Who won the War of 1812?

[9-10ths_Penguin]

... the one in North America, I mean.

As a kid in Canada, I was taught that we won. The narrative I was given was this:

While the British were tied up fighting Napoleon in Europe, the US took advantage of the situation by invading Canada in an attempted land grab.

Despite the fact that the vast majority of British troops were engaged elsewhere (again, Napoleon), Canada was defended by the few British regulars they had along with the colonial militia and their First Nations allies. The plucky Canadian/British forces repelled the invasion and even pushed American forces back into the US, but this territory was returned as part of the peace treaty (since the Canadians & British didn't have any designs on American territory - they just wanted to defend what was theirs).

The US gave up on manifest destiny and never again attempted to invade Canada.

...however, I understand this is very different from the version American school kids are taught.

So... what do you think? Who won?

 

[Revoltingest]

The Brits invaded.
We kicked rear end.
They left.
And we almost got Canuckistan in the process.

 

[Twilight Hue]

... the one in North America, I mean.

As a kid in Canada, I was taught that we won. The narrative I was given was this:

While the British were tied up fighting Napoleon in Europe, the US took advantage of the situation by invading Canada in an attempted land grab.

Despite the fact that the vast majority of British troops were engaged elsewhere (again, Napoleon), Canada was defended by the few British regulars they had along with the colonial militia and their First Nations allies. The plucky Canadian/British forces repelled the invasion and even pushed American forces back into the US, but this territory was returned as part of the peace treaty (since the Canadians & British didn't have any designs on American territory - they just wanted to defend what was theirs).

The US gave up on manifest destiny and never again attempted to invade Canada.

...however, I understand this is very different from the version American school kids are taught.

So... what do you think? Who won?

Laura Secord won.

 

[M83]

That it was a land grab attempt by the US that ended up in a failure.

 

[Nakosis]

... the one in North America, I mean.

As a kid in Canada, I was taught that we won. The narrative I was given was this:

While the British were tied up fighting Napoleon in Europe, the US took advantage of the situation by invading Canada in an attempted land grab.

Despite the fact that the vast majority of British troops were engaged elsewhere (again, Napoleon), Canada was defended by the few British regulars they had along with the colonial militia and their First Nations allies. The plucky Canadian/British forces repelled the invasion and even pushed American forces back into the US, but this territory was returned as part of the peace treaty (since the Canadians & British didn't have any designs on American territory - they just wanted to defend what was theirs).

The US gave up on manifest destiny and never again attempted to invade Canada.

...however, I understand this is very different from the version American school kids are taught.

So... what do you think? Who won?

In the US in school, we don't talk about it.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

I have little memory of what I learned in school about it...besides that the British burned the White House, and that song, The Battle of New Orleans (see below)

More recently, I learned that many First Nations peoples in the US territory were promised things...like their land back...if they helped the British/Canadian forces...so they did help, and then the British reneged on their promises...

 

[BSM1]

Thankfully we did or we'd be speaking English today!

 

[oldbadger]

The Brits invaded.
We kicked ***.
They left.
And we almost got Canuckistan in the process.

You did well upon the Lakes and at sea.
C S Forester's description of the US Frigate President's breaking of the blockade and escape is one the most amazing maritime historical works in his book, 'The Age of Fighting Sail'.

 

[Revoltingest]

Thankfully we did or we'd be speaking English today!

And our lawyers & judges would be wearing powdered wigs.

Interestingly, our victory was due in large part to our becoming
the leading hi-tech manufacturer in the world, eg, rigging pulley
manufacture. We really took off 2 decades later.

 

[Father Heathen]

Wasn't the invasion in retaliation for the British navy capturing and conscripting American sailors and for supplying hostile native Americans who were conducting raids upon settlers? And from what I've read a while back, it seemed to have ended in a stalemate with both sides weary of the costly war and desiring to reestablish trade.

 

[Revoltingest]

Wasn't the invasion in retaliation for the British navy capturing and conscripting American sailors and for supplying hostile native Americans who were conducting raids upon settlers? And from what I've read a while back, it seemed to have ended in a stalemate with both sides weary of the costly war and desiring to reestablish trade.

A stalemate is a win for the one who is attacked.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

A stalemate is a win for the one who is attacked.

But it was Canada that was attacked.

War of 1812 - Wikipedia

 

[Rough Beast Sloucher]

Most people are unaware of the complexities involved in the history of their countries. In the case of the several instances of US forces attempting to take control of portions of Canada (of which most Americans are totally unaware) there were multiple reasons. For some it was in fact 'land grabs'. For others it was bargaining chips to help end British interference with US maritime commerce, including the forcible impressing of US crews sometimes even on land. There was also the British plan to create a neutral Native American nation capable of self defense in land of interest to the US. Things are never simple.

 

[Revoltingest]

But it was Canada that was attacked.

War of 1812 - Wikipedia

What matters is that Americastan was attacked.
Affected other countries are incidental.

 

[Flankerl]

In this thread: Americans lying to themselves

 

[Revoltingest]

In this thread: Americans lying to themselves

Which swishy inbred monarch worshiping army got sent pack'n?
Yeah, they lost.

 

[wheatpenny]

When I was younger, I used to collect old newspapers and I had several from the War of 1812 (both American and British), and they reported that neither side won. They negotiated a peace treaty that ended the war. It was, IIRC, the only war in US history that ended in a tie.

And the Battle of New Orleans happened 2 weeks after the official end of the war, but the news hadn't reached that far south for another couple weeks

 

[bobhikes]

I thought I was taught it was a tie. No boundaries changed and no settlements.

 

[Revoltingest]

I thought I was taught it was a tie. No boundaries changed and no settlements.

The Brits attacked.
We repelled them.
That's a win.
Would we have to invade & conquer them too?

 

[Satans_Serrated_Edge]

The ones that voted USA won probably think you won in Vietnam too.