Secret organization of Canadian rebels and U.S. adventurers dedicated to freeing Canada from British colonial rule.
It was formed after the failure of the 1837 rebellion and was concentrated in the northern U.S. border states. In 1838 two attempts to invade Upper Canada (now Ontario) were stopped by local British Canadian militia. Minor border raids continued until Pres. Martin Van Buren ordered the lodges disbanded in accordance with U.S. neutrality laws.