The first war that the United States lost

Ubber Geek and Saint of Pagans On-Line, Creator of Magicknet which grew into an international network of Pagan BBSs called Pagan/Occult Distribution Net (PODSnet) has an interesting proposal about Iraq: But like most Americans, he makes a big mistake about US History:

bradhicks:They're still inordinately proud of having stood up to the US and having burned the White House, even if the US did eventually win the war of 1812.

Actually, Canada won the war of 1812. And the US started the war. President James Madison on the 18th June, 1812, declared war on the Britian, and invaded Upper and Lower Canada, which was under control of Britian at the time.

Here are a few highlights of the War of 1812:

"An American attack across the Detroit border was not only forced back but, under the brilliant generalship of Gen. Isaac Brock, ably assisted by the Shawnee chieftain Tecumseh and his warriors, was turned into a disastrous defeat. The army defending Detroit was forced to surrender, and the fort itself fell into British hands." (http://www.linksnorth.com/canada-history/thewarof1812.html)

"The bloodless British capture of a key US post at Michilimackinac I in Lk Huron, on July 17, and of Detroit, Aug 16, frustrated that strategy and gave the British control of Michigan territory and the Upper Mississippi." (http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&ArticleId=A0008442)

"At this point Thomas Jefferson's remark that the capture of Canada was "a mere matter of marching" returned to haunt Washington. Having lost one army at Detroit, the Americans lost another at Queenston Heights (see QUEENSTON HEIGHTS, BATTLE OF), Oct 13, after their militia stood on its constitutional guarantee and refused to cross into Canada. But Brock was killed - an irreparable loss. A new American army under William Henry Harrison struggled up from Kentucky to try to retake Detroit. One wing was so badly mauled at Frenchtown, 22 Jan 1813, by a force of British, Canadians and Indians under Lt-Col Henry PROCTOR, that further attempts at invasion that winter were abandoned. The only Americans in Canada were prisoners of war." (http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&ArticleId=A0008442)

The US actually did fairly well on the waters of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. They also managed to recapture much of upper New York State. But utlimately, the invasion of Canada failed.

The War of 1812 was very important to Canada, for it was the event that caused Canada to become a country. The US got a nice poem that was set to a popular bar tune. It convinced people in Canada that we could become a country. But it took nearly 50 years before that dream was realized. It was in 1867, when Canada managed to get enough votes and support in the British Parliament to pass the "British North America Act", which created the nation of Canada.

Here is a great timeline of the events of the War of 1812:

http://www.warof1812.ca/1812events.htm

ttyl

p.s. For a very funny song about this, check out the Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie's song "The War of 1812". [note, if you don't have a sense of humour, *don't* listen to it, otherwise you might be offended] http://homepage.mac.com/deadtroll2/.Movies/1812seattle.mp3

You can find more stuff by them at: http://www.deadtroll.com/