[KhaOZ]

Originally Posted by IceBlade

That was the war where we Canadians burnt down the White House.

Huh? That was the British, not the Canadians.

Burned down by British Born Admiral George Cockburn.

"The war started unsuccessfully for the Americans as their attempts to invade Canada were repeatedly repulsed. The American strategy depended on use of militias, but they either resisted service or were incompetently led. Military and civilian leadership was lacking and remained a critical American weakness until 1814. New England opposed the war and refused to provide troops or financing. Financial and logistical problems plagued the American war effort. Britain possessed excellent finance and logistics but the ongoing war with France had a higher priority, so in 1812-13 they adopted a defensive strategy. After the defeat of Napoleon in 1814 the British were able to send veteran armies to invade the U.S., but by then the Americans had learned how to mobilize and fight as well."

What Caused the War

Americans declared war on Britain on June 18, 1812, for a combination of reasons— outrage at the impressment (seizure) of thousands of American sailors, frustration at British restrictions on neutral trade while Britain warred with France, and anger at British alliances with Native people defending their unceded territories which conflicted with American expansion and settlement into the Old Northwest.

In the end, the burning of the White House did not have the effect Cockburn had hoped for. It did not break the will of the American people, but caused the country to ban together in masses, with thousands volunteering to help defend, fighting off the British and eventually defeating the British military.