Who won the war of 1812?

Question

I had a history lesson on the war of 1812 where the americans tried to take Canada( or BNA) but untimately fail. I later hear the the americans torched Toronto but us canadians got back at the yankees by burning down the white house (muahahahahha just kidding) but my history teacher says that Canada and the british won but I watch a documentary on TV that says the US won. who actually won? And please answer this question as a neutral stance and not rooting for one country just because you live in it.

Answer 1

If the "taking of territory" is the measure NO ONE won the war, since at the war's end all territories were returned to whoever controlled them before the war.

But, in fact, gainging territory was NOT the objective of either side!

More specifically, two major mistakes are often made here:

a) "the British were trying to retake their former American colonies (and failed)" No, that was NOT the British objective!

b) "a key American war-aim was to take Canada (perhaps annex it), and they were repelled" No. While there were those who desired this, this was NOT the reason for attacking the British in Canada and the government never stated any such thing


The main (and stated) objectives of the U.S. are listed below. Note that each of them was, in fact, accomplished, though not necessarily all because of the war itself!

1) impressment of U.S. sailors. This was actually settled before war, with Britain largely acquiescing (though with slow communication the Americans did not yet know this)
2) interference in American TRADE, and hence with American sovereignty/independence.

This was mainly the result of the wars between Britain and France (and Americans suffered at the hands of BOTH powers). Once that war ended, the British no longer interfered in the same way. Thus the American objective was achieved, though not necessarily by the war!!

3) "Indian question" -- in the Northwest frontier wars. the British supported the Indians
this was THE reason for invading the Canadian territories. (Though some in the Western states wanted to annex the Canadian colonies, this was NOT the reason for the invasion, and the U.S. government never pushed for it.) Note, that the U.S. was indeed successful in reaching this objective. After the war the British were never again involved in assisting Indians vs. the U.S.

Although Britain was NOT attempting to retake its former colonies, all three of these issues DO have to do with the exercise of American independence/sovereignty, which was being treated rather lightly by the European powers. Thus it is understandable that Americans regarded this as a "second war of Independence" even if it was not that in the STRICT sense. And this overarching objective -- of asserting its own sovereignty in issus of territory ("Indian question") and trade, America WAS successful.

SOME of the American success was an INDIRECT result of the war. In particular, the cutting off of trade with England ended up strengthening U.S. independent manufacture...leading to greater ECONOMIC independence.

Another indirect result -- the expansion of the American navy in order to conduct the war contributed in other ways to America's ability to assert its sovereignty. One prime example -- immediately after the War the U.S. Navy was able to fully and finally address the problem of the Barbary Pirates in the quick and very successful SECOND Barbary War (1815).

Further, after the War of 1812 the U.S. was bolder to proclaim (and act on) its refusal to allow ANY European interference in the Western Hemisphere (note esp. the Monroe Doctrine).

Answer 2

@Pete

Though the battles of early 1814 provided the US with no further opportunities to renew their attacks against Canada, they stopped the British advance and, on a larger level.

Before the Treaty of Ghent was signed by President Madison on February 16, 1815, Britain insisted that America turn a large part of the Northwest Territory into an Indian reservation that would serve as a barrier state between the U.S. and Canada. The U.S. rejected the demands and there was an impasse. American public opinion was so outraged when Madison published the demands that even the Federalists were willing to fight on.

After Napoleon abdicated on April 6, 1814, the British adopted a more aggressive strategy, sending in three large invasion armies, but by then the immature, undisciplined American troops of 1812 and 1813 were, by 1814, suddenly transformed into a fighting force capable of holding ground against British veterans.

British General Prevost launched a major invasion of New York State with 10,000 veteran soldiers, but the American fleet under Thomas Macdonough gained control of Lake Champlain and the British lost the Battle of Plattsburgh in September 1814.

The British victory at the Battle of Bladensburg in August 1814 allowed them to capture and burn Washington, D.C, but they were repulsed in an attempt to take Baltimore.

American forces, commanded by Major General Andrew Jackson, defeated the invading British Army, intent on seizing New Orleans and the vast territory the United States had acquired with the Louisiana Purchase. After the Battle of New Orleans, Britain’s bargaining position was weakened and could make no such demands.

At the end of the war, Britain's American Indian allies had largely been defeated, and the American's controlled a strip of Western Ontario centered on Fort Malden. However, Britain held much of Maine.

Both sides signed the Treaty of Ghent and all parties returned occupied land to its pre-war owner.

Answer 3

No side really won. Read below.

Although Great Britain had refused an early Russian offer to mediate between it and the United States, the British entered into direct peace negotiations at Ghent in mid-1814. The American delegation to the meeting at Ghent was headed by John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, and Albert Gallatin. After long and tortuous discussions, a treaty (see Ghent, Treaty of) was signed (Dec. 24, 1814), providing for the cessation of hostilities, the restoration of conquered territories, and the setting up of boundary commissions.

The final action of the war took place after the signing of the treaty, when Andrew Jackson decisively defeated the British at New Orleans on Jan. 8, 1815. This victory, although it came after the technical end of the war, was important in restoring American confidence. Although the peace treaty failed to deal with the matters of neutral rights and impressment that were the ostensible cause of the conflict, the war did quicken the growth of American nationalism. In addition, the defeats suffered by the Native Americans in the Northwest and in the South forced them to sign treaties with the U.S. government and opened their lands for American expansion.

Answer 4

Canada was not at war with the USA, Canada was not a independent Country until 1867, the war of 1812 was between the US and Briton. ( as a note: Briton did not recognize Canada's independence until 11 December 1931 )

The 1812- 1815 war ended by treaty. With not much gained my either side.
The British were still in Canada and the Americans learned that it takes more than pride to take on the best Military in the world at that time. The British did not continue to bully the United States and Impress US citizens to serve in the British Military. (which was one of the main causes of the war.)

Negotiations for Peace

The Fort McHenry setback for the British and the American victory at Plattsburgh helped to persuade British statesmen to agree to end the war, in which no decisive gains had been made by either side. For some time negotiations for peace had been taking place. Although Great Britain had refused an early Russian offer to mediate between it and the United States, the British entered into direct peace negotiations at Ghent in mid-1814. The American delegation to the meeting at Ghent was headed by John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, and Albert Gallatin. After long and tortuous discussions, a treaty (see Ghent, Treaty of) was signed (Dec. 24, 1814), providing for the cessation of hostilities, the restoration of conquered territories, and the setting up of boundary commissions.

The final action of the war took place after the signing of the treaty, when Andrew Jackson decisively defeated the British at New Orleans on Jan. 8, 1815. This victory, although it came after the technical end of the war, was important in restoring American confidence. Although the peace treaty failed to deal with the matters of neutral rights and impressment that were the ostensible cause of the conflict, the war did quicken the growth of American nationalism. In addition, the defeats suffered by the Native Americans in the Northwest and in the South forced them to sign treaties with the U.S. government and opened their lands for American expansion.

So I guess it depends on who you ask. The American Indians sure didn't win. The expansion of the United States followed very closely to the end of the war. So if America didn't win the war, it sure benefited from the aftermath.

My $0.02
Yours: Grumpy

Answer 5

The War of 1812 is one of the forgotten wars of the United States. The war lasted for over two years, and while it ended much like it started; in stalemate; it was in fact a war that once and for all confirmed American Independence. The offensive actions of the United States failed in every attempt to capture Canada. On the other hand, the British army was successfully stopped when it attempted to capture Baltimore and New Orleans. There were a number of American naval victories in which American vessels proved themselves superior to similarly sized British vessels. These victories coming after victories in the Quasi War (an even more forgotten war) launched American naval traditions.

Answer 6

The American war hawks wanted to annex British North America and throw the British out of North America. They failed and the British/Canadian forces repelled American aggression.
The victory over the USA is known as a stepping stone in making Canada the independent nation that it is today. The fact that Canada flies the Maple Leaf not the Stars and Stripes and her Majesty the Queen is commander in chief of the Canadian forces not the American president, should give you a clue to who won.

Answer 7

With the British at war with napoleaon at the time in Europe America thought Canada would be easy to take. But once the British beat napoleaon at Waterloo they were able to send more troops. But it was a stale mate and both side realised there was no chance of victory

Answer 8

Will my family never fought in that war since they lived in Europe at that time but yes I would say that the war was a tire. The Americans are singing G-d Save the Queen and we aren't singing that war or we be singing God Bless America Here is a couple of web site that might help you on your research of this subject. http://www.warof1812.ca/1812events.htmhttp://www.warof1812.ca/1812events.htm

Answer 9

It was actually pretty much a draw. The British did indeed torch the White House, and after trashing DC they went by ship north to attack Baltimore. The Brits bombarded Fort McHenry, which they needed to capture in order to invade the city, but the fort withstood the bombardment. This is most notable because an American named Francis Scott Key, who was being detained on one of the British ships, wrote a poem about the bombardment called the Star Spangled Banner. The poem was later set to music, specifically an old English drinking song called To Anacreon in Heaven; ultimately, it became the US national anthem. The war was finally settled by a treaty signed in December 1844, but news of this did not get to the States until after the largest battle of the war was fought on the plains south of New Orleans. In this battle, the British got thoroughly clobbered as they attempted to march in formation into the American lines, who used artillery pieces to chew them to bits. Perhaps the only ultimate significance of this fracas was that the British did stop shanghaiing sailors from American ships to serve in the English navy. -- A Yank.

Answer 10

The war ended with the treaty of Ghent and the border between the USA and Canada was drawn.
The war wasn't between USA and Canada, but between Britian and the USA over shipping and import issues.