From among the following statements regarding Canadian (North American) history, choose the correct answer from the code given below:
(a) The war of 1812 became a popular vehicle for the emerging Canadian nationalism.
(b) More than any other war before or since, the war of 1812 was useful for highlighting English and French divide in Canada.
(c) The war of 1812 ended the effective resistance of Aboriginal people against the tide of white settlement.
(d) The war of 1812 nurtured Anti-American sentiment.

Correct option is B

Of the given statements regarding the War of 1812 and its impact on Canadian history, the correct ones are (a), (c), and (d).

Information Booster

(a) The war of 1812 became a popular vehicle for the emerging Canadian nationalism. This statement is correct. While a fully-fledged "Canadian" identity did not exist yet, the War of 1812 gave the British North American colonies their first real experience acting together against an American invasion. It helped foster a sense of distinctness from their American neighbors and laid the foundation for a shared national narrative of plucky resistance.

(b) More than any other war before or since, the war of 1812 was useful for highlighting English and French divide in Canada. This statement is incorrect. While ethnic tensions existed, the war saw significant cooperation between French Canadian voyageurs and militia and British forces in the defense of Lower Canada (present-day Quebec). Later conflicts, particularly the First World War and its conscription crisis, are more often cited for exacerbating English-French divisions.

(c) The war of 1812 ended the effective resistance of Aboriginal people against the tide of white settlement. This statement is correct. Despite their crucial role in helping British forces win key victories, the Aboriginal peoples who allied with the British were ultimately abandoned at the negotiating table. The death of Shawnee leader Tecumseh was a decisive blow to the pan-Indian confederacy he had built. In the aftermath of the war, American expansion continued unabated, and First Nations' contributions were largely forgotten by their allies.

(d) The war of 1812 nurtured Anti-American sentiment. This is also a correct statement. The war reinforced pre-existing anti-American views, especially among the Loyalist population in Upper Canada (present-day Ontario), many of whom had fled the American Revolution. The American invasion, including instances of looting and burning, further entrenched this resentment, with one account noting it "burned deeply into the hearts of many inhabitants".