How do some figure America Won the War of 1812?

Question

I don't get it. None of the war aims were achieved. I think if anyone won that war it was Canada (although not a nation yet, English, French, and Indians in Canada repelled the invasion together creating a communal feeling). What's your feelings on that?

Answer 1

Well, in a way, strategically, it was a draw ... however ... the USA had certain goals, to gain Canada, to stop impressement and to get the British out of the Ohio River Valley and also what the USA considered thier lands west of the Appalachians. The USA obviously did not gain control of Canada, so that was a loss to their goals, but they definitely did stop the impressing of American sailors onto British ships. Also, the USA was able to, eventually, gain total control over the Ohio River valley and also all of the lands up to the Mississippi River and beyond.

One interesting note, what may have been the greatest issue of them all was the US victory at the Battle of New Orleans. While the British suffered over two thousand casualties the US forces under Andrew Jackson were an eclectic combination of slaves, free-blacks, pirates and Kentuky woodsmen, Indians and city folk ... and suffered only about a dozen casualties. What this did to the American spirit was amazing. It allowed them to think that "Hey, we took on the greatest empire on the face of the earth and we totally dominated them!" The change in the thinking of Americans after this battle was truly significant.

So, while they didn't win all of their goals, they did win some in the short range and far more in the long range. The British would never again challenge American legitimacy as a nation in North America, and in discussions such as over the Oregon Territory the British were quickly willing to give in, without any significant conflict or demands.

Answer 2

Technically it grew to become right into a draw. whether, you are able to desire to assert the U. S. gained, because of the fact the rationale of the British invasion grew to become into to resubjegate the "colonies". something they did no longer do. whether they gained no territory, the U. S. maintained its sovereignty. The conflict additionally marked the decline of eu impression interior the western hemisphere. Canada didnt exist as a us of a in 1812, so everybody asserting that Canada gained could be incorrect. The rationale of the yankee incursion into what could grow to be Canada grew to become into to rigidity British impression out of North u.s. and grab key stragic settlements. That didnt ensue, the march outpaced the provision traces and the garrisons have been to nicely fortified to be routed. The individuals gained some key victories interior the battles around Boston and the Port of latest Orleans, driving out or stoping the British advances chilly. whether, they misplaced different battles on the frontier and in DC, as an occasion. a lot of the battles certainly befell after the top of hostilities, through sluggish communications around the Atlantic.

Answer 3

Did ya ever get in a fight with an eight hundred pound gorilla and only emerge with a few nasty scrapes & bruises? It was like that. Actually most historians call the War of 1812 a draw, the fact that Great Britain decided not to continue pummeling their American cousins showed that Britain accepted that America was an independent country and that forcing America to become faithful colonial subjects was impractical. But yes America failed in all of her stated war aims.

Peace.....

PS As John B said The Battle of New Orleans proved America's mettle, along that same vein of thought, The Defense of Baltimore was also a rag tag collection of militia and free negroes and they succeeded in kicking British b@tt.

Answer 4

Well, there are of course fools who say something like "America isn't British, so America won!". What a bunch of silly nits; Britain isn't American, so doesn't that mean BRITAIN won?

Even though it was a stalemate in the treaty, its fairly obvious who "won" the war.

America tried to annex Canada, a British posession at the time. They sent three armies; each one was handily defeated by the British in turn.

The first was captured without firing a shot at Detroit; the British captured almost all of Michigan.

The second surrendered at the Queenston heights after a decisive British victory.

The third was massacred by the British and Indians at Frenchtown, by the River Raisin.

After that, both Britain and America burned city for city, until the the yankees decided to mount another invasion; twice the size of the previous one.

The American commander, Wade Hampton marched up by Odelltown and into Canada with over four thousand men. In a classic Pincer movement, General Wilkinson's force of around eight thousand would sail and land right in front of Montreal, where the two forces would meet and attack the nearly-defenseless city. It was ingenious; or so they thought.

Another disaster; Wade Hampton's force of 4000 regulars was soundly beaten by less than 500 Canadiens hiding behind a wall of sticks. Seriously.

Wilkinson's force hadn't fared any better; they took eight days to travel eighty miles. When one looks at how far that is, you realise that a log floating down the stream went about four times as fast.

Eight thousand men was still more than enough to take Montreal. But of course, in usual American incompetence, Wilkinson was vanquished by Joseph Wanton Morrison, a Canadian commander.

Outnumbered ten to one, eight hundred British regulars and Canadian Fencibles held their ground against over seven and a half thousand Americans at a place called Crysler's farm.

All American hopes of ever conquering Canada are shattered in this crushing defeat.

And then of course, the Battle of Bladensburg, where an American force of "well-regulated militia volunteers" was humbled by a British force half their size.

You know the rest of that; the heartbreaking moment as the President turns around, and, seeing his city on fire, crying;

"I could never have believed that so great a difference existed between regular troops and a militia force had I not witnessed the scenes of this day"

And then, the picturesque moment of the British commander extinguishing the dining candles so that he could eat by the light of the flaming city.

Now, the battle of New Orleans, where the Americans claim that they killed "2000 British soldiers". Thats total nonsense; not even a quarter of that number were killed. WE won the bloodiest battle of the war at Lundy's Lane (yanks say they were victorious, but THEY ran away; sounds like a British victory eh?).

And for those Americans who say they won the last land battle of the war, that is also a lie made up by Andrew Jackson who thought it would look good in his race for political office;

The last battle of the war was fought at Fort Boyer. Andrew Jackson himself had overseen the fortifying of this position, and boasted "ten thousand men cannot take it!"

And what happens? A stupendous British victory over the defenders.

By the time the treaty was signed, America was at the breaking point; unable to acquire more funds, soldiers were becoming rebellious. Trade was almost completely non-existant. States were threatening to seceed from the Union. Counties actually declared neutrality in a feeble attempt to avoid the wrath of the British.


By 1815, America was on the verge of complete defeat.

However, Britain was tired of war; they had just come out of one of the bloodiest conflicts in history with Napoleon, and waging a war overseas is very expensive. The taxpayers would have no more of it.


Just remember; any American who says "we won because we aren't British" is a complete idiot who knows absolutely nothing about this war.

When the dust settled, America held one piece of British territory; the village of Amherstburg and the fort there, on the Canadian side of the Detroit River. The British had footholds along the eastern seaboards, had penetrated into American territory and held the Maine. The Americans can't even say "we kicked you off our land" as a victory excuse, because you didn't. We kicked you off of ours.

From those events arose the stereotypical American, everything a Canadian shouldn't be; "vulgar, tobacco-chewing upstarts in loud suits, who had no breeding and spoke with an offensive twang".

The yankees won't try that again for quite a while; as John A. Macdonaldn, father of Canada said:

"A British subject I was born; a British subject I shall die!"

Answer 5

Didn't the White House get torched? I'd say that was a loss. Getting the seat of presidential power destroyed. Kinda a drag. You'd feel like a loser. But hey, you build a new one.

Answer 6

It was a draw.
If your national ideology says you only fight wars in self-defence, then you can chalk up draws as victories.

Answer 7

My feelings are - I am in complete accord with your feelings.