Happy 4th!
In Nova Scotia the British governor, Edward Cornwallis did indeed spread smallpox among the Indians by giving them infested blankets. The excuse being that the Mi'kmaq were French allies and all was fair in war. Disease from the white man killed most of the natives by intention or by accident as they had no immunity to the white man's germs. Nova Scotia was also a haven for slaves fleeing the USA. We did not send them back, but neither were they treated as equals. We chose not to join the Revolution because we were prosperous under the Crown at that time, and so remained loyal to Britain. We gained an influx of refugees from the 13 more southern colonies known here as United Empire Loyalists. They helped build this country and we owe a dept to the American revolution for that. When Canada demended its independance we were able to do it through peacefull means, partly because Britain did not want another revolution and negotiated instead. We also owe the USA for that.
A yet unborn country to be known as Canada benefitted greatly from the American Revolution although its people fought in opposition.
   Ain't history strange?