Dear Many Flags Newsletter Reader,
Thanks again for subscribing, and please, reply to this email with your questions about living in Canada—or the US, and definitely let me know what topics and stories you liked/didn’t like.
There’s a reason why the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837 isn’t talked about much: it was an embarrassment. The rebellion’s chief organizer, William Lyon MacKenzie, well, his heart was probably in the right place, but he had no idea what he was doing. It’s one thing to go from farm town to farm town whipping up a fervor by eloquently pointing out the blindingly obvious injustices of the system, but it’s another thing entirely to get ordinary folks to take up arms.
I personally think his first mistake was to believe he could transform reformers into rebels overnight. People trying work with the system suddenly gonna take up arms? Please.
At another crucial moment, when any fool could see that now was the moment to attack Toronto’s poor defenses, MacKenzie instead wasted an entire day berating his troops, questioning their loyalty, and busied himself burning down a banking tycoon’s house — out of pure spite and for zero strategic purpose.
In another embarrassing incident, the rebels all ran away from the battlefield, thinking their first volley had killed the entire front row of government troops, when in actuality the front row had dropped in unison to allow the second row to fire. Like the did back then. Which pretty much everyone knew.
I guess that’s how it goes when you enjoy a monopoly on violence: you get good at it. But the whole farcical affair just goes to show ya: insurrection is a losing proposition. How are you going to go up against a foe that has unlimited backup?
Better to move. I’m not saying moving is easy — it’s not. But hey it beats getting shot at, eh?
A lot of rebels fled to the United States. In fact around that time, there was a lot of cross-border migration. A lot of Americans were moving to Canada and vice versa.
Fast-forward to 2024, and a lot of people are discouraged. The people running the show are getting really good at pitting people against each other, don’t you agree? People are thinking about moving. But where are you going to go? Everywhere it’s just the same, or so the story goes (more on why there’s cause for optimism in upcoming issue).
I love both the US and Canada. But I have my family, my future and frankly my mental health to think of. If you’re thinking of leaving the US (I would), or thinking of leaving Canada (I would), or if you’re thinking of moving to the US or Canada (meh; let’s see what else is out there), then stay tuned. I will save you time and money and I will share what I’ve learned.
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Sincerely,
The Many Flags Newsletter