Français  Contact Us  Help  Search  Canada Site Volume 1 (1000–1754) Volume 2 (1755-1871) Volume 3 (1872–2000) CHAPTER 1 The Conquest CHAPTER 2 The Revolt of Pontiac and the American Invasion CHAPTER 3 The Coveted Pacific Coast CHAPTER 4 The Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 CHAPTER 5 Demobilization A Time For Defence Cuts The American Threat The Great Fortifications Huge Expenses! The Great Lakes - Neutral Territory Annual Review of the Upper Canadian Militia The Militia of Lower Canada Demobilization of the French-Canadian Militia Political Confrontation and Secret Societies The 1837 Lower Canada Rebellion Saint-Denis and Saint-Charles Saint-Eustache The Horrors of War The Upper Canada Rebellion New Preparations Start of the 1838 Rebellions Napierville The Invasion of Upper Canada The Legacy of the Rebellions The Aroostook War Canadian Politics and British Withdrawal Reorganization of the Militia The 1855 Volunteers In the Maritimes CHAPTER 6 The Royal Navy, Ruler of the Seas CHAPTER 7 A Decade of Turbulence APPENDIX A The British Armed Forces APPENDIX B Daily Life of Soldiers and Officers APPENDIX C Uniforms and Arms APPENDIX D Reference      CHAPTER 5 Demobilization           The American Threat ( 2 pages )           1 2      A More European Way of War                The American army was reduced to 10,000 men and reformed from top to bottom to become a truly professional force.  There remained many sources of animosity between the United States and Great Britain, and a new war was still possible.  In London, after the signing of the peace treaty, the staff considered the problem of how to defend British North America. The War of 1812 had unfolded to a great extent in accordance with the rules of European war.  At the beginning the armies were still covering long distances by travelling along rivers and lakes, but as time went by overland troop movements had become possible in some areas.  The armies also no longer consisted solely of infantrymen, but also artillery, cavalry, a train and baggage.  This meant that future battles would likely occur increasingly on open land as in Europe, rather than in the woods where the Canadians excelled.           1 2   Last Updated: 2004-06-20 Important Notices