US invasion of Canada

Trying to find some coherent pattern in Trump’s ideas is often a futile task. Especially on foreign policy.

But we can at least look for some context. Hank Kennedy gives us an overview of the history of American aspirations for annexing Canada:

In Tragedy of American Diplomacy [1959], [William Appleman] Williams wrote that by “expanding its own economic system throughout much of the world [the United States] has made it very difficult for other nations to retain their economic independence.” When Williams wrote that in 1959, there was little if any question that Canada’s future political independence from the United States was secure. That this is no longer the case paints a stark portrait of the direction of American expansionism under the new regime. (1)

The two actual American attempts to seize territory from Canada were in 1775, priori to the Declaration of Independence but the revolutionary movement was in progress, when the Continental Army tried to take Quebec. The other was during the War of 1812. Michael Filimowicz (2024):

The U.S. launched multiple invasions into Upper and Lower Canada (modern-day Ontario and Quebec), all of which failed. American generals were disorganized, supply lines were poorly maintained, and their troops were often reluctant to fight. Meanwhile, Canadian militia, Indigenous allies led by Tecumseh, and British regulars punched far above their weight. The Americans burned York (now Toronto), but the British burned down Washington, D.C., in retaliation. Not exactly a success story. (2)

That, by the way, was the only time before January 6, 2021, that hostile forces took violent possession of the US Capitol. (3)

A writer for Vice did an article in 2017 speculating about what would happen if the US invaded Canada. He ended the piece with, “God, I hope this article doesn’t give anyone ideas.” (4)

Richard Maass at War on the Rocks observes, “Since World War II, the prohibition of coercive territorial expansion has been a central feature of both international law and U.S. foreign policy.” (5) The departures that various Presidential administration have made from the “rules-based international order” since then are well known. But the US has not attempted “coercive territorial expansion” in the old classical imperialist mode during that time. At least until now.

After President Woodrow Wilson first worked to outlaw conquest via the League of Nations, Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman made territorial integrity a central principle of the United Nations system. Ever since, the United States has led efforts to deter and punish would-be conquerors from Saddam Hussein to Vladimir Putin. Indeed, the understanding that the United States does not seek to dominate other countries is central to arguments that those countries should prefer its brand of international order over alternatives ... .

Notes:

(1) Kennedy, Hank (2025): Imperialism, Eh? The Progressive 03/05/2025. <https://progressive.org/latest/imperialism-eh-kennedy-20250305/> (Accessed: 2025-16-03).

(2) Filimowicz, Michael (2024): Why America Failed to Conquer Canada, Despite Invading It Twice: A Historical Review with a Hypothetical Twist. Medium 12/02/2024. <https://medium.com/michael-for-president/why-america-failed-to-conquer-canada-despite-invading-it-twice-a-historical-review-with-a-e79873fc184d#> (Accessed: 2025-16-03).

(3) Burning of the Capitol During the War of 1812. Architect of the Capitol YouTube channel 04/27/2023. <https://youtu.be/-21tV-IYufw?si=UdP9Yk7ZXzIOCYPZ> (Accessed: 2025-16-03).

(4) Lamoureux, Mack (2017): What Would Happen in the Minutes and Hours After the US Invaded Canada? Vice 01/13/2017. <https://www.vice.com/en/article/what-would-happen-in-the-minutes-and-hours-after-the-us-invaded-canada/> (Accessed: 2025-16-03).

(5) Maass, Richard (2025): The 51st State That Never Was: Why the United States Didn’t Annex Canada. War on the Rocks 02/14/2025. (Accessed: 2025-16-03).