Blood and Daring: How Canada Fought the American Civil War and Forged a Nation

John Boyko

Alfred A. Knopf Canada, 2013 - History - 355 pages

Blood and Daring will change our views not just of Canada's relationship with the United States, but of the Civil War, Confederation and Canada itself.

In Blood and Daring, lauded historian John Boyko makes a compelling argument that Confederation occurred when and as it did largely because of the pressures of the Civil War. Many readers will be shocked by Canada's deep connection to the war--Canadians fought in every major battle, supplied arms to the South, and many key Confederate meetings took place on Canadian soil. Boyko gives Americans a new understanding of the North American context of the war, and also shows how the political climate of the time created a more unified Canada, one that was able to successfully oppose American expansion.

Filled with engaging stories and astonishing facts from previously unaccessed primary sources, Boyko's fascinating new interpretation of the war will appeal to all readers of history. Blood and Daring will change our views not just of Canada's relationship with the United States, but of Confederation itself.

Contents

• Bad Neighbours in a Dangerous Neighbourhood: 1
• John Anderson and the Railroad to Freedom and War: 15
• William Seward and the Power of Divided Loyalties: 61
• Donning the Blue and Grey: 107
• Jacob Thompson and the Confederates in the Attic: 147
• George Brown and the Improbable Nation: 197
• The Indispensable Man: 237
• Danger in the Wars Shadow: 283
• NOTES: 307
• BIBLIOGRAPHY: 331
• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: 342

About the author

John Boyko is the author of 4 previous books, including the critically acclaimed Bennett: The Rebel Who Challenged and Changed a Nation and Last Steps to Freedom: The Evolution of Canadian Racism. He is a teacher and administrator at Lakefield College School, and an op-ed contributor to newspapers across Canada.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Blood and Daring: How Canada Fought the American Civil War and Forged a Nation
• Author: John Boyko
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Canada, 2013
• ISBN: 0307361446, 9780307361448
• Length: 355 pages
• Subjects: History / Americas (North, Central, South, West Indies); History / Canada / General; History / Canada / Pre-Confederation (to 1867); History / United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877); Political Science / International Relations / General; Political Science / World / Canadian