The War of 1812 in a Nutshell

Canada and the War of 1812 The War of 1812 was basically Canada’s War of Independence For the Americans it was their 2nd War of Independence Between 1812 and 1814, Canada won the right to not be American And in the same time period, America won the right to not be pushed around

The Lead-up to War Louis XVI helped the Americans with their American Revolution, but in 1789 he was in the middle of a revolution of his own. During the French Revolution Louis and his wife Marie Antoinette had their heads sliced off by the guillotine By 1799 a ruthless little general named Napoleon Bonaparte seized power and launched France on a European war of conquest.

The War of 1812 What is important to realize, from a Canadian perspective, is this: The French Revolution led to the Napoleonic Wars of 1793-1815 The War of 1812 was the North American phase of this conflict With Britain bogged down in Europe fighting Napoleon, some American war hawks saw a chance at capturing Canada – and they argued for it.

“Free trade and sailors’ rights” The Americans also had some genuine grievances against the British The British were preventing France & the United States from trading with one another. The British Navy had asserted its “right” to board foreign ships and press any British citizens they found into military service.

A Mere Matter of Marching American history books usually portray the United States as the underdog in 1812. Why? Because they were up against the British Empire This isn’t entirely accurate. Great Britain was tied up in Europe, and Canada lay poorly defended and exposed. Consider the real odds: Population of the United States: 7.5 million The entire population of the British North American colonies combined was less than 1 million How could the Americans possibly lose?

War! On June 18, 1812 the United States of America declared war on Great Britain – and made immediate plans for the Conquest of Canada

The War in Upper Canada (Ontario) The original Loyalist population of Upper Canada had been swamped by an influx of American settlers whose true loyalty remained in doubt Fortunately (for Canada) the U.S. forces were very poorly organized and launched scattered attacks rather than focusing their approach Most of the battles took place along the border between the United States and the British North American Colonies (Canada)

` Brock was the man in charge of defending the colony from the American invaders He was a brilliant strategist and an inspiring leader Isaac Brock is long remembered as the fallen hero and saviour of Upper Canada

Tecumseh Tecumseh was a Shawnee chief that was allied with the British His main goals were to Stop American expansion into Native territory To secure a sovereign First Nations Confederacy in the interior. He brought together dozens of different Nations and fought along side the British for tactical reasons, not loyalty.

Bluffing their way to victory The Americans were confident that the Canadians would flock over to the American side of the fight – but they didn’t! Siege of Fort Detroit: Brock had an idea – there weren’t very many British regular soldiers so he dressed Canadian militia in the red coats of the regular army to make them seem like they were professional soldiers He also knew that the Americans were terrified of the Natives so Brock and Tecumseh used this to their advantage Tecumseh paraded his men in front of the American garrison then led them through the woods to join the end of the line again. Then they marched past again. Tecumseh marched the same men by three times and the Americans never caught on Their estimates of Tecumseh’s forces ranged as high as 3000 warriors. In fact, Tecumseh had fewer than 600 men on hand.

The Capture of Detroit, 1812 No attack was needed. General William Hull was so scared of an Indian massacre that he caved almost immediately All it took were a few cannon shots and a threatening ultimatum from Brock. Casualties: British - 2 wounded, Americans - 7 killed, 2493 captured

Battles August 18, 1812 - Brock and Tecumseh capture Detroit October 13, 1812 - Battle of Queenston Heights – Americans ultimately pushed back, but Brock dies April 27, 1813 – General Dearborn briefly captures York (Toronto) June 6, 1813 – Battle of Stoney Creek – American advance stopped cold June 24, 1813 – Battle of Beaver Dams – Americans turned back July 31, 1813 – Americans re-capture York (Toronto) October 5, 1813 – Battle of the Thames – Tecumseh dies October 25, 1813 – Battle of Chateauguay – American invasion force defeated by French and English Canadians November 11, 1813 – Battle of Crysler’s Farm – Americans defeated July 25, 1814 – Battle of Lundy’s Lane – a confusing and bloody conflict that ends in a stalemate (though both sides claim they won) August 1814 – British capture and burn Washington D.C. January 1815 - Battle of New Orleans - US huge victory over British

The Battle of Queenston Heights, 1812

Brock’s Monument, Queenston Heights

Laura Secord & the Battle of Beaver Dams, 1813 Text

Burn, Washington! Burn! Why is the White House white? Because we burned it, that’s why! Or at least, the British did. In August 1814, and in direct retaliation for what the Americans had done in York, the British captured and burned Washington D.C. The attack came as a complete surprise, and President Madison and most of his defending army ran away so fast the battle became known, sarcastically, as “a race”. The British spent the next two days ransacking the U.S. capital and torching the public buildings. When the President’s own residence was badly damaged and the walls scorched, the building was hastily rebuilt and the exterior painted over with whitewash. It became known as “the white house”

Francis Scott Key During a 24-hour British bombardment of Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore, Francis Scott Key penned a poem entitled “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Over time it was put to music, and finally in 1931 was made into the U.S. national anthem by a congressional resolution.

The Battle of New Orleans

So Who Won? Do you want to know the strange thing about the War of 1812? The Americans think they won it. Really. Do you want to know what’s even stranger? They’re right. Not in a military sense of course. On the battlefield, the Americans lost. They didn’t even come close to their goal – the conquest of Canada But war is after all a political tool, and what counts in the end are the long term results, not individual heroics The United States lost a war and kept their independence. Britain’s First Nation allies were completely shut out of the negotiations So were the Canadians The Americans had refused to allow either at the bargaining table. The United States came away with their sovereignty reaffirmed

The Final Score The Americans won The Canadians broke even Who won? Who lost? Does the final score stands like this?: The Americans won The Canadians broke even The First Nations lost Do you agree or disagree?