“The acquisition of Canada this year, as far as the neighborhood of Quebec, will be a mere matter of marching.” (Thomas Jefferson, 1812)
“I have succeeded beyond expectation.” (Isaac Brock, 1812)
So, who did win the war? It seems to depend on who you ask–Americans or Canadians. Here’s an article and a video from Globe and Mail about a recent survey.
War of 1812 vital because it kept out U.S. politics – and Snooki: poll
According to this, Americans think they got their national anthem from War of 1812. For Canadians, it “was a war which saved them from American assimilation, preserved them from American politics, gun laws and shared citizenship with Snooki.” (Who the heck is Snooki? Who cares?!?)
For 200 years, it has also saved us from IRS (and has instead given us the more professional and respectful CRA). But, Thomas Jefferson’s troops are on the move again, believing they will conquer through IRS beyond their borders what they failed to do 200 years ago.
Canadian soldiers and allies around the world will fight and resist that invasion just as Issac Brock did 200 years ago.
July 4, Boston, DC and other big cities play “1812 Overture”. The music was composed by a Russian to commemorate Russia’s defense of Moscow against French.
So, Russian, Canadian, Americans and even French all have their way to celebrate “1812”
(From the opinion of a neutral European perspective)
I don’t know, the US had a great victory in New Orleans, but otherwise I would argue that it was more of a victory for the British forces. First of all, the very fact that British troops marched in Washington DC and burned down the then White House must have been a major humiliation for the US. Apparently it led to the dismissal of the then US Secretary of War.
The US had only minor victories here – If they had really “won” Canada would have been annexed, as the “Hawks” in the US government would have pushed for it after having conquered it.
I think that this is a great example though of where both countries had questionionable policies or intentions. The British policy of forcibly pressing US citizens into naval service through the declaration of “perpetual allegiance” to the British crown in particular was no better than what the US is claiming nowadays through its citizenship-based taxation.
I am thankful that the US did not win this war though since I think that a United States of North America would be a terrifying geopolitical monster indeed…
I happened to watch the War of 1812 on PBS last night, and thought I would add that video to the various threads as an important archive addition to Isaac Brock Society. Learned a lot I did not know. Yes, Isaac Brock got lots of coverage!
In terms of “battles”: My son’s Peewee C hockey team won versus the American Rep Team Whatcom Warriors from Washington State in Peewee Minor Hockey. The Warriors swaggered into North Surrey Arena like they owned it thinking that they were going to get an easy win. Well…we showed them that Canadians third tier teams are still tougher than the American Peewee Rep Teams. It was sooo satisfying to see my son’s team get the go-ahead goal with 8 secs left to go in regulation.
GO CANADA! ~evil grin~
@ The_Animal
Congratulations to your son and his team. Here’s an article about the War of 1812 which proves its not impossible for an American to admit that Canada won the war. (Other than this particular concession I don’t have much respect for this particular “scholar” though.)
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/11/27/canada-won-the-war-of-1812-u-s-historian-admits/
That go-ahead goal was just for you, Animal. Congratulations to your son’s team!
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