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NEW BRUNSWICK – GRADES 7 - 9
The 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot
Lesson Overview
In this lesson, students will examine the historical impact of the War of 1812 on New
Brunswick. They will investigate how the 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot
contributed to the war. They will identify geographical locations where the regiment
fought as well as hardships they encountered. Knowledge of battle engagements and
the daily life of these men should reinforce empathy for “real” people. This will also
lead to an understanding of the war’s impact on New Brunswick.
Grade Level
Middle School (Grade 7 to 9)
Time Required
Two sixty minute classes
Curriculum Connection (Province/Territory and course)
Atlantic Provinces Curriculum for Social Studies: Council of Atlantic Ministers of
Education and Training (CAMET): New Brunswick
Additional Resources, Materials and Equipment Required

Worksheet #1: Causes and Outcomes of the War of 1812 (attached)

Worksheet #2: 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot and the War of 1812
(attached)

Worksheet #3: Defending Saint John (attached)

Worksheet #4: The Battle of Lundy`s Lane (attached)

Computers, LCD projector and internet access
Websites:
Canadian Atlas Online War of 1812 theme
http://canadiangeographic.ca/atlas
Rick Mercer’s Report: Rick and the War of 1812
http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/war_of_1812/videos/
The War of 1812: People and Stories
http://www.galafilm.com/1812/e/people/index.html
Parks Canada - Carleton Martello Tower National Historic Site
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/nb/carleton/index.aspx
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NEW BRUNSWICK – GRADES 7 - 9
The Canadian Encyclopedia – War of 1812
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1
ARTA0008442
Archives of Ontario – The War of 1812
http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/on-line-exhibits/1812/index.aspx
History and Uniform of the 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot
http://www.warof1812.ca/104th.htm
New World Encyclopedia – War of 1812
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/War_of_1812
The Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles – Forced March of the New Brunswick
Fencibles
http://glengarrylightinfantry.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=541
Main Objective
Students will identify locations where the 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot
played a significant role in the War of 1812. By examining these sites they should be
able to draw conclusions and develop empathy for the lifestyle, hardships and the
motives that influenced these men.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

access primary and secondary sources of information;

conduct a map study to understand where the 104th (New Brunswick)
Regiment of Foot played a military role in the War of 1812;

understand how geographical factors played a role in daily life of 19th century
soldiers;

understand the motives of both sides in the War of 1812;

understand the goals of the First Nations population in the War of 1812;

understand how geography played a role in the British decision to defend
Saint John;

develop a degree of empathy for participants in the war.
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NEW BRUNSWICK – GRADES 7 - 9
The Lesson
The Lesson
Teacher Activity
Introduction
Student Activity
Lesson Preparation:
Become familiar with the
websites listed in the
Additional Resources section of
the lesson plan.
Lesson:
Ask students,
“What causes different groups
of people to become angry
with each other?”.
Have students acknowledge
that their answers can also be
applied also to nations and
that anger could lead to war.
Ask: “What might happen if
there is a third group caught in
the middle of a conflict and
they are forced to take sides?”
Discuss in class (as a whole or in
small groups) the topic of anger
and how it leads to conflicts.
This information is the starting
point for the lesson.
Discuss factors that might make a
third party fight in a conflict.
Explain that this was what
happened to the First Nations
population during the War of
1812.
Introduce the War of 1812 by
showing Rick Mercer’s Report:
Rick and the War of 1812.
Discuss:
What are some of the
geographical challenges that
19th century soldiers had to
overcome in this war?
Lesson
Development
Do you think modern-day
soldiers face similar
geographical challenges? How
do they react to these
challenges?
Provide an outline of the
causes of the War of 1812
using a computer and LCD
projector, the internet or
printed copies. (Websites listed
in the Additional Resources
Discuss the challenges faced by
19th century soldiers as compared
to 21st century soldiers.
View the information provided
about the causes and outcomes
of the War of 1812.
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section of this lesson plan
might help.)
Distribute Worksheet #1:
Causes and Outcomes of the
War of 1812. Ask students to
conduct research about the
causes of the war from
opposing sides and viewpoints
using the websites provided in
the Additional Resources
section of the lesson plan.
Distribute Worksheet #2:
104th (New Brunswick)
Regiment of Foot and War of
1812. Review the instructions
with students and assist with
the maps as required.
NEW BRUNSWICK – GRADES 7 - 9
Complete Worksheet #1: Causes
and Outcomes of the War of
1812.
Complete Worksheet #2: 104th
(New Brunswick) Regiment of
Foot and War of 1812.
Participate in the class discussion.
Discuss the influence of
geography during the war after
students have completed the
mapping activity.
Distribute Worksheet # 3:
Defending Saint John. Direct
students to complete the
activity using the Parks
Canada website on Carleton
Martello Tower National
Historic Site.
Discuss the answers with
students in a class discussion.
Distribute Worksheet 4:The
Battle of Lundy`s Lane. Ask
students to complete the
activity. Discuss issues
including the impact of the
environment on soldiers
engaged in battle at this site.
Point out that the picture is an
artistic rendering of events.
Did the artist take liberties
with historical facts?
Conclusion
Initiate a final discussion on
the topic of the impact of the
War of 1812 on the people of
New Brunswick.
Complete Worksheet # 3:
Defending Saint John.
Participate in the class discussion.
Worksheet 4:The Battle of
Lundy`s Lane. Discuss the
answers in class.
Participate in the final class
discussion.
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NEW BRUNSWICK – GRADES 7 - 9
Lesson Extension

Research New Brunswick’s “privateers” in War of 1812. Use a variety of
presentation methods to display the research findings. (Visit Canadian
Privateers: http://www.1812privateers.org/Ca/canada.htm)

Research and write an essay on other battles in which the 104th (New
Brunswick) Regiment of Foot was involved.
Assessment
The worksheets could be collected and assessed for completion and accuracy.
Further Reading
 Canadian Geographic War of 1812 poster-map

War of 1812 interactive map & timeline
http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/war1812

Kert, Faye. Trimming Yankee Sails: Pirates and Privateers of New Brunswick,
Goose Lane Editions, Fredericton, NB, Canada, 2005.

Sutherland, Robert. Son of the Hounds, Markham, ON: Fitzhenry &
Whiteside, 1988/2000.

Pearson, Kit. Whispers of War: The War of 1812 Diary of Susanna Merritt,
Markham, ON: Scholastic Books, 2002.
Link to Canadian National Standards for Geography
Essential Element #5: Environment and Society
 Limits and opportunities of the physical environment for human activities
Essential Element # 6: The Uses of Geography
 Effects of physical and human geographic factors on major historic events
Geographic Skill #2: Acquiring Geographic Information
 Use a variety of research skills to locate and collect geographic data.
 Use maps to collect and/or compile geographic information.
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NEW BRUNSWICK – GRADES 7 - 9
Worksheet #1: Causes and Outcomes of the War of 1812
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NEW BRUNSWICK – GRADES 7 - 9
First Nations
Americans
Causes of anger
Outcome of war
The War of
1812
British
Causes of anger
Outcome of war
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NEW BRUNSWICK – GRADES 7 - 9
Worksheet #2 : 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of
Foot and the War of 1812
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NEW BRUNSWICK – GRADES 7 - 9
Instructions: Read about the history of the 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of
Foot (http://www.warof1812.ca/104th.htm ). In the War of 1812 a remarkable
event occurred. The British were warned that the Americans were building up
strength at Sacket’s Harbour, New York, in order to attack Kingston. Short of
regular troops, the only regiment that could defend Kingston was located at
Fredericton, New Brunswick. They made a bold winter march from Fredericton to
Kingston in early 1813. The regiment fought at the Battle of Sackett's Harbor and
in other campaigns. Draw an outline of the route taken on the maps above.
Label where the Regiment saw action in the war. (Give the maps a new title that
reflects the information you have mapped.) Make a list of geographical factors
that would have affected the soldiers in battle. What hardships would the location
of the war cause for 19th century soldiers?
Review the following websites to help find the answers:
http://www.galafilm.com/1812/e/events/trek_kings.html
http://glengarrylightinfantry.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=541
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NEW BRUNSWICK – GRADES 7 - 9
Worksheet # 3: Defending Saint John
Activity #1: Use the maps in Worksheet #2: 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of
Foot and War of 1812 to suggest a reason why the British would make a decision to
defend Saint John.
Activity #2: Explore the Parks Canada website (http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhnnhs/nb/carleton/index.aspx) for information about Carleton Martello Tower National
Historic Site.
Interior view
© Parks Canada
Answer the following questions with
information obtained from the website.

Why do you think this site was chosen for
a defensive tower?

What makes a tower a Martello tower?

How was the ability of Martello towers to
withstand an attacking force severely
limited in later years?

What role did the Carleton Martello Tower
serve in the 20th century?
Barracks
© Parks Canada/Brian Townsend, 2000
Activity #3: Imagine being a solider posted to the Carleton
Martello Tower in this historical period. Write a diary about a
day in your life. Describe the living conditions and your
feelings about your work.
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NEW BRUNSWICK – GRADES 7 - 9
Worksheet # 4: The Battle of Lundy's Lane
Source: Niagara Falls Museum http://niagarafallsmuseums.blogspot.com/2007/07/193rd-anniversary-ofbattle-of-lundys.html
Instructions:
Refer to the image above to answer the following questions.
1. Describe geographical features of Lundy’s Lane that affected the outcome of
this battle?
2. How did the geography of Lundy’s Lane affect a) the American soldiers
the British soldiers.
b)
3. The 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot served as a flank regiment in
this battle. What does that mean?
4. Do you think the artist has portrayed the battle accurately or did he change
anything from the actual event? Read accounts of the battle and explain your
view.
The Niagara Falls Museum has accounts of the battle on their website:
http://niagarafallsmuseums.blogspot.com/2007/07/193rd-anniversary-ofbattle-of-lundys.html.