Dixie and the Dominion : Canada, the Confederacy, and the war for the Union

__Dixie & the Dominion__ is a compelling look at how the U.S. Civil War was a shared experience that shaped the futures of both Canada and the United States. The book focuses on the last year of the war, between April of 1864 and 1865. During that 12-month period, the Confederate States sent spies and saboteurs to Canada on a secret mission. These agents struck fear along the frontier and threatened to draw Canada and Great Britain into the war. During that same time, Canadians were making their own important decisions. Chief among them was the partnership between Liberal reformer George Brown and Conservative chieftain John A. Macdonald. Their unlikely coalition was the force that would create the Dominion of Canada in 1867, and it was the pressure of the war - with its threat to the colonies’ security - that was a driving force behind this extraordinary pact. 1864. The War Had Entered Its Third Year, And The Battle Momentum Had Shifted Towards The North. A Union Victory Seemed Imminent. Desperate To Keep The Confederate Dream Alive, Southern Leaders Concocted A Last-ditch Plan To Turn The Tide In Their Favour. They Took Advantage Of The Undefended Border And Used Canada As A Base From Which To Launch A Series Of Military Attacks And Terrifying Raids On Northern States. In Order To Prevent Further Assaults, The United States Imposed Its First Passport Laws And Threatened Trade Sanctions, A Move That Foreshadowed Future Actions The U.s. Would Take Against Canada In Order To Defend Its Borders. As The Drama Unfolded South Of The Border, Canada Sought To Establish Its Own Independence In The Form Of Confederation. The Coalition Between Liberal Reformer George Brown And Conservative Chieftain John A. Macdonald Was The Force That Would Create The Dominion Of Canada In 1867. The Pressure Of The Civil War, With Its Threat To The Colonies' Security, Was A Driving Force Behind This Extraordinary Pact.--jacket. The Celebrated Stranger -- Spring Summons -- Arrival -- Northwestern Conspiracy -- The Irish Lord -- Failed Rebellion -- Peace Plans -- Canadian Coalition -- The Lake Erie Raid -- Confederates In Charlottetown -- The St. Albans Raid -- Nation Builders At Quebec -- Diplomatic Crisis -- Firebombing New York -- The Confederation Road Show -- John Wilkes Booth -- That Stupid Judge -- Soldier Of Empire -- Winter Debates -- Assassination. Adam Mayers. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [231]-238) And Index. "When the Canadian Pacific Railway's transcontinental line was completed six years ahead of schedule, CPR general manager William C. Van Horne insisted that any ceremonies to commemorate the event be kept informal, declaring: "There is to be no 'golden spike' driven on the completion of the Canadian Pacific and no excursion to celebrate the event. The last spike will probably be driven by one of our track-laying gang and will be an iron one."" "A man of action, William C. Van Horne was the prime mover of the CPR, an organization heading toward financial disaster when he took control in 1881. Described as "a human dynamo" for his energy and imagination, the tireless railway tycoon conducted thousands of workers toward the aim of uniting the Canadian east and west, chiselling access through what was heralded as impassable terrain, including the Canadian Shield, Rocky Mountains, and Fraser Valley." "Born in Illinois in 1843, by the time he was 38 years old, Van Horne already had 25 years' experience in the railway business, starting as a message delivery boy and telegrapher and rising to prominence in the United States before coming to steer Canada's national railway project. Later assuming the role of CPR president, Van Horne also became one of Canada's foremost financiers and art collectors, capping his career by opening Cuba's interior with a railway. After turning down the honour twice, Van Horne was knighted by Queen Victoria for his contributions toward Canadian unity."--Jacket In 1864 the war had entered its third year, and the battle momentum had shifted towards the North. A Union victory seemed imminent. Desperate to keep the Confederate dream alive, Southern leaders concocted a last-ditch plan to turn the tide in their favour. They took advantage of the undefended border and used Canada as a base from which to launch a series of military attacks and terrifying raids on Northern states. In order to prevent further assaults, the United States imposed its first passport laws and threatened trade sanctions, a move that foreshadowed future actions the U.S. would take against Canada in order to defend its borders. As the drama unfolded south of the border, Canada sought to establish its own independence in the form of Confederation. The coalition between Liberal reformer George Brown and Conservative chieftain John A. Macdonald was the force that would create the Dominion of Canada in 1867. The pressure of the Civil War, with its threat to the colonies' security, was a driving force behind this extraordinary pact. - Jacket flap. Prologue The Celebrated Stranger Spring Summons Arrival Northwestern Conspiracy The Irish Lord Failed Rebellion Peace Plans Canadian Coalition The Lake Erie Raid Confederates in Charlottetown The St. Albans Raid Nation Builders at Quebec Diplomatic Crisis Firebombing New York The Confederation Road Show John Wilkes Booth That Stupid Judge Soldier of Empire Winter Debates Assassination Epilogue A note on sources