Who are these people who actually think the United States won the War of 1812?

Answer 1

Neither side won technically, it was a stalemate. However, depending on your viewpoint, the spoils on both sides differ.

From Wikipedia:

Effects on the United States

The United States did gain a measure of international respect for managing to battle the British Empire to a standstill. The morale of the citizens was high because they had fought one of the great military powers of the world and managed to survive, which increased feelings of nationalism; the war has often been called the "Second War of Independence." The war also contributed to the demise of the Federalist Party, which had opposed the war.

A significant military development was the increased emphasis by General Winfield Scott on professionalism in the U.S. Army officer corps and in particular, the training of officers at the United States Military Academy ("West Point"). This new professionalism would become apparent during the Mexican-American War (1846–1848). After the Texas Annexation by the U.S., the term Manifest Destiny became a widely used political term for those who propagated American expansionism and military pride and despite not having taken any territory during the war, this fact kept political debate alive in the decades to follow about expansion into British North America

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Effects on British North America

While the War of 1812 had little direct effect on Great Britain, it was highly significant in Britain's North American colonies, where it had been a matter of national survival. The war united the French-speaking and English-speaking colonies against a common enemy and in some pride of being largely successful in repulsing the more numerous invaders, giving many inhabitants a sense of nationhood as well as a sense of loyalty to Britain. It is estimated that, at the war's beginning, perhaps one third of the inhabitants of Upper Canada were American-born. Some were United Empire Loyalists, but others had simply come for cheap land and had little or no loyalty to the British Crown. However, many felt the common threat of invasion. For instance, Laura Secord was an American immigrant to Upper Canada, but she did not hesitate to make her arduous trek to warn the British forces of a pending attack by her former country.

It is also important to point out that, when the United States attacked British North America, most of the British forces were engaged in the Napoleonic Wars. This meant that British North America had minimal troops to defend against the United States, who had a much larger (though poorly trained) military force. For most of the war, British North America stood alone against a much stronger American force. Reinforcements from Britain did not arrive until 1814, the final year of the war. The repelling of the stronger American force helped to build unity in British North America. This was most notable between the French and English divisions in Upper and Lower Canada.

Answer 2

You must be a Brit...Well, in all honesty, it was a war than didn't even need to be fought because the British ceased the sovereignty violations, to which the United States had objected, two days prior to the start of the war.

But the United States did gain a measure of international respect for managing to battle the British Empire to a standstill, although we gained no territory, either did the Kingdom. The morale of the citizens was high because they had fought one of the great military powers of the world and managed to survive, which increased feelings of nationalism; the war has often been called the "Second War of Independence." The war also contributed to the demise of the Federalist Party, which had opposed the war.

Answer 3

I know this does not address the question, but... Does anyone else get the feeling the half the people answering this question are confusing the war of 1812 with the Revoloutionary War?

Answer 4

Well, it doesn't really matter, I would say. We also lost the Vietnam war but have emerged as the supreme super-power in the world. Most young people probably haven't even heard of the war of 1812.

Answer 5

It was a draw. But if I recall correctly that's one we never should have been involved in in the first place. Was it not about French piracy on the high seas where clearly the French were at fault? We supported them because of the help they gave us in the American revolution. All I know is we got a bloody nose from the Canadians once and the white house set on fire. Oh well, chalk it up to lessons learned. These joint exercises really helped us both develop better tactics.

Answer 6

Your point, while poorly made, is correct. In fact, neither side won the war. The 1815 Treaty of Ghent called for status quo ante bellum, meaning that things would go back to what they were before the war.

Answer 7

Well there were a lot of wars that year....

But who cares? That were 200 hundred years ago... if the desert storm was won by iraq over usa i dont care really....

Answer 8

???

If Britain won the War of 1812, wouldn't the USA have been re-colonized to Britain? Wasn't that what the war was about?

Answer 9

Americans that's who. They also didn't win their war of Independence by themselves.If it weren't for the French naval blockade they would be munching on tea & crumpets, not apple pie. I heard the american congress recently changed "liberty fries" back to "french fries"........they must need the French to help them in Iraq.Good question, I'm glad someone pays attention to history.

Answer 10

Probably the people who know that England never conquered the US in in the 19th century