August 1, 1834
For nearly 60 years the Americans and the British had a volatile relationship after the American Rebellion was crushed. Britain's empire grew, and now included parts of Africa, more of India, and even the entire continent of Australia. Even so, America and Canada, still separate colonies, were now starting to become a problem once again. Canadians such as Louis-Joseph Papineau in the recently established colony of Lower Canada, and William Mackenzie in Upper Canada were now pushing for the right to govern themselves, even going so far as to push for a Republic of Canada. These local rebellions might have been easily dealt with had it not been for the troubles to the south.
Since the rebellion much had been done to placate Americans, but still they demanded freedom. It did not help that the Southern colonies were more incensed than before. The 1807 Slave Trade Act outlawed the trade, but not slavery itself, despite the growing clamour in Britain to do so. Then in 1824 they made being captain of a slave ship punishable by death, and a few years later was leased the Spanish port of Bioko to sink all slave ships. And now, today, the Slavery Abolition Act was implemented, without the Colonies input. Slavery was now abolished throughout the Empire. Many in the north were in favour, but to the southerners this was the last straw, after Britain had threatened to send troops to Charleston because of the "Tariff of abominations", after Parliament invoked the old Declaratory Act to override attempts to expel the "civilised tribes" of the southeast from their land, and now after Slavery was formally abolished.
Some Indian wars were taking place, most notably the Black Hawk War in the old northwest, but even that was winding down. And now America was about to strike again, hoping once again for the independence that had so unfairly slipped through their fingers...
