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The war of 1812 is KNOWN as "the forgotten war" but is was never really forgotten. It's popularity is just not up there with: WW1,WW2,Civil War, etc... Probably because it didn't change the world and/or nation. Or maybe because the casualties weren't drastically high.

Or maybe even because a lot of schools never teach it. The war of 1812 did not last very long either, British troops tried to invade America somewhere in the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, but failed,and it was after the revolutionary war which was also fought against Great Britain.

Another reason may be that the United States started the war, invaded its neighbour, and lost. Much larger American forces crossed into Upper and Lower Canada, which was defended by only 5200 British solders and roughly three times as many natives and Canadian militia. The invaders were decisively defeated in a series of battles, and retreated, not only back over the border, but beyond, surrendering Detroit, Buffalo, and Fort Dearborn (Chicago).

The British went on the offensive, taking Washington and burning the White House. However, at no time did they attempt to retake the United States. In fact, weary of war after defeating Napoleon, the British rather generously turned back all the American territory it had conquered and signed the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the war.

Ironically, the American invasion, the second since an American army attacked Canada in 1775, brought English and French speaking Canadians together, and began talk of nationhood, which began a reality in 1867.

Which may explain why a lot of schools never teach it.

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13y ago

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