The Fenians were Irish-Americans and a few Irish Canadians who sought to achieve Ireland’s independence from Britain by capturing Canada and returning it to Britain in exchange. Between 1866 and 1871, they raided Canadian territory. Modern historians often downplay these raids because they failed to capture Canada. In fact, the Fenian threat at the time was a major cause for Confederation (the uniting of 4 colonies into Canada). The British North American Colonies united in the face of military danger. A Fenian sympathizer probably assassinated D’Arcy McGee, an Irish Father of Confederation and a former Fenian himself. McGee was a great loss and was Canada’s only political assassination of the 19th century.

Many scholars appear to have adapted ideas from the Irish experience in the United States and have applied them to Canada. Be careful of this when you are researching. The large French Catholic component in Canada meant that politically, Irish Catholics in Canada did not face the level of exclusion, violence and hostility their relatives faced in the United States. Consequently, we must not overstate the conflict and divisions following the Famine in Canada. Both Irish  Catholic and Irish Protestant militia units rallied to fight the Fenian threat (see insert). Montreal, a centre of intrigue, spies, and plots during the American Civil War, did not provide supporters for the Fenian invasion despite the rumours. By World War I, both Irish communities proved fertile recruiting grounds for the Canadian Army. The Irish had achieved political, military, economic, and social acceptance in their new country.