Aight. This is my first thread, so go easy. I was just wondering what people from around the world think of the War of 1812. I've been taught the Canadian story, so that's what I believe. But I saw this American video about it once, and it seemed very flawed. So, what do you people think of the war?

Well everyone tells their own version but the truth is....

No really the canadians burned the white house to the ground, does that help any. Why do you think no one in the U.S. talks about this war.

Why, you ask?

Cause they got their asses handed to them, before 1812 the US owned all of the land that made up southwestern ontario and now they do not.

Oh and don't go flaming about how The US is the best or anything. This is not a rip at any individual country but I mean c'mon ya win some and ya lose some.

Um...What was the war of 1812 about now?

MrHappy255:
Well everyone tells their own version but the truth is....

No really the canadians burned the white house to the ground, does that help any. Why do you think no one in the U.S. talks about this war.

Why, you ask?

Cause they got their asses handed to them, before 1812 the US owned all of the land that made up southwestern ontario and now they do not.

Oh and don't go flaming about how The US is the best or anything. This is not a rip at any individual country but I mean c'mon ya win some and ya lose some.

Actually, dude, I'm from Vancouver, B.C.

But know worries.

TheNecroswanson:
Um...What was the war of 1812 about now?

The war was about the Americans wanting to control Ontario(or Canada, as it was called back in the day), and they eventually lost. It's the war that created the term Benedict Arnold.

Sheppard:

TheNecroswanson:
Um...What was the war of 1812 about now?

The war was about the Americans wanting to control Ontario(or Canada, as it was called back in the day), and they eventually lost. It's the war that created the term Benedict Arnold.

Who would've been a hero if he hadn't defected.

Funny, Canadians think they won because Canada wasn't conquered, and America thinks it won because they drove back the British.

All I know is that it made Jackson President.

thebobmaster:
Funny, Canadians think they won because Canada wasn't conquered, and America thinks it won because they drove back the British.

No.... We burned down the White house. If I remember correctly, we were the ones attacked too, so that's pretty much a loss. Sorry.

Edit: Having just read the Wikipedia article on it, it seems the war had a lot less to do with Canada and a lot more to do with the British. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_1812

America was mad at England because they were capturing American merchant ships that traded with France (England and France were at war at the time).

Come on guys, it was the British who burned down the White House not the Canadians. From what I have read in my 5 history books, the war was really the British trying to re assimilate the colonies. Canada was a small part of the larger conflict.

I heard the war was because of the British impressment of Americna sailors into the British Navy. I just took AP U.S. History, so I think I'm right... I think. I'm pretty sure that war ended in a stalemate, though I think the British would have won if they kept pushing. I don't know about the Canadian side of the war, though...

Khell's Handy History Lessons: The War of 1812.
The American colonies picked a fight with the British settlements later to be called Canada. The British ended the conflict with the burning of many-to-most government buildings in Washington including the capitol building "The White House" (Named such because only white people are allowed to rule there, not because of the color of paint used).

The British won with a 1.4:1 kill ratio, America hasn't picked a fight with Canada since, mission accomplished. Some times a bully just needs a bloody nose once in a while and they back off, and nobody fucks with Canada.

The following history lesson may not be historically accurate but hell, what history is, the winners write it. This lesson is sponsored by the letter "C" and Bic brand lighters. If you're going to torch a government building, Bic Burns Better (TM).

Khell_Sennet:
Khell's Handy History Lessons: The War of 1812.
The American colonies picked a fight with the British settlements later to be called Canada. The British ended the conflict with the burning of many-to-most government buildings in Washington including the capitol building "The White House" (Named such because only white people are allowed to rule there, not because of the color of paint used).

The British won with a 1.4:1 kill ratio, America hasn't picked a fight with Canada since, mission accomplished. Some times a bully just needs a bloody nose once in a while and they back off, and nobody fucks with Canada.

The following history lesson may not be historically accurate but hell, what history is, the winners write it. This lesson is sponsored by the letter "C" and Bic brand lighters. If you're going to torch a government building, Bic Burns Better (TM).

Hilarious. Seriously.

Unfortunately, we're still America's bitch. I can't remember the details, but I heard a story about the States wanting something in our waters, asked permission, were denied, and went in anyways. No repercussions. You know that trade deal we've got with the states? They've gone to court a bunch of times trying to change it so it only benefits them and we can't send our wood down there. Oh, and when they wanted us to go to war with Iraq, but our government couldn't do it because we would have ripped them to pieces? Yeah, instead we just went to war in Afghanistan to free up American troops for Iraq. I think they need another lesson, Khell.

war of 1812...when was that?
dam, i really should have payed more attention in history class...

It was a whole lot about impressment. British ships would impress (force) American sailors into working on their ships under the guise of catching people who had escaped their service on English ships. America was none too happy about this, and asked the British to stop. They refused. America proceeded to invade Canada (which was at the time English territory) in order to attempt force the English to knock it off. America proceeded to get its ass kicked up and down the Eastern seaboard, culminating in English troops burning down the White House (burn marks from this are still visible on the Eastern Portico). Fortunately for America, England had other concerns (like, as always, the French) to deal with, and signed a peace treaty which ended the war and stopped impressment.

A few days later, Andrew Jackson won one of the few American victories in the war, which went a long way to securing America's role as a military power. The fact that America's military was able to beat the English military in a single stand up battle was impressive at the time.

So, from the American perspective, it was about a righteous struggle against people being shanghaied into military service for a foreign country. I dunno about other groups, though. I've read a bunch of different accounts though, from both American and foreign sources, and this seems pretty consistent

why does every1 have to always rip on america? :(
i know the country has its flaws, but comeon, if you look into ANY civilization's history, you will find that in that in the eyes of history, NOBODY'S hands are clean. every civilization has had its ups and its downs,
we need to remember that even tho these are many different nations, we are all just 1 world, and in order for us to truly advance, we need to work together, and remember that we are merely a single family, not born enemies.

Well I wasn't there... I'm American and if our school history books are to be believed we both agreed to a tie or something... I don't think our books should be believed completely so whatever.

Seldon 2639 told the story the way my history books did, here in America...

tthor:
war of 1812...when was that?
dam, i really should have payed more attention in history class...

Funnily enough, it DIDN'T take place in 1812...

TheMightyAtrox:
Well I wasn't there... I'm American and if our school history books are to be believed we both agreed to a tie or something... I don't think our books should be believed completely so whatever.

history is nvr exactly how it happened. no matter what, the story is almost always bent slightly in favor of the side that won, (since the other side isnt alive to record there story), and that becomes the accepted 'history' of the event. if both sides survive, then they both recall the story with a slight biasness in it, and then you have slightly contradictory storys of the same event.

Darth Mobius:

tthor:
war of 1812...when was that?
dam, i really should have payed more attention in history class...

Funnily enough, it DIDN'T take place in 1812...

O_O
now i REALLY gotta stop sleeping in history class,
then i might actually be able to remember stuff like this

Technically the ACTUAL war started in 1812, but the British had been impressing our sailors into their Navy since before that. The whole thing started as a bunch of little raids by either side something like 10 or 12 years earlier, but war was never declared until 1812... It was (According to American History versions...) more Great Britains way of getting back at us for winning the revolutionary war, and I have even heard that there were battles between British and American troops going on the entire time between the American Revolution and the War of 1812.... But I don't have a credible source for that, so it is all hearsay... Technically, if that is right, the Revolutionary war basically never ended in full...

Wasn't that a war in which alot happened between Russia and the German Empire or something and Tchaikovsky wrote a symphony for it? That's the only 1812 War I care about because to my knowledge nothing really happened from that war between Canada & USA other than having the US invent White House mk. II.

Khell_Sennet:

The British won with a 1.4:1 kill ratio, America hasn't picked a fight with Canada since, mission accomplished. Some times a bully just needs a bloody nose once in a while and they back off, and nobody fucks with Canada.

The thing is, no one really cares about the War of 1812 but CANADIANS. And mainlanders at that--anyone from the Maritimes couldn't give a damn about the War of 1812. Canada didn't get to write the history of 1812 because it won--it got to write the history of the War of 1812 because...no one else cares about it. There were other things going on in 1812 like...Napoleon invading Russia, which is what everybody but Canadians care about.

For Americans confused about why all the Canadians just went bugfuck in this thread and turned into the kind of people who write into the O'Reilly Factor, you have to realize: the War of 1812 basically plays the part of the Revolutionary War in our national consciousness. It's the war that united Lower (French) Canada with Upper (English) Canada.

So cut them some slack--after our Revolution we got a Supreme Court. They got to have the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council back in England as their court of last resort until the 20th century, and their head of state is appointed by the Queen. They need *something* to make them feel like a real country, and Taco Bell serving french fries just won't do it.

--an American who seriously misses Harbord Fish and Chips.

Anarchemitis:
That's the only 1812 War I care about because to my knowledge nothing really happened from that war between Canada & USA other than having the US invent White House mk. II.

I think that's also when Canadians started putting their milk in bags, and when 54-40 wrote the Canadian national anthem on the corner of John St. and Queen St. West.

Cheeze_Pavilion:

Khell_Sennet:

The British won with a 1.4:1 kill ratio, America hasn't picked a fight with Canada since, mission accomplished. Some times a bully just needs a bloody nose once in a while and they back off, and nobody fucks with Canada.

The thing is, no one really cares about the War of 1812 but CANADIANS. And mainlanders at that--anyone from the Maritimes couldn't give a damn about the War of 1812. Canada didn't get to write the history of 1812 because it won--it got to write the history of the War of 1812 because...no one else cares about it. There were other things going on in 1812 like...Napoleon invading Russia, which is what everybody but Canadians care about.

For Americans confused about why all the Canadians just went bugfuck in this thread and turned into the kind of people who write into the O'Reilly Factor, you have to realize: the War of 1812 basically plays the part of the Revolutionary War in our national consciousness. It's the war that united Lower (French) Canada with Upper (English) Canada.

So cut them some slack--after our Revolution we got a Supreme Court. They got to have the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council back in England as their court of last resort until the 20th century, and their head of state is appointed by the Queen. They need *something* to make them feel like a real country, and Taco Bell serving french fries just won't do it.

--an American who seriously misses Harbord Fish and Chips.

intersting... i guess i nvr realized the war of 1812 had such an affect on Canada

tthor:

intersting... i guess i nvr realized the war of 1812 had such an affect on Canada

It's true--if they'd lost the War of 1812 all the Harvey's locations would be McDonalds' with not a vinegar packet in sight; all the Tim Horton's would be Starbucks' meaning Canadians could never re-enter their country (they use the phrase "rrrrroll up the rim to win" instead of passports), and there would be no colleges in Canada because Spirit of the West never would have written "Home For A Rest" making Frosh Week impossible.

Anarchemitis:
Wasn't that a war in which alot happened between Russia and the German Empire or something and Tchaikovsky wrote a symphony for it? That's the only 1812 War I care about because to my knowledge nothing really happened from that war between Canada & USA other than having the US invent White House mk. II.

Tchavikovskies 1812 symphony was because, conicedentallly at the time, Napoleon retreated from Russia. I would suggest you wake up and pay more attention to history.

And the 1812 war, as far as i can tell, consisted of a bunch of American and British politician arguing over various issues, ending with the Americans saying:

'This is not fair. We have rights'

And the British saying:

'We don't give a shit. We've got the better army and navy.'

And the war basically ambling along into a stalemate which after 1814 the empire could easily afford.

Fondant:

And the 1812 war, as far as i can tell, consisted of a bunch of American and British politician arguing over various issues, ending with the Americans saying:

'This is not fair. We have rights'

And the British saying:

'We don't give a shit. We've got the better army and navy.'

And the war basically ambling along into a stalemate which after 1814 the empire could easily afford.

sounds about right

Khell_Sennet:
nobody fucks with Canada.

greatest. quote. ever.

Anarchemitis:
Wasn't that a war in which alot happened between Russia and the German Empire or something and Tchaikovsky wrote a symphony for it? That's the only 1812 War I care about because to my knowledge nothing really happened from that war between Canada & USA other than having the US invent White House mk. II.

If the White House get's burnt down again, will the White House Mk. II have a gold and hotrod red paint scheam?

Both sides got some of what they wanted. The fledgling USA (having already proved it could beat Britain - the War of Independence was merely a generation back, remember) failed to drive the British out of the New World but got Britain to stop seizing their ships and sailors, even though Britain clearly had the maritime power to continue doing so, got the British to leave territories ceded to the USA after the War of Independence, and ended British support for the American Indian tribes fighting the US forces. Britain failed to recapture its former colonies but cemented the boundaries of the USA to protect its Canadian territories (and even more importantly, ended US support for the foul and most utterly foreign French, thereby ending French power in the Canadian territories as mentioned) by demonstrating that while they could not beat the USA in a protracted, long distance guerilla war, they could march in and destroy US cities pretty much at will.

It was a strange war. Britain was much stronger at sea, yet lost almost every maritime battle. Britain won almost all the early battles (except Fort McHenry), brought in large numbers of reinforcements, and then lost almost every battle.

It was also a pretty good war as wars go. Both sides got some of what they wanted, neither side was so successful as to be tempted to do it again, honor was served, and both sides claimed victory and went away more or less happy. I think cake was served.

It's only major importance is that it emboldened the United States into believing it could run with the other superpowers, causing us to actually start enforcing the Monroe Doctrine, build up our navy, all of that. It was a formative thing. The only way it becomes irrelevant is if you assume that events in history don't build on each other. When you look at current American supremacy, you have to draw the thread all the way back to 1812 to think about this as being the first time America had actually gone toe to toe with a major European power without backing from another European power.