Jefferson's Common Man

The Muse has noted that the "common man" of the western territories in 1812 was largely responsible for pressing James Madison to include Canada in the declaration of war. Not everyone agrees with this statement, which has been de rigour for a long time, and indeed, it may be outdated with more recent, modern research. But it's still an interesting topic, for consider this: how could the United States consider taking on the mightiest sea-power in the world with 13 warships? Granted, there was, up front, reliance on privateers (very successfully, too) but if England hadn't already been at war with Napoleon for quite a while, all her land and most of her naval forces occupied in and around Spain, we'd have been mincemeat.

Perhaps the more educated, politically astute elite (who were no longer in power) understood this, and perhaps that's why many of them wanted nothing to do with the war, lest England decide to really "have at it".

But the Muse rather enjoys the image of the toddler taking on his father in a wrestling match, never doubting he can win it.

Now let's move on to Canada, which the "war-hawks" seemed to think would welcome annextion. Apparently after 15 or 20 years, they forgot that 1/3 of Colonial America opposed the Revolution, and left the country. Where did these tories go? Well, not all of them went to England, by a long shot. They went north, to Nova Scotia and Ontario, and were not at all thrilled with the idea of annexation. The common man again at work, it would appear. And these "common men" were landowners and farmers -- not the proletariat that was just then starting to form in the cities, or the "mechanics", by which is meant trades-people and mill workers -- not candidates for the franchise, in Jefferson's mind.

Is the Muse opposed too the Common Man? It sounds like it -- but wait! It was assumed the Common Man would be educated, well versed in civics, being able to read the newspapers and those little tracts that people then were so fond of printing and distributing. It was assumed the Common Man would be capable of reaching well-reasoned positions.

This may have been a little too lofty, Mr. Jefferson.

The Muse fears it still is.