The Forgotten War: The War of 1812

In June 1812, the United States declared war against Great Britain.
The war lasted for 2.5 years.
Americans fought against British colonists in Canada and native nations.
The War of 1812 is largely forgotten in the United States and Britain.
It is known as the forgotten war, with little public knowledge about it.
In the US, there are places where the war is remembered.
For the British, 1812 was the year Napolean marched on Moscow, overshadowing the war in America.
Despite being forgotten, the war had significant impact on both the US and Britain.
In the US, the War of 1812 marked the end of British military influence and solidified American independence.
In Britain, it marked the end of their attempts to control North America and recognized the United States as an independent nation.- The War of 1812 in Canadian history is seen as a defense of freedom and liberty, but it is also remembered as a time when the Native Nations felt they lost the ability to govern themselves on their own land.
Legend and myth often substituted for verifiable history during this period.
The war was a tiny conflict compared to major wars of the world, but it forged the destiny of a continent for 200 years.
The war was a paradox of scale with small armies and few casualties, but it stretched across much of North America and beyond.
Another war was raging in Europe between Britain and Napoleon's France, which touched off the War of 1812.
Britain was in a death struggle with Napoleon on the continent of Europe and at sea, and the only way they could really curtail his empire building was to cut off supplies from reaching his troops.
The British stopped American ships and impressed sailors, leading to difficult feelings between the US and Britain.
The incident that led to the war was the British stoppage of the US frigate Chesapeake, which resulted in the deaths and impressment of American sailors.
A new breed of politicians was elected in 1810, who saw war as the only answer to expand the US territory, specifically into Native American lands.
Tecumseh, a Shawnee chief, was trying to resist the US with a united front, but was eventually defeated at the Battle of Tippecanoe.
The Battle of Tippecanoe was described as a decisive victory in American reports, but the Native Americans inflicted significant damage.
President James Madison declared war on Britain in June 1812 due to their impressment of American sailors, interfering with trade, and stirring up Indian warfare in the northwest.
The war received mixed reactions in the US, with the west celebrating and New England opposing it.
The war got off to an inauspicious start with the fall of Fort Mackinac without a fight due to the American commanders being unaware that war had been declared.
The US planned to invade Canada in three places but lacked effective communication between the armies and faced transportation challenges.
Canada was defended by Governor General Sir George Prevost and Commander-in-Chief Isaac Brock, who had an asset in Brock's military experience and aggressiveness.
Brock was a gambler, dazzling dancer, and an aristocrat who wanted to distinguish himself in Europe and was the antithesis of Prevost.
The British had fewer men but effective planning and defense strategies.
The soldiers in the British army were there out of economic desperation and joined for food, lodging, and clothes.
Shadrach Byfield was a young British soldier who joined the military for the same reasons.- My mother was deeply affected when she learned I was enlisting in the army, and fell into a fit, never speaking again.
British soldiers, considered the scum of the earth, were professionals at the bottom of the socio-economic scale.
The US army had few professionals and Americans were hesitant to form a standing army due to liberty concerns.
American militia service was an informal arrangement, often lacking uniforms, and officers were often elected by the soldiers.
William Hull, a veteran of the revolution, was offered command of the US army to invade Canada, despite his misgivings.
Tecumseh, a Native American warrior, chose to side with the British to preserve native alliances and prevent further loss of land.
Brock and Tecumseh shared a mutual respect as full-time soldiers, both having lost family members during the American Revolution.
Hull assembled an army to invade Canada but was plagued by fear of the indigenous people.
The British cross-dressed their militiamen to look like regulars and sent a demand for surrender to Hull.
When the bombardment of Detroit began, Lydia Bacon, an American army officer's wife, was in the fort and witnessed the destruction.
Hull, fearful and disorganized, begged for a cease-fire and eventually surrendered, marking a significant victory for the British.
A second American army assembled in New York, but lacked experienced leadership.
The British, led by Isaac Brock, assembled a diverse force at Queenston Heights to defend against the American invasion.
The Americans attempted to cross the Niagara River at Queenston but were met with resistance and heavy casualties.
The third American invasion of Canada was commanded by General Henry Dearborn but was marked by confusion and failure.
The first year of the war ended in disaster for the Americans, with all offensives into Canada failing.
The US Navy, significantly smaller than the Royal Navy, had three victories at sea which boosted morale and led to the commissioning of hundreds of privateer ships.
The American victory at sea gave the country a sense of hope during the invasions of Canada, which had not gone well.
William Henry Harrison recruited a large army, including crack Kentucky sharpshooters, for a western offensive.