John Iwan Hartig

The War of 1812 John Iwan Hartig

The War of 1812 in North America between British Upper Canada and the United States is considered a side-line event of the Napoleonic War in Europe. Yet, it was a war here on the border between Canada and the United States in its own right. Britain won the War of 1812 by successfully defending its colonies against the invasion of the United States. Otherwise, Canada would be part of th U. S. now as an extension of America's ambition to make all of North America, American. The U. S. threw itself into this war because Britain used force to "impress" or kidnap Americans who became unwilling sailors on British ships. The first American attacks were disjointed and failed. Detroit was surrendered to the British in August 1812. British Major General Robert Ross marched into Washington on August 24, 1814 and had his men set fire to various government and military buildings, including the White House, called the Presidential Mansion at that time. It was a retaliation for the American destruction of Port Dover in Upper Canada. The Burning of Washington is the only time a foreign power has captured and occupied the capital of the United States. President James Madison, military officials and his government fled the city to a small town in Montgomery County, Maryland, known now as "the United States Capital for a Day." He spent the night at the house of Caleb Bentley and his Quaker family. The house still exists, known as the Madison House. Luckily, a heavy thunderstorm put out the fires in Washington putting weight to the argument that God was on the American side. The occupation of Washington lasted about 26 hours. The Treaty of Ghent was signed by British and American delegates on December 24, 1814, ending the War of 1812.