What if Canada joined the US in the war of 1812?

Question

What would this mean to the government system of Canda, to the size, history, and government of the US? What might be the effect on the British Empire? Would there have been a separation movement in Quebec. What about French heritage?

Answer 1

that would be kinda hard since Canada didn't exist until 1867

The U.S. fought Britain, so if the BRITISH had joined the U.S., there would be no War of 1812

Answer 2

That's quite a scenario.

Possible they would have become one nation after fighting off the Brits. Perhaps more of a French influence as they would have no doubt accepted military/financial aid as the US did in the war of independence. That would affect the French heritage aspect. But 30 years after the American war of independence might have been long enough for the assimilation of culture process to start taking place - thereby disallowing the cultural mosaic a century down the road.

One thing for certain, Brit sea power would have been curtailed in the Atlantic and Pacific - free raw resources for manufacturing towards a war machine would have had to come from a more circuituous route, making for a less efficient war machine.

America has never been about giving up territory, so I'd imagine that if what is now Canada had amalgamated in some fashion with the U.S. during the time of early 1800's, there's no way that Quebec would be allowed to separate. Either that or they'd force Quebecers to stay out of Florida during the winter as punishment for separating.

One thing on my mind about this scenario is the hunch that although probably not yet a leading world power by the early 1900's, North America would have been involved in both world wars much earlier and perhaps in a very different role.

ps. Not kidding about Florida =P

Answer 3

The US did approach Canada to declare their independence from Britian during the War of 1812. If Canada had joined the US and become states, they would be governed by the US Constitution. I don't think it would have made too big a dent in the British Empire, since most of the wealth was coming from India and the far east.
I don't know what effect it would have had on the separatist movement in Quebec. With so many former French Canadians (Cajuns) living in Louisiana, the movement may not have been as strong.

Answer 4

They couldn't have. They were still completely under British rule then.

Answer 5

WE WIL KICK BUTT!!!!!!!!!!!!