Every American child knows the story about those Canadian rebels (still technically British subjects at the time), who stormed across the Canadian/American border during the War of 1812 and torched the White House in Washington.
What they might not know however, is that it was not an unprovoked attack. In my completely unbiased opinion, Canadians just wouldn’t do that {said with the slightest trace of a smirk}.
American militia had attacked York (now Toronto), then proceeded to burn and loot many buildings … including the Legislative building.
The Parliamentary Mace – a ceremonial “wand” carried into the Legislature to signify that parliament is ready to conduct business – was stolen by the Americans as a trophy.
For over a hundred years, Ontario’s original Parliamentary Mace sat in a Washington museum until it was finally returned to Canada in 1934 by President Franklin Roosevelt.
It now resides in the lobby of Queen’s Park – home of the Ontario Provincial Legislature in Toronto.
The current Mace of the Ontario Legislature is a bit more ornate than the original and has been in use for over a hundred years. It sports 2 large diamonds – the first diamonds mined in Ontario.
The War of 1812 was the only armed conflict between the two neighbours and both the Americans and Canadians celebrate it as a victory for their side.
The stealing of the mace reminds me of the stealing of the mascot between rival high schools. lol. Glad Canada got back its rightful possession. 🙂
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I had that exact thought when I read the post too!
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It does sound rather juvenile doesn’t it? 🙂
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[…] Part 1 of When Neighbours Fight, click here which tells the story of why Canada burned the White […]
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I love a history lesson. And it tickles my sense of humour to learn that their first mace was a gold-painted stick. 😀
And now I have the 1812 Overture stuck in my head. Thanks for that….
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omg – I’ve always had a tendency to think of historic events in isolation. It never occurred to me that our War of 1812 was occurring at the same time as Napoleon’s famous misadventure into Russia! Ooooh – I love when these connections finally click into place.
Now I’M also going to have the 1812 Overture stuck in my head!!
I admit I stifled a snicker when I saw the painted wooden stick. Shall we call it ‘understated’? 😉
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This was quite enlightening. Never heard about this before. I think India and Pakistan must take a leaf out of this. 70 years of enemity, grudge, ego and religious politics. Both countries struggling to prosper and develop.
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More often than not, the reasons for fighting look foolish when put under an intense glare.
Too bad we can’t do to countries what we do to children when they fight … give them a stern talking to and send them to their room 🙂
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Good you got your mace back! Fair is fair!!
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All that fuss over a piece of painted wood. Men! 😉
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Things are only just now trickling out about the British’s appalling treatment of the Australian aboriginals. We continue to close our eyes to the facts
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Unfortunately actions from the past never look good under the microscope.
I suspect a lot of things that are done today will not be judged kindly by our successors
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Thanks for the history lesson….I missed this little bit of our combined history. Of course I tend to live in a rose colored world where Americans and Canadians are friends now and always have been. Honestly if such a war broke out today between our 2 countries I would be in a heck of a pickle…Born and raised an American…but horribly embarrassed by our arrogant ways. I love Canada and my Canadian friends. I might just have to sit on the border and scream for peace!!
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Yeah – I think I’d be joining you Tree. We could scream together.
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Hopefully it will never come to that but if it does….we have a plan!!
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Fascinating history I had no knowledge of. I popped in here because I completely agree with Treerbold:)
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Who knows? We could end up with a long line of like-minded bloggers sitting along the border in solidarity 🙂
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I am so glad President Franklin D. Roosevelt returned the mace to the proper country, Joanne. I am smiling that both countries consider themselves the “winners of the War of 1812.”
I think the amicable years between our countries since then are very impressive! 🙂 I sure like my Canadian friends. ❤
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The relationship between Canada and US is certainly very different … and I hope it remains amicable for a VERY long time 🙂
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it’s nice when we get along with our neighbors, eh?
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Oh yes. Much better 🙂
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I swear to you, it was not until my husband and I were in our 30s and made friends with Canadians that we discovered the other half of the story. Initially, we were rather indignant, and then we were flummoxed looking for (unbiased) information and then we were like, “Screw it, whatever, we love the Canadians.” LOL
I for one am always saying Canada is so nice. Sorry about yer mace. I reckon no one’s holding a grudge now, right? Right?!?
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No grudges … not even a little one. After all, it was just a piece of painted wood and in retaliation we torched your Presidential mansion. Somewhat of an over reaction maybe? 🙂
I think of the Canada / US relationship as something similar to sisters … you’re the young teenager trying to look cool with her friends with the nerdy little tag-along sister always saying and doing embarrassing things that everyone else says is so cute … but is really just annoying 😉
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I think that’s a fair comparison!
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I don’t understand the confusion over this one – of course we won or we’d be Americans. Interesting post and great comments!
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That’s what I thought! … but I still think it’s fun when both sides feel *the win*. That’s a best case scenario 🙂
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I continue to be amazed (or should that be amaced?) by the many meanings of “mace”…
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I know! It deserves a much better name … especially when it’s all sparkly with gold and diamonds 😉
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Interesting to read this — I didn’t know all that much before, about the war of 1812. Very entertaining to read the comments too LOL
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I agree! 🙂
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Here’s hoping for another 200 years of peace. It seems we learn how to get along with countries that can kick our butts. The same thing seems to be happening with Vietnam. We’re getting along real well with them lately.
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I’m hoping for more peace too. If there is ever a “next time”, I’m afraid you’ll do much worse than steal our mace.
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I know. It’s pretty scary.
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Ahh the good ol’ days, LOL 😀 I love Brigette’s comment. Seems like history repeats itself.
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I LOVED Bridget’s comment. I got such a good laugh from it 😀
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What was wrong with Americans back then. Some things you just don’t do. You don’t go and steal a ceremonial wand in Canada when there are so many other things they could have taken instead. Smoked Salmon, Maple Syrup, snow shoes…but no, they go for a wand and put it in a museum. That’s typical for us, we start a war and don’t think it all the way through.
On a serious note, I have never heard of it, but I do have an excuse since I haven’t been an American child. What an interesting story, I can honestly say (see above excuse) that I have never heard of it.
What did they do during those 100 years, was there any business without the ceremonial wand I wonder (snicker)?
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Oh Bridget, I had such a good laugh reading this! “That’s typical for us, we start a war and don’t think it all the way through”.
When I saw it, I thought something along the same line … it’s just a piece of painted wood. No intrinsic value! What WERE they thinking?!!
Yes, another mace was made to replace the 1st one … but was destroyed in a fire. That’s why the current one (#3) is gold-plated copper.
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Goodness, there is more than one. Show off’s 🙂
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Thanks for the history lesson Joanne. Glad you got your Mace back. Scotland’s Stone of Destiny took waay longer to find its way home! I like the idea of a personal Mace: especially if I could use it to poke people who really annoyed me.
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haha!! I can see a new trend starting … individuals carrying jewel encrusted maces. I like the idea of *accidentally* poking people who invade my personal space in public 😉
I had to look up the Stone of Destiny … wow! another piece of interesting history. A great deal of value is attached to ceremonial / sentimental pieces even when they are very simple.
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Oh aren’t space invaders annoying. It’s amazing how, as you say, very simple objects can be imbued with huge value if a social group agrees on that value. Actually I guess that’s the basis of a lot of social interaction. We ascribe value and power to all sorts of symbols (“the crown”, a national flag) and behave accordingly. And when someone doesn’t accord the symbol its agreed significance — like the American athlete recently who didn’t stand for the national anthem — people get really upset. 🙂
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Yeah – and I think we (in general, and Americans specifically) seem to be going through a phase of hyper-sensitivity where we perceive insult and disrespect in the smallest thing.
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I agree and despair. It doesn’t bode well for open, honest dialogue between people or nations.
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There’s a great movie on Netflix (well, it’s on ours, I can’t confirm about yours) about the true story of a group of students who tried to steal back the Stone of Scone.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1037156/
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I checked our Netflix. Unfortunately it’s not available 😦
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😦 Well, if you ever come across it, it’s a good watch.
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I’ve made a note of it. The unending list …
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Thanks for the history lesson, Joanne. I had no idea…because they did not teach that in my school. I’m glad both sides won. It made for an eventual peaceful coexistence.
I need a mace a work. Don’t let anyone get in my way…or do you think that’s too much for a Princess?
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There is a growing consensus that we all need a mace. What better way to demonstrate that we are in a serious, no-nonsense, don’t-mess-with-me mood?
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I always enjoy learning more about my world, thanks for the history bits.
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Glad you enjoyed my “history-lite” story. It certainly amused me when I heard it today 🙂
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Very interesting! Thanks for the mini history lesson.
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This morning I went on a tour of our provincial government building and of all the information relayed to us, this story made a big impression 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it too!
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As much as I would like to toot Roosevelt’s horn, the mace was returned as part of a bargaining chip for a memorial plaque to be placed in Toronto. It was suggested, I assume, by the Toronto mayor and council that the historic mace be returned as a goodwill gesture at the time of the unveiling of the memorial plaque. Here is the letter FDR wrote.: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=14862 Did you see the plaque as well…was it in the same location?
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oh, I love it when a post starts triggering more information! This is pretty cool.
No … I didn’t know about this plaque. The current location of the provincial legislature is several kilometers from the original Old Town.
I’ve been searching and I think I know where it MIGHT be. I’ll have to look into it further. I suspect it’s around the Fort York area.
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That sounds like a pretty good location! 😉
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I love this post and all the comments. I live near a battle sight for this war and I know we won the battle, and the war I might add, but I never really learned about the Canadian participation. I always hear about defeating the British, but now I know more. My husband would probably roll his eyes at me because he really tries to teach me history. Now I am going to have to ask him about this. I think Marissa should get an imitation mace because I want her to look intimidating and I don’t even know her. 🙂
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I’m loving the comments on this post too … especially all the American protestations that they truly did win 😉
Clearly we won because … well, Canada 😀
I think Marissa would totally rock a mace!
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The White House probably needed renovations anyway 😉
For the record, I did not know about our burning, looting and theft of the Mace. I’ll add giving it back to the list of good things FDR did.
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I was on a tour this morning of our Legislative Building when this story was told to us. There were only 2 of us on the tour… the other person was an American.
He thought this story was hilarious, because of course, the burning of the White House isn’t taught as a retaliatory action … but it should be. It makes it more interesting 🙂
I think it’s just wonderful that we can end a war with both sides believing they won! If only all disputes could be ended this successfully.
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I’m kind of imaging the King of England giving both generals a “Participant” ribbon and an ice cream cone, but I guess it was more formal than that 😉
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Yeaaaaah …. somehow I’m doubting the early Americans would have been happy with any token from Britain. They were still very much in a “screw you” kind of mood 😉
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I will forgive you if you will forgive me. 🙂 I really like that both sides celebrate victory. It would be great if both sides in many conflicts could just agree to let the other one ” win.” It would save a lot of pain and bother.
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I really like it too. It makes me think of siblings … endless bickering at each other, but in the end, it’s all good 🙂
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Well isn’t that lovely that both sides won! I didn’t know about the stealing of the mace and the long road to its return. Yes and of course you are right that the Canadians would never start it. 🙂
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I know! It would be very un-Canadian-like!! Blowing raspberries over Niagara Falls – yes, but nothing more serious than that 😉
Wouldn’t it be amazing if all conflicts could end with both sides winning?!!
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Yes I think that would solve a lot of issues wouldn’t it?
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I guess I wasn’t paying attention in history class… either that or this little squirmish was water over the falls.. Niagra…
Ok, I’ll go back to my day job!
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Water over the falls…. I like that
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Bwahahahaha!!
Your White House was restored, our Mace was returned, and we are all friends again. I love happy endings 🙂
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Thanks for the history lesson – and sorry about the mace. That Roosevelt was a stand up guy!
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This was a fun little history tidbit I learned this morning. I thought it was rather amusing.
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As your neighbor American blogger, I apologize. 🙂 Here’s to continued good relationships and no one, especially an American, stealing your mace ever again. Now we can hope and pray for peace on earth.
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And as your neighbour Canadian blogger, I apologize for the whole firebug thing 🙂
Only one incident in 200+ years of being neighbours isn’t such a bad record 🙂
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But everyone really knows it was our victory, right? Ha, ha, just kidding! I think I need a diamond mace to carry around with me so everyone knows I’m ready to conduct business!
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This is the the ultimate win-win when both sides genuinely believe they won (but everyone knows we did 😉 )
I burst out laughing at the image of you walking around with a diamond studded mace over your shoulder 😀
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Um…burst out laughing…I fail to see the humor…;^)
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Still laughing …. but trying to be discreet …
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