a fun book! When were these plans made? We are going to get the book but I can't wait that long to find out!
ReplyDeleteit was a good book. 1935
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