December 28, 1814
Dear Journal,
Finally, the war has officially ended. It has ended with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent. In this treaty, the impressment and the blockade were not mentioned even though these were some of the major factors that caused the Americans to declare war on us. Boundaries between the United States and us, the British, went back to the way they were before the war. I believe that in a couple of years, the two countries will have to agree that a parallel of latitude will be the guideline for the international boundary between us. I was talking to a government official and he was considering to drop the goal of a First Nations Territory.
After the war, some of our colonies had to decide how to punish those in our colonies who helped the Americans. Back in the beginning of March, Upper Canada’s Legislative Assembly passed the Alien Act. This act applied to people with strong connections to the United States. This act made it illegal to have gone to the United Stated after the war began back in 1812. Fifteen people were convicted of high treason. People who are found guilty are having their property taken away and are sentenced to death.
Members of the military and their families want to be recognized for their loyalty to Britain. The troopers who survived and their families are eligible for land grants. This land will come from the people found guilty of treason who had their land taken away. Widows of the military or wives of those injured are going to receive a small pension. The amount received will depend on the rank of the husband and the length of their service. To the First Nations however, our promise for a territory of their own was removed by the Treat of Ghent and will not happen.
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