American Reacts Who Really Won the War of 1812?

[@MrBulky992]

The burning of Washington was a direct reprisal for the burning of York (modern Toronto) in Ontario, the centre of government in Upper Canada by the Americans so it was a bit rich that Americans were condemning the same acts that they themselves had earlier carried out. "As you sow, so shall you reap."

[@Maedhros0Bajar]

Especially since the British only burned public buildings, not houses. The Americans in York on the other hand ...

[@jimmyfrench4722]

The highlight was that those who opposed the war & were still trading with/supporting Britain/Canada & withheld forces (a fairly large contingent) saw the act as “too far”. Note the video didn’t mention their reaction to the razing of York other than they, at least to some level, supported Canada/Britain & opposed those of their country that did the deed.

[@andypandy9013]

The bottom line is that the USA sent envoys to Europe to try to find an end to the ridiculous war, one that THEY had started, without losing face. They had declared war at the time that Great Britain was fully occupied with fighting Napoleon so the War of 1812 was something of a minor nuisance to the British. Once Napoleon had been defeated the US President Madison realised that the whole might of the Royal Navy with the world's biggest fleet of warships and tens of thousands of battle hardened troops of the British Army were about to descend on his relatively undefended country. The British regarded their former colony as a valued trading partner, mainly for cotton and tobacco, so they agreed to talks. The Treaty of Ghent was the result. The USA had absolutely nothing to show for their efforts whatsoever except to give Washington DC's decorators a lot of work slapping white paint all over the 'Presidential Mansion' and to cement in the minds of the Canadians that they were NOT American, something that persists to this day. 🤣🤣🤣

[@artrandy]

The War of 1812 emboldened the United States, giving it a full sense of nationhood probably for the first time, and Americans then spent the rest of the C19th occupying the hinterlands of the North American Continent, taking Indian lands, taking Spanish and Mexican lands, bought Louisiana from France on the cheap, because the French had no way of defending it, and then in the C20th, denigrated Britain for being an Imperial power. The difference between the US Empire, and the British Empire, is the British gave the lands back in the mid C20th...........

[@Ottawajames]

Canadian checking in... Can confirm. The definition of 'Canadian' begins with "*NOT AMERICAN*"

[@steve55sogood16]

@@artrandy Don't forget buying Alaska from the Russians!!

[@blackberrythorns]

@@Ottawajames and the definition of american is not british! that's their entire mythology summed up. we'll use the imperial system but the alternate gallon - it's american! our national sport is baseball (beachville, ontario) but no rounders! ship biscuits/hard tack/bannock become american biscuits with gravy! their entire culture comes from elsewhere but miraculously becomes "theirs". le cheval canadien becomes the morgan horse with the attendant nonsense story.

[@3000waterman]

@@artrandy Correct. But it is an inconvenient part of US history, so don't mention it again. US pressure on Britain to exit its foreign dominions was a sensible but ruthless policy, and part of its take-over (from Britain) of world dominance.

[@paulcatt7743]

With Only 250 years of History to Learn Amazing how many Americans Dont know it

[@theincredibleshrunkenbeegu7084]

What amount of history a person knows seems an age related thing. I am 70 and knew about the Treaty of Ghent. But, my 50 year old son didn't know that and only vaguely remembered studying it.

[@LouismarieBelanger]

Absolutely not surprising when they've been defeated. Canada is not writing american history books and not preparing what american students should learn.

[@Sir.T]

Let's be real.. this is Americans we're talking about 😂

[@theincredibleshrunkenbeegu7084]

@@Sir.T There was a time when we WERE taught history. And Civics. Now it's all about trans this, trans that, indoctrination of a thousand other kinds and what history that is taught is all about white man evil, stole everything.

[@JohnAllen-gg1oz]

@@Sir.T Explain.

[@SuperTyrannical1]

And that's why the pub landlord said "they've been working for us ever since!" 😂

[@chrisbrace2204]

Some of the Americans who didn't want independence had travelled north to Canada and didn't want to be told what to do by the Americans.

[@martinsear5470]

Have had to correct several Americans online who think the 1812 Overture is about their victory during this conflict.😆

[@andypandy9013]

On two levels: 1. It is about Napoleon's defeat in Russia. 2. The USA did NOT win the War of 1812.

[@chrislawley6801]

Noooooo 😮😅

[@digidol52]

I'm amazed that as many as "several" Americans have even heard of the 1812 Overture.

[@peterbrazier7107]

To the Americans who think Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture is about the US winning the 1812 failed invasion of Canada, Spoiler it is about the Russian Empire beating the French Empire in 1812. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@charleshowie2074]

Lol no way 😂

[@jasonaris5316]

I remember a story about US tourists descended from Scottish highlanders visiting Culludon to see ‘where my ancestors fell fighting the British/English’ He was shocked when he was shown to the redcoat lines as his clan were with the Government forces

[@Mulberry2000]

LOL

[@354sd]

History is complex

[@owenrawlins7979]

A significant number of Scottish clans fought on the government side at Culloden. It's quite often portrayed as and England vs Scotland battle. FAR from the actual reality. The Catholic clans of the deposed Stuart line were mostly in the north of Scotland. Lowland Scots and English fought for the government. English catholics fought on the Jacobian side and were even at Culloden. In short, that battle and conflict, was largely a civil war of sorts.

[@nickberry7437]

The eastern and lowland Scots descended from the Picts and Britons. The western highlander and islanders are the descendants of the Irish Gaels named the scoti, they stabbed the picts in the back after a 300 year alliance and conquered the country renaming it Scotland. The people of Scotland won the war in Culloden

[@chugster465]

Hate to tell you Americans... You are really STILL British at heart. You speak our language, you still use our imperial weights and measures and hell many of your states still have the union flag in their own flags. This isn't a criticism, this is your heritage. The reason the US and UK are so close today is because we are essentially the same people. We love you guys. But if you ever look at Canada the wrong way again, we'll kick your butts. Leave Canada alone!

[@williamwoods8022]

America, the UK and Canada etc etc are PRIVATE CORPORATIONS owned and controlled by the mafias being exposed in the video The Democracy Illusion on my channel - The mafias behind the Roman Empire etc NEVER went away.

[@blackberrythorns]

their flag is a knock off of the british east india company flag.

[@tedwarden1608]

@@blackberrythorns. It’s also Washington’s family coat of arms. Well stars and bars.

[@chrislawley6801]

British history 1810 to 1815 was so focused on fighting France with Napoleon. I am so surprised US people/ education doesn't appear to realise all the large battles across Europe During this time. I feel US history ignores the help France they had from France trying to continue as a global Empire against Britain

[@B-A-L]

If America had won the war of 1812 why hasn't Hollywood made any blockbuster movies about it, not even about how the American National Anthem came to be?

[@oldman1734]

There was a film. About 1958. Naturally the film shows an American victory.

[@pauldickinson3809]

Where's Mel Gibson.

[@jimbo6059]

What that British drinking song.

[@Oxley016]

@@jimbo6059 Anacreon in Heaven?

[@Mulberry2000]

Yeah Americans copied a pisshead song about getting drunk as their national anthem. Speaks volumes about Americans really,

[@peterbrazier7107]

Some Americans don't know England exists, and they invented the English Language.

[@Michael-yq2ut]

So true

[@mikefraser4513]

Sarah Palin said all immigrants coming to the United States should “speak American".🤣🤣 (Sometimes I found her funnier than Michael Palin).

[@mattsmith5421]

I saw some girl trying to select her language on an app she was baffled she couldn't find the American flag

[@ripplesinthefield]

​@@mattsmith5421 it's normally to be found under English (simplified) 😂

[@geoffreynolds8835]

So very true 😂

[@jillybrooke29]

My few times Italian great grandfather from Naples was in this war on the UK side (foot regiment) in Canada, he married a Kent girl and had a daughter on my nan's side of the family, and had to retire as a soldier in 1868 with rheumatism. He then ended up as a Chelsea Pensioner.

[@Tonyblack261]

My understanding is that a good percentage of Americans were against the independence from Britain, and left America for Canada, where they remained loyal to Britain.

[@ethanteague5654]

It was about 80,000 people out of 2.5 million. So a pretty small percentage.

[@goldbug7127]

Correct. They settled in the place the Americans attacked and were involved in the militia defense of Canada. The Brits didn't show up until mostly 1814.

[@goldbug7127]

@@ethanteague5654 Canada was pretty big, even then. Rural Quebec, which was huge, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were not much involved.

[@Steelninja77]

@@goldbug7127 It was a small British garrisson that defended canada actually with local militia. but were trying to free Europe from Napoleon while the Americans were trying and failing to take canada and ended up having detroit taken and the white house sacked lol

[@goldbug7127]

@@Steelninja77 When General Brock took Detroit, he didn't have an army. He had 300 uniforms. He passed them out among a bunch of locals and rendezvoused with a whole whack of American hating natives. Detroit wisely surrendered.

[@TheJpf79]

If you defeated the British then why does Canada exist? Canada Day celebrates the union of three British colonies into one country on July 1, 1867 though King Charles is still the king of Canada. Most of them don't know that.

[@goldbug7127]

four, not three.

[@Nix936]

Yes we do

[@blackberrythorns]

the british crown is a figurehead. americans...

[@goldbug7127]

@@blackberrythorns He's right, he is our King. His representatives have to sign our laws to enact them.

[@blackberrythorns]

@@goldbug7127 a formality based on tradition. be more concerned that the entire western world is being led by the stars and stripes empire (that's collapsing).

[@retropaganda8442]

Ahah, the realisation that your ancestors were still British at that time was a funny thought 😂

[@JohnAllen-gg1oz]

They were already calling themselves and being called Americans. They were no longer British, except for the Loyalists.

[@richardarcher7093]

Imagine if we were not in full scale war with napoleon, the whole army would have turned up, not a division or two

[@mrsmerily]

mostly this is how it works. If people want independence they can go after it only when the other part is weak... usually the are waging war somewhere else.

[@warrenprice7789]

Napoleon wasn't at war with Britain, brtain would have walked all over the usa no trouble.. Even with limited troops Britain and Canadians kicked bad usa forces out of Canada and the usa just signed a treaty to survive in reality then go on to grow.. Britain was fighting on many fronts over a long period of time which people in USA don't know.. I find it funny when many in usa say that usa kicked Britain's butt's.. Lack of education in reality.

[@Maedhros0Bajar]

at that, imagine the American Revolution without Dutch, French and Spanish support. We all know who'd have won then. Most certainly not the rebels

[@JohnAllen-gg1oz]

@@Maedhros0Bajar You would not have won a guerilla war in any event.

[@Maedhros0Bajar]

@@JohnAllen-gg1oz I am not even British. And you do know that the majority didn't give a damn about who ruled them, right?

[@paulmidsussex3409]

The United Kingdom achieved all its goals. The US failed to enslave Canada, the US failed to wipe out the Native Americans, the US failed to help their French allies re-enslave Haiti. The UK was able to keep the US contained with limited regular soldiers so that we could use our forces to liberate the Netherlands, Germany and Northern Italy.

[@666johnco]

Spain.

[@stuarthastie6374]

The US went on to almost exterminate the native Americans. When manifest destiny had free reign.

[@williambranch4283]

And consolidate the enslavement of India?

[@gustavmeyrink_2.0]

You probably believe that Wellington defeated Napoleon as well. However he merely helped finish what Blücher had started by chasing Napoleon across Norther Europe and hadn't he turned up in time at Waterloo Napoleon would have smoked Wellington relatively easily. Blücher had already beaten Napoleon at the battles of Grossbeeren, Kulm, Katzbach, Dennewitz and Leipzig before he chased Napoleon into the trap at Waterloo.

[@andyrjs]

​@@gustavmeyrink_2.0is an interesting interpretation of events, but probably no more so than many British versions of the facts.

[@crocsmart5115]

The first time America failed to win a war without help,and it’s been that way ever since,not one victory despite the fetishisation of their military 😂😂😂

[@PatrickKelly-lz3pv]

And despite every war film made in Hollywood telling the viewer that America won the war

[@Roz-y2d]

True, but we’re talking about 1812!

[@neilog747]

Thats a pretty mean and smallminded comment. This excellent American dude is giving you free content so you just dump on his country? I hope you're not British.

[@apoclaydon]

To be fair i dont think theyve ever won without help. They had french help in the independence war and help in the civil war

[@Mr_Jamin007]

The American civil war is the only one they've won.😂

[@jettser17UK]

I literally just discussed this 2 weeks ago, correcting a jumped up American, who assumed that 1776 was the last war fought between us! Let just say that he got stunned about 1812 lol! 😏

[@seanscanlon9067]

He probably thought the 1812 War meant that it started at almost a quarter past six.

[@Gazbeard]

I hope you also told him about the covert war between the US & UK in Central America in 1982 too.

[@Snifferth]

​@seanscanlon9067 unlikely that he would understand "military time"!

[@SurvivorWalrus]

There's also the patriotes war. After the revolutions of Upper and lower Canada in November/December of 1837, the rebels fled south and got support from support citizens. The U.S. army actually deployed troops to the border to stop these citizens from invading Canada, but a joint force of private American citizens and canadian rebels would cross the border to end british rule in Canada. This war did not go well for the patriots

[@MC50000]

the fact that this ‘war’ wasn’t even mentioned or taught in British schools says it all.

[@JohnAllen-gg1oz]

Exactly, if you lose you don't talk about it.

[@owennoad-watson2820]

I’d say both these comments are wrong. Britain conquered half the world so a war that had no impact or outcome on Britain itself would naturally be a footnote. That’s why it’s only mentioned as a secondary inconvenience in the curriculum surrounding the wars with Napoleon, as those continental wars were much more impactful. The French supported American independence and so they were seen as a secondary ally to France in the wars with Napoleon- hence the support for natives surrounding the US (the British also had a policy of creating buffer-states between their colonies and possible opposition at the time). Similarly, Britain often includes its losses in the curriculum regularly because military and British culture both regularly change in response to a loss- like the rise of meritocracy and allowing more monopolies after the Americans gained independence, rather than controlling and taxing colonies directly. The war of 1812 against the British and Canadians was simply inconsequential for Britain, even if massively impactful to the Americans and Canadians

[@jonwiltsie107]

It was in my school

[@owennoad-watson2820]

@@jonwiltsie107 it wasn’t in my school or the schools of my friends, although we were educated in Catholic schools and colleges, so the curriculum may have been different. What were you taught about it, out of curiosity?

[@jonwiltsie107]

@@owennoad-watson2820 I remember learning about this regarding the history of French NEW ORLEANS and the making of border lines above Detroit and across to the Atlantic. In a nutshell so to speak. At Magdalen college school

[@MichaelLamming]

The "Canadians", weren't Canadian at the time, they were British citizens living in Canada.

[@PatrickKelly-lz3pv]

just like most of the Americans

[@williambranch4283]

Mostly former Tories from the lower 13.

[@Roz-y2d]

Nit picking to do what?

[@bakersmileyface]

They were more French and Catholic than British.

[@williambranch4283]

@bakersmileyface 25% of 13 colonies created Ontario.

[@davidmarkwort9711]

Being pressed into service was not usually done when you were sober or conscious, this was common practice in England since Queen Elizabeth's times. You usually woke up through a nice cold shower of salty water. Press gangs usually scoured pubs, brothels for sailors, and the Royal Navy was no exception. By the way, America fired the first shot, but England was not interested in your "United States", they had wounds to lick, the war with Bonaparte was bloody and costly. Both the army and navy suffered losses, Europe was a mess and America was just a side issue, a little note in a notebook.

[@OldWolflad]

Approximate demographics of the American's who rebelled - 50% were of English origin, 20% African Slaves, about 10% Irish, 10% Scottish and 10% everything else. There were also many strong family connections and sympathy in Britain for the colonists' fight for the right to be independent. Some of the British soldiers changed sides. Some native Americans fought for the colonists and many more fought for the British. The British Army was also made up of around 30,000 German mercenaries, and, after the war was over, around 20,000 former slaves stayed within the British Army and moved to settle and live in other countries . As they say, 'narratives are very rarely black and white.' Let's not forget the French supporting the rebels, without whom the colonists may not have succeeded. The USA clearly progressed over time to become the major world power, and by comparison Britain's influence has dwindled.

[@penningtonlfc]

and they didnt let the germans have penaltys,lol

[@richardhockey8442]

The infamous Hessian Mercenaries from where the Headless Horseman myth sprang

[@BellaFerreira1]

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[@Michael1_v]

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[@Michael1_v]

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[@kitttriy]

[@thepoliticalhousethatjackbuilt]

Why did the Canadians stay with the Empire? Because they were not revolting. But seriously the War of 1812 saw the Canadians establish their National Identity, so the big winner of the War was Canada. By the way I'm 11 minutes into this video I already feel a very strong US bias, the reality is the Americans thought they saw an opportunity to grab the colonies to the North and started the war and the Canadians decided Nope, we do do want to be apart of that and won the War by defending their country, from the imperialist aggression of the US and in time peacefully becoming a independent nation separate from the US.

[@angeleyes2c]

Following the war of independence, loyalists from the American colonies moved to Canada, which is part of why Canada remained loyal to the British Empire. During the war of 1812, Americans were seen as invaders, not the liberators the Americans viewed themselves as (poor marketing campaign), and following the unsuccessful invasion, Candadians considered themselves to have won as a part of the British Empire, which strengthened loyalties. Eventually, of course, the Canadians would send a polite letter to Britain, asking for autonomy, and the short version is that they got it.

[@TheMountainMan001]

Before watching the video all of my knowledge on the war of 1812 extends no further than knowing the White House was burned down & the British successfully defended Canada against USA invasion - the British were also deeply embroiled in a war at home with France under their Napoleonic leadership.

[@ethanteague5654]

They also got to send in their veteran troops in the later stages of the war. The battle of New Orleans forced them to actually ratify the peace treaty without. Nothing ended up coming of the war but it mostly started because the British navy was essentially kidnapping American sailors and forcing them to join the British navy. They ended up taking 8000 American sailors before the war started.

[@vertmicko4763]

@@ethanteague5654 A lot of the kidnapped sailors were British deserters who joined the US Navy because conditions were better that the RN.

[@richardsimms279]

@ethanteague5654 The war was over when New Orleans happened, neither side knew of it when the Treaty was signed. With that said, if the English took it they’d have refused to give it back because denying us free navigation of the Mississippi would have stunted our growth until we took it back.

[@commonsense9176]

Think if you hadn't won you'd all be speaking English now 😅

[@kenny832]

😂

[@pilkipilki4472]

English law is the best export to the world

[@ElmarLecher]

probably also the worst

[@robertlangley1664]

@@ElmarLecheryou must be joking

[@neilog747]

Not with Trespass laws its not. They corral people into narrow areas. Trespass laws are absent from Scotland. Then there is kettling, recently introduced and just accepted by the English. There is also no constitution protecting freedom of speech or freedom of association. American and Scottish laws are probably better tbh.

[@flawedgenius]

And born out of Danelaw in Kent

[@B-A-L]

​@@ElmarLecherAsk any African what they miss after independence from Britain and they will all say law and order!

[@marcd303]

I love it when Americans suddenly realise stuff everyone else has known all along.

[@Insperato62]

1815 Battle of Waterloo. We were busy. Those European countries occupied by Napoleon needed help. Wellington, and some very hardened troops had to cross the Channel (again) and meet up with their long-standing German allies.

[@martincampbell7774]

There was allot of propaganda trying to convince Canada residence (mostly British and French), to join the then United States, but they were loyal to Britain, plus many Americans in New England States exited to Canada as they were loyal to Britain as well. The Americans declared war and attacked Canada to take over land but to make them American lands, but failed to take any land - how is that victory?

[@666johnco]

Also they were trying the 'Allies of Napoleon' card with French Canadians. Most of whom supported the old Bourbon Monarchy and disliked Napoleon to various degrees.

[@G_Demolished]

It’s similar to the way a 1500 ranked chess player would celebrate a draw against a 2000 ranked player, where simply not losing is seen as a win.

[@Cymruambyth2]

TBH failing your objective (taking Canada) AND getting your Capital AND your president’s residence burned down sounds like a huge L to me…

[@richardsimms279]

@Cymruambyth2. So what? We fought on anyway, and actually stated to win, battles, at Baltimore, the Lakes, and at New Orleans. There is a reason England was willing to revert to pre-war borders at Ghent.

[@Cymruambyth2]

@ but you started the war with the objective of taking Canada. Britain was fighting in Europe against Napoleon at the time too so you weren’t facing first rate troops…

[@richardsimms279]

@Cymruambyth2 That was only one of several war objectives. We wanted to force England to stop waging a proxy war against us as part of a cynical containment strategy by paying the Indians to kill settlers, and force you people to stop attacking our shipping and kidnapping people. Both of those objectives were accomplished, we forced you to betray your Indian Allies and tore your containment strategy to ribbons at New Orleans. Privately, your military leaders were alarmed at how the war went and concluded if Washington ever got its act together they would lose Canada if we came for it. That day came in 1865 when the Eastern and Western Union Armies marched in Triumph down the streets of Washington. Confederation came two years later.

[@joseph-ge5om]

@@richardsimms279 Lost at Fort Boyer and 17,000 troops arrived to secure the American Treaty of gent by the Americans make it a Canadian win because they are not American Note the Canadians issued a medallion to commemorate the 200-year-old Victory

[@markhamstra1083]

@@Cymruambyth2 No, the U.S. didn’t start the War of 1812 with the objective of taking Canada. The war was fought to stop the British from impressing American sailors into service on British ships, to stop the British from interfering with U.S. trade with France, and to stop the British from encouraging and aiding Native tribes in conflicts with frontier settlers. Attacking British troops, fortifications and assets in Canada was seen as a means to pressure the British into accepting the U.S. war aims, and many Americans mistakenly believed that Canadian colonists wanted independence from Britain, would welcome the attacks on the British, and would potentially decide to join with the U.S. in both the short and long term. Military conquest and forcible annexation of Canada was not the U.S. objective in declaring war on Britain in 1812.

[@barbaric-brit]

The canadians were classed as british then lol the same as the people in the falklands are today

[@richardm68]

IF you invade another country ( America ) and you achieve nothing against them ( Canadians ) then technically you lost .

[@QuietManUK]

Only the Americans declared war and invaded Canada... then got kicked out. Then realised that the British had beaten Napoleon and were coming over to say hi!

[@JohnAllen-gg1oz]

@@QuietManUK The British have always been full of themselves, just insufferable. I hope the U.S. lets you go down and become the Muslim/Jihadist nation you are well on your way to becoming.

[@CoL_Drake]

When the Canadians burn down your white house and you give up it's still crazy people think America won xD same as in Vietnam America lost

[@richardsimms279]

@CoL_Drake Gave up? Lol. You probably believe Kaiser Bill ate babies. The war actually intensified, we cleared the lower Great Lakes, held Baltimore (which would have made Ross extremely wealthy if he had taken it. ) And then there was New Orleans, where Jackson ended your dreams of containing us forever.

[@joseph-ge5om]

British Marines Burnt the White House and asked Washington

[@garymilne8900]

youre not a traitor conner. you were loyal to your king. have pride in that.

[@gio-oz8gf]

He wasn't born at the time.

[@jonochristian2256]

a double edged sword cuts both ways.

[@chsh1]

If you can do it so can I!

[@TobiasCruelty]

A double-edged sword means something that is good in one respect and bad in another.

[@lionellloyd9003]

The British were once more kind to you. The English parliament was sick of war after napoleon. They never engaged as they could have.

[@petercresswell5402]

Not sure we ever touched on the 1812 war with the USA. Primarily British education, in my day, focused on the Napoleonic wars. The Peninsular War and ultimately the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. So, this proved an interesting watch, I didn't opt for any US History while at University either. So it's all new too me cheers 👍👍

[@AgeCobra]

Don't forget about the Brutish common Law which we all use.

[@3000waterman]

And you're certainly better-off for it. But let's call it British, please.

[@michaelchandler490]

To your question about why the colonies within the borders of present day Canada were less interested in joining the Revolution, one thing that has to be considered is the fact that a large portion of them were Quebecois within Quebec who had received relatively (for a defeated people) generous terms from the British after the Seven Year's War and the fall of Quebec. They were not British colonists.

[@johnmarks936]

Also remember there was, for that time, a large "American" population in Upper Canada and a small English population the Maritimes. The Quebecios were mainly in Quebec City and Montreal. Many Americans came to the Niagara Frontier for free land grants (2nd wave Loyalist); the US was charging for land to finance for the revolutionary war debt. Until the sack of York (Toronto) and the burning of Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake) most of these 2nd wave Loyalist did not want to get involved. After these acts they formed or joined militias to protect their lands from the Americans, and called themselves Canadians, a term that previously had been almost solely used by the French population in Lower Canada (Quebec).

[@richardsimms279]

@michaelchandler490 The English deported any Quebecois who refused to bend the knee to Louisiana where they helped annihilate your invasion force.

[@johnmarks936]

@@richardsimms279 Not likely, the Acadians (Cajuns) not Quebecois who went Louisiana were only 43 families. There was already was an existing French population in Louisiana having been a former French colony, it was they who kicked ass. Also the Battle of New Orleans was after peace was signed. News just got there late. So it was moot battle. Hey, the Star Spangled Banner was written there so not totally moot.

[@richardjohnson2026]

When the war of "independence " was over the British that wanted to remain British were forced out of their homes and had to find somewhere else. Most went to Canada. That is why they fought Americans and their attempt to gain Canada. They were brits

[@jimbo6059]

I love the way that not once but twice the USA declared war on the UK when most of i ts troops were fighting on the European mainland. So it attacked at am opportune moment when Britain was stretched militarily. Wars with the old enemies France and Spain over a 100 year period from the early 17th century to the early 19th century, we were fighting the war of Spanish succession at the time of 1812, and lots of our manpower was in or off the coast of Europe, wether supporting our Portuguese allies, and then with the now Germans (prussians) in mainland Europe, trying to stop the megalomaniac Napoleon from ruling Europe with a tight fist. There were wins on both sides of the equation though but one of America's aims was to expand with the capture of Canadian land, they did not get that wish, yes and on the British side they lost an ally in the native Americans as well. You have a lot to thank your then European allies for. Mainly France, the Netherlands and Spain.

[@mosthaunted2]

Your Thumbnail 'I was told we defeated the British'.......Laughs loud in British! 😂

[@Diamondmine212]

Love Our comic ‘ the pun landlord’ who said ( you need to watch his show) we’re divided from America by a common language and a great big ocean ,thank god. 😂 he does mention the 1812 war by the way.🤣🤣

[@brigidsingleton1596]

*"The Pub Landlord" _Al Murray_ said that. Al Murray is a qualified (certificated) Historian.

[@CoL_Drake]

The only fight they won was after the war was already over xD

[@hod2116]

I thought they burnt jamestown

[@muigichannel7825]

Conveniently Forgetting Pax Britannica much? Between 1815 and 1914, a period referred to as Britain's "imperial century", around 26,000,000 square kilometres (10,000,000 sq mi) of territory and roughly 400 million people were added to the British Empire. Victory over Napoleonic France left the British without any serious international rival. You can include the War of 1812 in that.

[@mikespike007]

It was an attempt by america to take Canada while Britain was busy in Europe fighting napoleon, it failed but the president got a new house.

[@stumccabe]

Some excellent observations there Connor.

[@lg_believe333]

I agree Connor when we, the British fought the Americans it was like we fought our own people. We are from separate countries but we share so much heritage and culture and are United by language. I see Canada, Australia and New Zealand as the same as well. The English speaking peoples in unison with other common European languages that make up our lands. More so now than any other time, our cultures and identities are under threat from foreign cultures unlike our own that refuse to integrate and respect our homelands and we need to stand United to preserve what we have left to build upon it and encourage more of our own people to Procreate.

[@cherylsheff7105]

Yes. Lets add to the 8 billion people that are in the world today so that we run out of food and resources sooner. Americans are nothing like Canadians, Australians or New Zealanders. All we share is the same language.

[@letheas6175]

Instant communication would've prevented Rotterdam from being bombed, as capitulation talks were already happening (which was a Nazi demand: surrender or Rotterdam, and afterwards other main cities like Utrecht and Amsterdam would be bombed). During these talks, the bombers showed up above Rotterdam, which the German army try to warn/let return by firing flares into the sky. 57 bombers don't see this sign (and drop almost 1300 bombs), which level almost the entirety of the old city center of Rotterdam. This disaster caused the destruction of 24.000 houses, 32 churches and caused 80.000 people to become homeless. And it's just.. sad if you look at old Rotterdam pictures. As an Amsterdammer, I can admit that it might have been even more beautiful than Amsterdam.

[@babalonkie]

"Why did the Canadians not join the 13 colonies!?" Not learned much about the British Empire or America have you lol.... For the same reason USA is USA today. Individuals want complete power... but there is limits in a individuals reach and influence.

[@gregory6592]

Many from Colinists from the US who were loyal to the Crown and didn't want the Revolution moved up to Canada after 1776, this solidified Canadian loyalty to England.

[@redsfanstan2012]

Double edge sword means you can cut the opponent with one edge but have to be careful with the other edge which might cut yourself

[@666johnco]

I have encountered Americans who were unaware of the Americans declaring war on the UK. Then failing to achieve any of their war aims. Britains war aim was origionally just to get it over for the 1st two years as busy elsewhere. Amusing point silly people in Washington, who thought they would have a powerful ally, kicked this off 6 days before Napoleon invaded Russia. With a army were militia units were refusing to cross the frontier into Canada, as they had enlisted to defend the USA. Also Armchair Historian demonstrates bias against the UK............. Further note for the first 22 months this was a total sideshow for Britain, with the best parts of the British army locked up in the Peninsular war. It was only in April 1814 that we could ship major forces over to get even. During those 22 months the USA achieved bugger all in Canada.

[@TheJpf79]

I am aware of Americans that don't know that they speak the language of England.

[@gio-oz8gf]

@@TheJpf79 There are US citizens who can't point to the US on a map, they have likely never heard of England.

[@666johnco]

@@gio-oz8gf I think there are probably lots of British people who though they have heard of America, will have no idea we fought a war with that country from 1812-15. Quite a few may have a clue about the Napoleonic war but the war of 1812 is just a little chapter on the end of British histories of same.

[@chrisvickers7928]

During the revolution, America invaded Quebec expecting the Canadiens to rise up. The British had granted the Canadiens freedom of religion and language and they did not see that in America. After the revolution, huge numbers of loyalists emigrated to what is now Ontario and Nova Scotia and were not likely to support America in the war of 1812. An important figure in the war who was not mentioned was the Marquis de Salaberry. His family served in the French army and after the British took Canada he served in the British army in the 60th Royal Americans in the Caribbean. The British sent him back to Canada as a colonel to raise and train a French regiment called the Voltiguers. The British considered them as good as regulars. They fought alongside British regulars and the Mohawks in 1813 at the Battles of Chryslers Farm and Chateauguay defeating an American 2 pronged aimed at taking Quebec city. While Americans won several frigate on frigate engagements, the Royal Navy was seizing huge numbers of American merchant ships. A little known piece of the Congress of Vienna was an agreement the British achieved for the Russians and Austrians to provide 60 000 troops each while British supplied 60 000 British, German, and Dutch troops to invade America. I doubt this was serious but the British let the Americans know it was on the table.

[@claregale9011]

Evening connor , very interesting video 😊

[@nigelmcconnell1909]

The Canadian band The Arrogant Worms "The war of 1812 song" 😂😂😂 have to watch it 👍

[@squirepraggerstope3591]

Re Britain and the US it was a decisive dead heat, primarily as Britain let it end that way instead of crushing the new American republic like a bug. Yet o/a there was one big winner and that was Canada, which successfully defended its independence from the US, maintained and asserted its imperial links with Britain and boosted its evolution as a distinct nation in its own right with a distinct, defining national identity.

[@si2foo]

Alot of people who resided in america before the revolutionary war. Fled to canada to remain British, and a lot of people who who stayed still wished to be british. it was no where near a unanimous decision to become fight for independence. after canada had way more people then it started with. and they firmly wished to remain british. Why they were less traitorous probably simply just comes down to not having as many wealthy men pissed about spending so much money on taxes.

[@smeesmith8851]

At the time of the American Revolution the people who were living in what is now Canada were mostly of French origin. The British protected their rights to French language, catholic religion and French common-law with The Quebec Act. This act was one of the "Intolerable Acts" of the revolutionaries. Benedict Arnold led an expedition to Quebec in 1775 and was defeated in battle there. After your revolution many of the Loyalists moved to Canada and their families opposed the USA in 1812.

[@johnmarks936]

Not quite correct. While having a larger population, the French were mainly in Lower Canada (Quebec) and Acadia (Maritimes) . But at this point there was a British population in the Maritimes (Halifax, Fredericton, Louisburg, etc), Upper Canada had a population of Loyalists, American settlers looking for free land and British immigrants (Newark, Queenston, York, Kingston, Burlington). Before the Americans crossed into Lower Canada, they crossed into Upper Canada. The war physically started when the Americans crossed into Upper Canada from Detroit.

[@Crazychihuahualady]

Canadians saw themselves as British at the time. I have relatives there who still to this day say they are British

[@Mr_Jamin007]

They are britISH.

[@blackberrythorns]

@@Mr_Jamin007 try again we're canadians. the us declared war on britain in 1812 while they were in a war with napoleon. the canadian colonists - english, french and first nations - fought off the us who thought manifest destiny would prevail. eventually the british showed up after the defeat of napoleon.

[@Mr_Jamin007]

@@blackberrythorns how does that change you being britISH? You have the same king and are part of the commonwealth. I'm not saying you're not Canadians.

[@blackberrythorns]

@@Mr_Jamin007 the british crown is a figurehead. 1867 canada became a dominion (self governing). treaty of westminster 1931 canada gained control over it's foreign policy. 1982 canada passed it's own written constitution (the uk has never had one). canada like australia, new zealand and many other colonies drifted away from the mothership and became independent without fighting a war. unfortunately now the entire western world is being led by the stars and stripes empire (that's collapsing).

[@blackberrythorns]

@@Mr_Jamin007 1867 canada becomes a dominion (self governing). treaty of westminster 1931 canada gains it's rule over foreign policy. 1982 canada writes it's own constitution. we, like most colonies, drifted away diplomatically.

[@riverraven7359]

The saying about a double edged sword is that it cuts both ways. You have to be careful it doesn't swing back to hurt you. (The single edged version of the straight sword is called a backsword in case you were wondering, to differentiate it from curved sabres.)

[@ShelleyOtter]

A double edged sword - one edge gives success, but because of the other edge, it can bounce back and cause harm.

[@terencewelch9800]

Think about this look at the colours used in the american flag and the british flag...

[@vertmicko4763]

Even their flag copied the stripes from the flag of the East lndia Company.

[@joseph-ge5om]

the american flag is the British east India flag with the Union flag removed for the stars

[@dilligaf73]

USA has never had Britain's back. We are getting fed up of being dragged into every war you do

[@apoclaydon]

True we had to buy american support in ww2 (they were technically mercinaries really). Barely helped with the Falklands and even had the audacity to say we should just give them up despite its people still wanting to be british

[@blackberrythorns]

@@apoclaydon they own you now.

[@Gazbeard]

@@apoclaydon America provided no help for the Falklands campaign of 1982 - they actively debated against the UK in the UN throughout the campaign.

[@joseph-ge5om]

WW2 we were fighting the nazis who were being fed up to 1945 by the USA and Standard oil provided fuel to the nazis up to 1945 making the war last longer well done the USA they were only in Europe to make money

[@MrMeAgain]

I'm a Brit. I recall there were a couple skirmishes in the 20th century where America was not entirely unhelpful to us.

[@MrBulky992]

"Impressment" is another name for military conscription or the draft as it is called in the USA. In the UK, the Royal Navy impressed men by means of "press gangs" which boarded merchant vessels and, in coastal towns and seaports, roamed the streets and frequented taverns in order to compel men (using any available means including violence and kidnapping) to serve on naval ships.

[@AlasdairMorrison-z8m]

If as impressment officer you allegedly acted outside your authority it was not unknown from the 1770s onwards to find yourself taken to court

[@andrewgoodenough1809]

The sithsonian magazine did a good article called myths of the American revolution very informative read

[@lawrencegough]

If America’s invasion had worked, Canada would have been aborted. America’s nationhood was never threatened. Britain ditto, obviously. So the war had the most impact on Canada. The others avoided defeat, but Canada won a victory.

[@neilog747]

100%

[@jonathanryan9946]

Uh, the US was also seeking Westard expansion but were being block by British forces/forts and their Indian allies around the great lakes. So America too won a clear victory. Without this they would have never become the nation/superpower they are today.

[@judithhope8970]

Having a common enemy unites people.

[@davesimpson5702]

The Britsh North American borders (Canada) were not the same at the time - France held much more territory. You are right though - the British settlements in what is now Canada were indeed very loyal, as they were more coherent not split into 13 States.

[@robertlonsdale5326]

The flag of Canada was changed a few years ago, the old one had the Union flag on it like Hawaii still has.

[@rojavida]

3:00 three minutes and the misuse of the term “begging the question” has my hackles raised. Good start!

[@edwardwoodstock]

Conor, that's a terrible video 🙈🙂 I understand why, but what america doesn't really grasp is that at this time Europe really didn't care about america. It came down to trade and for us (British) and the Dutch, we were much more interested in the West Indies (sugar) and Canada (fur). Instead of worrying about where their ancestors came from or what battles they won/lost, Americans should ask why do you have such a large Amish community? What effect has Spain had on south America and how does that affect you now? Why is there such a large french influence in louisiana? Why is half of Canada french? Why is your statue of liberty french? What effect have italians had on america? and the biggest question of all....after exploiting the booty of ww2 for decades, can america now control the monster it's created? 😖

[@Paltse]

You defeated the UK as much as we Finns defeated USSR as in, you weren't absorbed into another entity and could live your lives under your chosen leadership.

[@neilog747]

Wrong war?

[@Paltse]

@neilog747 War of 1812 compared to our experiences during WW2. Smaller (regional) nation against a larger (empire) one.

[@hadesdogs4366]

As you said the fact that you can send a message in under seven seconds is utterly mind blowing

[@RogerBurton-q2s]

Canadians at the time were mostly French speaking Catholics and protected as such. Most of the french speakers feared the protestantism of the seperating colonies.

[@JohnSmith-fr7js]

America for the first time had to fight a war without the French lol

[@MichaelLamming]

America was fighting on the side of France and its own benefit. Good job the British defeated Napoleon, otherwise you might be a French citizen today, instead of being American. Napoleon wouldn't have stopped at Europe, America and Canada was also in his sights.

[@andrewobrien6671]

The statement about empressment is very odd as he is talking about British Navy deserters. I suppose now we would call it enforced extradition. Don't forget that there are parts of Canada that considered themselves to be French (Quebek) and were happy for the war as Britain was fighting Napoleon. Also the statement that it allowed the US to defeat the native indians is a bit coarse, as it was really genocide.

[@ethanteague5654]

They were not deserters. That’s just what the British navy claimed. There were not 8,000 British deserters serving in the American Navy.

[@RoseBenson-jv5xm]

@@ethanteague5654 How many though were serving on American merchant ships? That was were most of the sailors were impressed from. But the British also claimed that any American born before 1783 wss technically British, and so subject to impressment. If a RN commander illegally impressed Americans, these and other arguments were used by the RN.

[@neilburgess9652]

The 'double edged sword' phrase as far as I know just means there is good and bad to a situation. A blade that has two sharp edges means you can cause harm with it to your opponent but you can harm yourself from the other sharp edge, or that's how I always understood it

[@goldbug7127]

Why is Canada? Because we would rather put up with the cold than put up with the violence. It was always that way. I'm gonna tell you a secret. America has a law on the books from the very beginning that Canada does not have to fulfill any requirements for statehood. All we have to do is ask. America thought we would jump at the chance in 1775. They even thought it was going to be 14 colonies originally. It was mostly French and it had only been twelve years since the British conquered them but the British treated them better than the French government had in 150 years. They fought Americans in the Ohio valley, but it was the British who took the Citadel at Quebec.

[@stevenhartley1350]

The irony of all of this is the aftermath. Canada proved that people’s right to live as one nation no matter their birthright whether British, French or indigenous peoples. Where the Americans spread out over the North American territories by either moving the indigenous peoples to reservations and then shrinking them or by killing vast numbers of tribes because they didn’t want to move eg Apache, Comanche, Cherokee etc! And all done based on Manifest Destiny and started the process of becoming those they fought against being under the rule of. Ironically enough that until recently America held the belief that to keep the world safe from tyranny they needed to stand against Dictatorship, fascists & Autocrats, but as of 2025 you are probably going to be joining those ruled under those that America fought so long against!! 😢. Because your President Elect and his administration have already started down that path 😢. There are no winners in war only the loss of life of not soldiers but families and friends who may lose an entire generation if not the end of families in general.

[@MartinFinlay-v7r]

Spot the Trump hater. Truth is they just voted out the fascist left.

[@stuartcook8823]

We were a little busy fighting real countries mate.

[@samot.456]

Double edge sword means that while you can use one side on your opponent, you can get cut by the other edge. So it is both positive and potentially dangerous.

[@peterdubois4983]

When did you purchase the Indian Territories? Stop fooling yourself you are not the greatest country on the planet.

[@gyderian9435]

They are the greatest in bullying power 😅 no ones gonna burn down white house again Well maybe trump if he doesnt want to leave again but still

[@mrsmerily]

@@gyderian9435 so when will you go and liberate all of those people under russia, those minorities? yeah, i can smell russia troll from far away.

[@bakersmileyface]

Canada didn't rebel because there was a huge Catholic French population there. Alongside the protestant English that lived there too. Additionally, there was a large garrison of British. They weren't unified enough to fight the British, and they couldn't fight alone. They didn't want to join the thirteen colonies because, again, the colonies were all protestant English and the colonies would want the Catholic French to be protestant and speak English. Britain allowed Canada a lot of autonomy on governance and more importantly, religion. Britain also ensured Canada's safety from the thirteen colonies and the tribes. So why ruin a good thing?

[@aestheticdemon3802]

10 mins in, the answer to your question is remarkably simple. When Georgama bin Washington and the other petty aristocratic Country Squires of his al'Republica Terrorist Network stated their War of Insurrection, only 1/3rd of the population of the Colonies supported him. Another 1/3rd didn't really care, and the remaining 1/3rd wee Loyalists. After the Rebels won, with considerable help from the French, a considerable number of those Loyalists LEFT the Rebel Colonies for Canada, and vowed to never allow the Rebels to steal their new homeland. The combination of British Regulars, and Canadian Loyalists, opposing underpaid, badly lead rabble of the In-continent Army, meant the Rebel colonies had NO real chance of winning their War of Aggression, ever.

[@francisfry1466]

I was lead to beleave that the Americans were not on there own they had the French and Dutch fighting with them is this true

[@apoclaydon]

I think the french help was more likely related to how the british were also fighting france via the neopolean wars so couldn't send their whole military

[@Sonikgav]

@@apoclaydon No the French also had North American territories in Qebec and Louisianna (why do you think Cajuns speak so much French?). The British were fighting multiple nations all under the influence of Napolean and the European forces, the Americans just took all the credit.

[@paulbromley6687]

We were told we won that one, the US invaded Canada, we the British responded by burning the white-house then there was a peace treaty but before it was known, the US had attacked British forces in New Orleans.

[@morrogin5986]

So to awsner your question at the start: At the time of the rebellion, Canada was a new possession of the crown, having been ceded by the French after the french-indian war and had a stronger military presence than the collanies (at lest before the revolt) but a lighter touch. Attempts were made to bring it into the rebellion, including an invasion of Quebec but that went so badly it resulted in Benedict Arnold

[@TheAlmightyMeese]

The use of double-edged sword as an idiom is to imply it both helps and harms. The blade is sharp towards both your target and you, It cuts both ways.

[@peterwilson5875]

The thing about history. Is that any tiny difference would have changed the whole world. So in that. The 1812 war and the way it ended was very important.

[@Sonikgav]

When they say it was a Victory for Great Britain, it was an economic victory. Americans like to say they "Defeated" the British, kicked them back into the Ocean with their tails between their legs etc, but as he stated, they only really won defensive battles and their own expansion attacks were repelled. Really it was a case that the US held out long enough for the UK to realise that it wasn't worth it from an economic stand point due to the distances involved and especially after the cost of dealing with Napoleon, and that it was probably better to let them govern themselves and establish them as a trade partner, not another warfront. But of course the truth doesn't really work to stoke the fires of blind patriotism.

[@lindaostrom570]

in canada we were fighting with the french not the english so different dynamic from jump, we identified as english.

[@gdok6088]

I agree Connor Britain's best ever exports were the English language, English Law, systems of government and our culture. To this day this gives us considerable soft power. And alongside that we introduced railways, telegraph and postal systems, other infrastructure and administrative systems to many countries. I've worked in Asian countries where there was still awareness and gratitude to us Brits for the all of these.

[@DaveAinsworth-y8h]

In the American of Revolution or the American war of Independence was not won by the USA but the French l, Spanish and the Dutch. The USA started the War of 1812, the US Army and the United States Militia burned up government and civilians building when the British Army and the Canadian only burned up government buildings in DC Washington except the Navy Yard which burned by a US Navy Captain and USMC Barracks was not destroyed by the British because the British Army respect the US Marines as Brother professional soldiers. The last battle was after the war was signed.

[@richardsimms279]

@DaveAinsworth-y8h Look at a map of the US and it will quickly become apparent the stakes Old Hickory was fighting for at New Orleans.