Britain did not want war with the United States, yet it moved nearly 30,000 regular soldiers from England to Canada before the crisis ended. That force could secure Canada even though it was too small to conquer the Union. Washington would have to decide how much strength it could divert from fighting the Confederacy to meet a new northern threat. Any move against Canada would weaken the existing war effort. The reinforcement gave Britain leverage by making a second land theatre credible.
Notable Point · 15:12-16:08
British reinforcements make Canada a second front
Britain’s rapid movement of regular troops to Canada would force the Union to weigh a new northern front against its war with the Confederacy.