The War of 1812

The War Background -Throughout history England and France have been constantly at battle with one another -During this time Canada was a British Colony -The United States had a good trading relationship with France, but their relationship with England had deteriorated

Outbreak of the War On June 19 th, 1812 President Madison of the USA declared war against Britain. They fought between the border of the USA and Upper (Ontario) & Lower (Quebec) Canada.

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British Blockade The fight was on both land and at sea Although the USA were successful in smaller battles at sea; the British were able to set up a blockade close to Delaware and Chesapeake Rivers, which prevented the USA from trading with Europe. This is when the USA really started to attack Canada.

Area of Blockade

Seizure of American Sailors by the British

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Blacks Participating in the War Many slaves from the Virginia coastal plantations joined the British side because British Vice Admiral Alex Cochrane promised freedom, equality & land in Canada to all former slaves who fought against their slave masters. Thousands of blacks volunteered, particularly the Blacks from Chesapeake Bay area.

The British Slave Trade The British were not happy with the economics of the slave trade and they freed many American slaves after they won battles. Many slaves also ran away on their own and joined the British Americans realized that runaways were supplying British with intelligence on American military activities.

William Hammond, an officer of the Royal Marines, trained the slaves in combat. They were known as the Colonial Marines. Slaves proved they could fight. The black soldiers knew the information needed to fight the Americans, such as they knew where to go. Later the Colonial Marines joined with the Second Battalion, forming a Third Battalion called The Royal and Colonial Marines

The Arrival of the Chesapeake Blacks to NS When the war ended, nearly 2,000 Black refugees arrived in NS. They came between 1812 and As part of the peace agreement in 1814, the British gave the United States £250,000 (app. 1 million dollars US) in compensation for the slaves they lost.

Most blacks were setteled in remote and barren areas far away from white settlements. Preston and Hammonds Plains were chosen as the sites for the major settlements. These were isolated communities. Others were Refugee Hill (Halifax), Cobequid Road and many more. In Preston, they were forced to walk over 10 km to the Halifax market to sell produce. Much of the land lots were too small and barren to produce sustainable crops

Preston settlers lived in “Pitt Houses” with no floors. Many froze to death or simply died from starvation They were unable to support themselves and had to rely on government rations. There was also an outbreak of smallpox The government did not want any more Refugees to come to NS. The British then tried to relocate Black refugees to New Brunswick.

Preston & Hammonds Plains

Lord Dalhousie, the Lieutenant-Governor of NS, viewed the Refugees as failures lacking leadership He tried to send all Black Refugees back to the US, Trinidad or Africa in He only managed to “rid the province” of 876 individuals. The former slaves found it difficult to adjust to the NS harsh winters, They suffered from many illnesses, such as pneumonia and small pox Also, the cold caused many crops to fail and they had to go the government for assistance. They felt trapped in NS, because they could not leave as they feared being sold back into slavery

Lord Dalhousie

It was believed that the Black settlers would not be able to work the land and would eventually die off due to seclusion. They were expected to clear their own land, build homes and plow gardens without ample tools and supplies. The barren land in Preston didn't even thaw until late June making farming near impossible

Those who Survived Those who survived kept farming and sold their products in the Halifax market Many women in Hammonds Plains and Preston sold crafts in Halifax to support their families Others remained as unskilled laborers Many moved to Africville

Hammonds Plains Hammonds Plains was named after the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Andrew Snape Hammond (Hammond). After the war of 1812 roughly 500 Black people settled in Hammonds Plains.

The photo is of a family from Upper Hammonds Plains going to market.

Rev. Richard Preston ( ) Preston escaped slavery and came to Canada in search of his mother in He was a leading figure in helping to set up 11 Baptist churches in Nova Scotia and encouraged church members to press for changes that would make their lives easier.

Affectionately called "Father Preston" by his congregation Trained as a Baptist minister in England. Met many of the great liberals who were leading voices in the Abolition Debates These debates led to the Slavery Abolition Act passed by the British Parliament in 1833.

Upon his return to Nova Scotia, he became President of the Abolitionist movement in Halifax, One of Richard Preston’s greatest accomplishments was the creation of the African United Baptist Association in Preston was responsible for establishing the early Black Baptist churches in Nova Scotia Prior to the AUBA, Blacks were not welcome in white churches in Nova Scotia.