Breaking History Ep. 96: The Missed Chance of 1867 and the Bering Strait

Badlands Media

In this solo deep-dive episode of Breaking History, Matt Ehret tackles the untold history of Canada, exposing the imperial roots of Confederation and the British Crown’s long war on republicanism. Broadcasting from Alberta, Matt unpacks how Canada’s formation in 1867 was engineered to thwart U.S.-style sovereignty, tracing British counter-revolutionary strategies through figures like Lord Alfred Milner, Mark Carney, and Sir John A. Macdonald.

Through historical analysis and biting insight, Matt reveals how pro-British networks derailed movements for Canadian-American unity, crushed visionary infrastructure projects like the Bering Strait rail link, and weaponized cultural identity against liberty itself. He highlights unsung Canadian nationalists, compares economic models of empire vs. republic, and makes the case for an Alberta revival rooted in real independence, not just secession.

From Franklin and Lincoln to Russia and China, Ehret draws powerful global parallels to today’s moment, calling for bold reforms like Glass-Steagall, a return to national banking, and a vision-driven economy. This isn’t just Canadian history, it’s a blueprint for reclaiming sovereignty from the empire, one idea at a time.