During the time of the American Revolution, Nova Scotia was geographically on the northeastern frontier of Massachusetts. No geographical feature separated Nova Scotia from Maine, which meant that the Canadian province was very much a part of the Massachusetts colony. The question remains, therefore, why Nova Scotia failed to join the American Revolution in 1776. There were, after all, many new Englanders in Nova Scotia, and it remains a serious question as to why they did not feel a sense of obligation and connection to their counterparts in the American colonies.The answer to this question lies in the social, political, economic, geographic, as well as religious circumstances in the colony.
Overall, Nova Scotians were simply not physically or emotionally attached to the colonies. It is important to begin this discussion by pointing out that economic factors tied Nova Scotia closer to Britain than to the other American colonies. English fishing, for instance, was worth very much money and Nova Scotia was dependent upon it. Moreover, grants from England also kept Nova Scotia in a needy predicament.In other words, the country was in no position economically to support -- or join -- the Revolution.
Without the revenue from English fishing and money, Nova Scotians would simply have had to face many difficult circumstances. As a result, economic factors played an important role in Nova Scotians’ reluctance to join the Revolution. (Rawlyck, p. 220) There was also a void in Nova Scotia in the context of nationalist identity. Nova Scotians did not real feel a sense of nationalism, in the sense that they wanted to stand up for “their rights.
” More than anything else, they wanted to stay out of international conflict.This reality was connected to the fact that Nova Scotians did not really develop any kind of Revolutionary ideology, nor did they feel inspired by it. (Rawlyck, p. 221) Indeed, the revolutionary spirit had not reached the colony during this period. One of the significant facts connected to this phenomenon was that Nova Scotia had a population of only about 20,000 citizens during this period, seventy five percent of whom were New Englanders who felt very strong ties to Britain.
(Clarke, pp. 62-63) Nova Scotians, therefore, were very reluctant to fight against a place that they still considered home.As historian W. B.
Kerr has pointed out, there was almost no “nationalist sentiment” among the New Englanders in Nova Scotia, and because of this there was very little support for the revolution. Even though there was a sympathy for some of the principles of the Revolution, Nova Scotians could not get riled up because of a lack of nationalism. (Rawlyck, p. 221) In other words, Nova Scotians did not feel the same nationalistic feelings that the colonists did in the south. Without a sense of strong identity, a support of and involvement in the Revolution became very unlikely.
This reality was compounded by the fact that many of the former New Englanders in Nova Scotia had left New England for a reason. Many New Englanders in the colony, for instance, did not feel very much attached to Massachusetts. Overall, Nova Scotia was fragmented. Because of this, the wave of republican ideology which was swarming throughout the thirteen colonies had little effect on the people of Nova Scotia. In other words, Nova Scotia was isolated, especially in an ideological and nationalistic sense, from the circumstances in the colonies.While the colony may have been close to the events geographically, it was isolated in a social sense.
Geography was also a complicated issue. In many respects. The geographical nature of Nova Scotia gave the people no choice but to remain neutral during the War of Independence. It contributed very profoundly to the lack of solidarity that existed among the Nova Scotians themselves. Indeed, while Nova Scotians were close to the events themselves, the settlements in Nova Scotia were scattered along the edges of the long, narrow peninsula.The sea was the only road between settlements.
In many respects, therefore, there simply could not have been a united Nova Scotia. Because of this fact, it made it difficult for Nova Scotia to join in the War for Independence. People did not really feel united enough to have a serious cause. (Rawlyck, p. 220) Thus, though Nova Scotia was very much attached to Main and to the Massachusetts colony, the geographical structure of the colony left Nova Scotia quite isolated from neighboring towns. Meanwhile, the British controlled the North Atlantic.
One cannot deny, therefore, a factor of intimidation in this context, therefore, for even if some Nova Scotians did support the Yankees, they felt the presence of British troops in Halifax. The colony was simply dominated by a strong British military presence and a support for the Revolution would have sparked fear amongst any who sympathized with it. (Brebner, p. 261) Nova Scotians were well aware that there would be a military confrontation with the British and no issue was really worth this danger.
In any case, even if Nova Scotians had wanted to participate in the Revolution, they did not really have the military means to do so in any case. They were weak militarily and the strong British military presence made it virtually impossible for any sort of active revolution. Moreover, it is important to keep in kind that Halifax was the main naval base in the colony, and probably in all of British North America. Nova Scotians were accustomed to think of Halifax as a British naval and military threat.
If warfare would have broken out, therefore, Halifax would have become a naval and military threat, and sympathizers with rebellion would have had a war on their hands. Nova Scotians, therefore, simply wanted to avoid trouble. (Brebner, pp. 261-262).
There was no pressing issue which would have forced Nova Scotians to disturb their sense of peace. Thus, British dominance of Nova Scotia was truly a factor militarily. Britain truly exercised complete control over the political and the social aspect of Nova Scotian life.Halifax merchants had control over the colony's elected assembly, but the revolutionary ideology, which consisted mainly of patriotism and freedom, did not have much influence.
Many of the meetings that sought to discuss these issues were actually outlawed. (Brebner, pp. 264-266) Thus, there was also a British authoritarianism which prevented a democratic articulation of grievances in the colony. It simply has to be stressed that there was a significant void in communication between settlements in Nova Scotia.The settlements were scattered throughout the long peninsula, and this caused a lack of communication among Nova Scotians.
Consequently, while Nova Scotians might have felt a sense of detachment from the American colonies, they did not necessarily feel a sense of solidarity among themselves. And this is precisely why they did not feel a sense of nationalism, nor became inspired by any kind of ideological or revolutionary fervor. Thus, we begin to understand that there simply did not exist masses of people that would work each other up into a revolutionary frenzy.This reality was very much connected to the fact that a representative government was established quite late in Halifax (1758). In other words, Nova Scotians had not really developed a sense of their own identity in a political and ideological sense. There was not a deep-rooted feeling about representative government and other ideas.
Thus, a sense of a revolutionary spirit did not really have a foundation on which to grow. It could be said, therefore, that Nova Scotia was still politically and constitutionally quite immature.To add to the lack of ideological fervor among Nova Scotians, there was also a deterrent to Nova Scotians getting any ideas about joining the American revolutionaries. As has been mentioned, the presence of the British military and government was felt quite strongly in the province. It had a profound effect on hindering not only the growth of a Revolutionary ideology, on letting Nova Scotians know that any trouble would be dealt with by force.
In other words, the British simply dominated the people of Nova Scotia, and this obviously did not represent an insignificant fact.Thus, it went against Nova Scotians’ interests to fragment the British colonial system. While some Nova Scotians might have supported the American rebels to a certain extent, therefore, they really had no choice but to opt for a policy of “neutrality. ” (Rawlyck, p. 220) It is important to add that, in combination with all of these circumstances, there also existed the influence of the Great Awakening during this time, which was represented by a religious revival led by evangelical preacher Henry Alline.This force played a profound role in influencing the people of Nova Scotia.
Indeed, because of this religious phenomenon, Nova Scotians began to feel different from New Englanders. This is not to say that they felt a sense of nationalism and solidarity among themselves. As has been mentioned, this was lacking among them. But Nova Scotians did begin to feel different because of the religious revival that occurred in their colony.
This is not to say that they developed an intrinsic sense of self-identity, but they did begin to feel different from the colonies. Marini, pp. 41-48) One of the most significant reasons related to why Nova Scotia did not join the Revolution was, therefore, connected to a religious phenomenon. The Great Awakening that occurred during this time transformed the people of Nova Scotia ideologically, religiously, and politically. It was this Great religious revival in Nova Scotia that actually served as a main factor in why the colony remained neutral during the American Revolution.
The Great Awakening of Nova Scotia, and its leader Henry Alline, definitely played a significant role in the events.Alline provided a new sense of purpose and identity to Nova Scotians. To some extent, a unique kind of political and cultural identity began to grow among Nova Scotians because of this development. (Marini, pp. 42-43) Because of the Christian message delivered by Alline, Nova Scotians became reluctant to involve themselves in the violence of the war. They utilized what they learned from the Great Awakening and they saw this revival as an opportunity to nurture their own identity and purpose.
Because of this, they were able to establish a position of neutrality. The author M. W.Armstrong has emphasized how the Great Awakening encouraged the development of neutrality.
He writes, Indeed, the Great Awakening itself may be considered to have been a retreat from the grim realities of the world to the safety and pleasantly exciting warmth of the revival meeting, and to profits and rewards of another character…an escape from fear and divided loyalties…an assertion of democratic ideals and a determination to maintain them, the Great Awakening gave self-respect and satisfaction to people whose economic and political position was both humiliating and distressing. Quoted in Rawlyck, p. 231) As a result, we begin to understand how Alline's message helped created a new identity for the people of Nova Scotia. Traditional religious values were translated into an ideological commitment that thwarted revolutionary impulses. (Stewart & Rawlyk pp. 190-191).
There was a new sense of identity and Nova Scotians saw themselves as different from the colonists. They also saw a religious purpose for themselves. One element in their new belief suggested that faith was simply compatible to going to war.Nova Scotians were, after all, supposed to be Christ-like and this was not synonymous with joining the American colonies in participating in violence. (Stewart & Rawlyk, pp. 153-155).
Overall, Alline was a preacher who truly influenced the course of events in Nova Scotia during the Revolution. He propagated the view that the New England colonies were wrong to indulge in war. This is precisely why he urged the colonists to see that they had performed an act that was precipitous and unwise. He gave a religious interpretation to these events and many Nova Scotians were persuaded by his arguments. Stewart & Rawlyk, pp. 155-156).
Thus, it is important to stress that, to the American colonists, the Revolutionary War was necessary in order to gain religious and political freedom. But what Alline taught his people was completely different. He argued that the Revolution was actually “inhuman” and that it would only suffice in spreading desolation throughout the world. (Stewart & Rawlyk, p. 60).
Consequently, it would not be an overstatement to suggested that Alline's preaching had a significant impact on the people that heard his message.In conclusion, therefore, we come to see that Nova Scotians turned to religious influences, as well as political and economic ones, in their decision-making during the Revolutionary War. Geography also played a role, as settlements of Nova Scotia were divided. Thus, it becomes clear that British sea power and control over the colony, the isolated nature of the geographical settlements, and the religious and political circumstances all played roles in Nova Scotia remaining neutral during the American Revolution.
