yankee yankee:
America did not start the War of 1812 to invade Canada. We declared War on England after enduring years of English Navy ships pirating our ships and taking our goods. Even then we only declared war after Tecumseh (who was leading the Indians against our expanding pioneers) allied with England and England armed the Indians to attack the settlers. That is what started the War. Our History Books do show this event, we did attempt to take the English Canada and we "failed miserably". The White House incedent is true but we were not pushed back to New Orleans. The English Soldiers captured the White House, put their feet on the Presidents Desk and lit a cigar before burning it, they went back to Canada after that. It was painted White and has been the White House ever since (just the inside was damaged).
You are proud of the War of 1812 as you should be. But we also claim pride in what the War did for us. We stopped the bigger Indian threat and continued our expansion into the West, Andrew Jackson had several successful battles, including taking Florida, Alabama and Georgia, we gained International respect after the Treaty of Ghent, and we too have the pride of a young fledgling Country just 20 years after our current Constitution was written. A rough start to be sure... but a start.
I still think you would have been better off just surrendering and joining us in the Red, White and Blue!! Welcome to Toronto USA... JUST KIDDING!!
I really do love Canada... you are the best! I'm coming to visit your beautiful country and all you fine (and I will also say beautiful) people soon, I always enjoy my visits there!
C/ya!
Unfortunately I have to disagree with you a bit. We did start the war. We wanted to annex Canada. Certain fat heads from the New England states were under the illusion that the Canadian were secretly had the desire to become part of the United States. I wonder what they were drinking or smoking as many of the folks up there were American Loyalist driven into Canada by bayonet point.
Canadian then and now don't have an uncontrollable subconscious
desire to become Americans. They could look into the future and see George W. Bush, Sara Palin, NY Gov Spitzer and the way our COngress works and they wanted no part of it.
Militarily on the ground in Canada the Canadian beat the shit out of us and they had occupied several areas that if the treaty wasn't Stus quo ante (borders as they were before the conflict) the border would be further out. The American Navy on the other hand beat the living daylights out of the British/Canadian navy, except for the HMS Shannon capturing the US Chesapeak.
Dolly Madison was preparing a banquet which the British. Enjoyed they smoked a cigar and asked "What should we do with this den of wickedness?". They burned it to the ground. The way Congress has been behaving they should have burned congress.
Some how we ended with the prestige we that you mentioned I don't know why except that I am reminded the Otto Von Bismark of Germany
once commented the God takes care of 3 things: drunks, pregnant women and the United States of America.
Now are countries are good friends as it should be although we do have the occasional rough patches. John Diefenbaker didn't get along with John F Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and Lester Pearson hated each other guts (Johnson was a loud mouth JO Asshole) and Pierre Trudeau and Nixon weren't the best of buddies either but hey.
Personally I'd like to see Canada annex the United States. They would get NYC, Hawaii, Florida, Disney Land. So far I can't PM Harper or Iggy to agree to it. All they would have to do is send a cloud of BC Bud across the border, give Americans a beer and a CKA tee shirt and the conquest would be done in a week.
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