Patriot War
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| Patriot War | |||||||
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| Part of the Upper Canada Rebellion | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Canadian Militia |
 Hunter Patriots |
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| Commanders | |||||||
| John Prince |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 300 Canadian Militia | 400 Hunter Patriots | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 4 dead 1 steamer |
25 dead 44 captured |
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The Patriot War was a series of battles that occurred in 1837, between Canadians who had come down from Upper Canada into Western New York State, and the British in Lower Canada. Many other people, including the French in Lower Canada, as well as many from Upper Canada, were also active in these battles.
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[edit] Precursors
Two main events lead up to the Patriot War: the Upper and Lower Canadian rebellions. The Lower Canadian rebellion took place in 1837 when the native French who had been living there for hundreds of years fought against the newly imposed British rule. The Upper Canadian rebellion was the single event that most impacted the Patriot War. It also took place in 1837. As much of the British militia moved east to help fight the other rebellion, a man named William Lyon MacKenzie seized his opportunity. He had long been a leader of a Reform party, and liberalist. He was fighting for a new republic, and he used this time when security in Upper Canada was loose because much of the troops had gone to subdue the Lower Canada rebellion to form an army and storm the town hall to gather arms. As his band was coming down the road, a group of Loyalists shot at them, and they scattered. MacKenzie himself fled into Western New York.
[edit] Action
Once in the Buffalo area, MacKenzie started to form a new army. He found lots of sympathy among the people of that area, as well as with some Canadians who had come with him into the US. Soon enough he had a fairly large army assembled, who called themselves Patriots. The British forces were enraged as MacKenzie received funds and arms from wealthy Americans, and also likely illegal cannons from the towns in the surrounding areas, which violated the US’s Neutrality Act. Using this support, he took Navy Island, a small deserted island in the Niagara River, formerly held by Canada. This held little value at all, except that it allowed him to set up a government of his own and declare himself an independent country. Also, he could get supplies from the New York mainland, thus putting himself in a strong place of power. Increasingly angered by the attack of outsiders on their land, as well as the US’ support, the Canadians attacked a steamer they knew was being used to support Navy Island. Because of the attack on US property, the US could now become involved without violating their Neutrality Act. National troops were sent to help with defense along the border, but they also cut out the illegal aid that had been given to the Patriots on Navy Island. This caused them to leave the island, as they had no support. After they left, much of the conflict ceased, and while tensions remained, the war was over.
