American Reacts to When Canada Burned Down the White House 

Something that's not mentioned in this video you watched is that the burning of the White House was a retaliation for American's burning towns and public buildings in Canada, which is a HUGE omission. It's already been mentioned below in the comments about the American burning of the Canadian town of Newark (modern Niagara on the Lake), which resulted in numerous reprisals by British and Canadian troops upon American towns. However, a more specific reason is that when the Americans invaded York (modern Toronto - the capital of Upper Canada at the time), American troops burned the Parliament Buildings. So burning the White House was a reprisal for burning the Canadian equivalent. When Canada confederated in 1867, one of the reasons Ottawa was chosen for its capital is that it's further from the U.S. border and therefore theoretically easier to defend from an American invader.

Good old Canadians, tough as nails, as a brit you'll always be our brothers in arms, much respect. ❤️

As a Canadian... I can safely say that even the 'not so smart' students remembered that little tidbit, because it's used as a low blow in any drunken argument with Americans 😂😂 American : "WE ARE FREEDOM, RAWR" Canadian : "Yeeeeeh well... We burnt down your White House. 🤷‍♀️😅" Lmao, I've heard that more times than I can count 😂

The biggest difference between Canadians and Americans is in school Canadians learn equally about other countries, not just Canadian history.

I mean, the "They will greet us as liberators" is still going through the American psyche 200 years later.

My seven-times great grandfather fought in the War of 1812, and I’d like to point out a few misconceptions about this pointless conflict. The British attack on Washington was a punitive expedition in response to an American atrocity inflicted on the 500 or so residents of Newark (now Niagara-on-the-Lake) in Canada. As the Americans retreated in December 1813, they torched the town destroying some 150 buildings leaving the surviving townspeople to freeze to death in what would now be called a war crime. By comparison, in 1814, while the American president was in full flight with the Declaration of Independence under his arm, the British made it clear to the remaining residents of Washington that the occupying forces would only torch government buildings. This they did, leaving civilians and all private property unmolested. It’s hard to hear of humans being described as property but that was the internationally recognised, legal status of slaves at that time; and It was this principle that led to the British compensating Americans whose slaves had fought for the British in the War of 1812. Having promised them their freedom, we were not about to renege on that promise. Conversely, those slaves who had foolishly supported the Americans at the Battle of New Orleans on Andrew Jackson’s promise of freedom were told afterwards he could not grant it because they were someone's private property. The frontal attack on New Orleans was plan B, and not a very good idea. Plan A was to take Fort Bowyer (in modern-day Alabama) and thence overland to New Orleans. Having failed with plan A and plan B, the British returned to the now much more heavily fortified Fort Bowyer. Andrew Jackson said it could not be taken with 10,000 men. On 7th February 1815, the British succeeded with just 1,400. American history books will recall how its governor bravely held out for five days against the British. The British version of events is rather different. The Americans capitulated on the first day, and it was agreed the Americans would leave as prisoners of war the following day. The governor requested a delay, as so many of his men had got drunk. he British took control on 11th February. This British victory was the final battle of the War, not the more famous Battle of New Orleans. Francis Scott Key did not write the “song” The Star Spangled Banner. He merely wrote a poem which was then put to the tune we all know. The music was by British composer John Stafford Smith. Hail to the Chief is also a British tune, written by James Sanderson.

As a Canadian I believe I learned this in elementary school, though admittedly it's much more of a flex for Canada than the US lol.

History: "Sure we're from a warmer country, but lets attack that colder country. Whats the worst that could happen" Also history: "So that was a bad bad bad idea"

Canadian here, we learned we Did it not Once, but Twice.

This event is something that every Canadian knows, it's almost been mythologized.

As a former Canadian soldier, I assure you winter is a huge factor in my mind with war.

It would be cool if you looked at videos explaining Canada's impact in WW1. Canadian soldiers gained quite the reputation for being tough in war. Would be cool to see your reactions

History is not ours to like or dislike, but to learn from.

I think the war of 1812 deserves a video that goes into more detail. Like other comments, so many specific events happened during this war that are not mentioned. We have a famous female heroine from this war, Laura Secord, who should be acknowledged as well.

I've lived in both countries and while I learned the white house was burned down when I lived in Texas it wasn't until I moved to Canada to learn who actually burned it down.

👍🏼Good job trying to understand these situations, and kudos for attracting a large number of educated, Canadian commenters.

Here's a detail that the video left out. While Admiral (not General) Cockburn wanted a quick attack on Washington, the British Army commander, Gen. Ross, realized his troops had been cooped-up aboard ship for some three months and needed to get their land legs back. So the Royal Navy made several fake attacks up and down Chesapeake Bay while the British Army landed south of Washington. After a little while, the British Army met the American Army at Bladensburg. The entire American Army was routed and ran away. The Battle of Bladensburg has been called the worst defeat of the American Army EVER. The defeat of the Americans allowed the British to enter Washington and burn certain public buildings, including the White House. Then, according to their plan, they shot up Baltimore on their way to their winter quarters. There they would await reinforcements expected to arrive in spring, since a huge number of British soldiers were ready to sail from Europe after of the defeat of Napoleon. That's why the British attack on Baltimore only lasted one night --- it was nothing but a drive-by. That's also why the Americans agreed to a peace treaty --- once the British Army and Royal Navy reinforcements arrived from defeating Napoleon, the Americans knew they would get clobbered. Remember that when you sing about the "rockets' red glare".

Proud French Canadian here! The French Colony fought with y'all for your freedom!

And if you really want to have your mind blown, react to "US anthem stolen from British drinking song" by American Heroes channel.

Legend has it when the canadian militia man lit the fire he was heard saying "Sorry eh!" as he threw the match and ran, never to be seen again.

Canada is one of very few countries that have never lost a war.

Look up the "Battle of New Orleans" by Johnny Horton growing up in Halifax, that, and "Barrett's Privateers" by Stan Rogers were staples of our weekend nights listening to the local talent in the pubs!!!

Watching I thought what you kept missing is that Canadians & American’s were all (mostly) British citizens that pulled away from the crowns of Europe after feeling the freedom of a vast new land. My grandmother is 97 & was born in Newfoundland, Canada 🇨🇦 on her birth certificate she is listed a British citizen. Canada wasn’t really Canada until July 1, 1867. Newfoundland wasn’t part of Canada until 1949 Love the show

While the British sent some troops, and a very talented commander, Isaak Brock, the great majority of the defenders of Canada were local Canadians --- especially First Nations people such as the Ojibway, Mohawks, Mississauga and Seneca. Brock died early in the war, and after him it was mostly the First Nations commanders who led the defence. First Nations people in Canada were fully aware that, while they lived in peace and were respected in Canada, if the U.S. won the war they would be subject to the fanatical hatred that most Americans felt for them, and they would be subjected to the same treatment as their relatives to the south. Most of the settlers in Upper Canada (Ontario) were descended from Americans, and spoke English with an accent very similar to Upstate New York or Pennsylvania, but they were not pleased when they were invaded by Americans who burned their homes, stole their farm animals (whole herds were captured and taken back to the U.S.), and killed their sons. After the war ended, these settlers began to consider themselves Canadians (previously they used the word to mean only French Canadians) rather than either British or American. There was also the issue of slavery. Almost all Canadians were strongly opposed to slavery, and the fact that the United States still possessed vast numbers of enslaved people was the deal-breaker for them. Over the next few generations, large numbers of slaves would escape to freedom in Canada, where they generally prospered. The War of 1812 was mostly popular in the American South and the areas of the Midwest where native people were being exterminated or expelled, and the old French-speaking communities were being obliterated (look at a map, and you'll see the Midwest is full of French place names ---- Detroit remained French-speaking well into the mid 19th century). In New England, where anti-slavery sentiment was relatively strong, there was great opposition to the war, and people wanted to continue their lucrative trade with Canada and the Maritime colonies of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Canadians, by the same token, were little interested in the global ambitions and strategies of the British, and cared only in the defence of their own land. Historian Pierre Berton, in his exhaustive history of this war, concluded that the Canadian "identity" that united First Nations, French Canada and English-speaking Canada was more or less created by the War of 1812. However, the war did not create any great hatred between people on either side of the border, and within a few years it became normal again for people to trade and move back and forth, with many people in Canada having relatives in the U.S. While Canadians remained upset about slavery in the U.S., they were greatly inspired by New England's democratic traditions and documents like the Bill of Rights, and admiration for these things eventually led to the Rebellion of 1837, where both French and English Canadians struggled to shake off British influence and establish much more democratic government. When Canada achieved effective independence, with its separate colonies joined together, the result was a very advanced democratic government by the standards of the time --- much more so than Britain, and certainly far better than the tyranny that remained in the American South. Canadians looked to men like Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass with tremendous admiration, and were inspired by them. Thousands of Canadians volunteered to fight for the North during the Civil War.

The War of 1812 was never more than a side show to the UK. The War against Napoleon was worldwide and FAR more important. Its barely even known about by most Brits.

Love your enthusiasm with learning about deep history of Canada let alone all the big and small differences between our 2 countries! I laughed when a friend was in the U.S. and asked for fish and chips to eat, he was actually given "Chips"( bag of potato chips dumped on his plate) and not fries 😂!

Britain had been at war for a number of years against Napoleon so the yanks saw their chance to attack the British Empire and declared war. Before Britain could seriously intervene they expected to walkover Canada but like the cowboys they are they came unstuck when the Canadian militia fought back. The Americans burnt down Toronto`s equivalent of the white house which is why the British sailed in and burned down the white house. The president ran to the hills and left his wife to face the British and not long after the Americans sued for peace. The war was already over when the last "major" battle took place one which the Americans celebrate to perpetrate the myth that the war was a "draw" (because news travelled slow). This one-sided affair saw the British had run out of supplies and many of the soldiers resorted to throwing rocks at the Americans.

Actually, as a retired Canadian soldier, I can tell you that we do extensive training to fight in many adverse conditions including cold weather combat. As you said, it weather can drastically change a battle and those who cannot cope are usually the ones defeated. Also, another note is that, at that time in history, there were technically no "Canadians" as we were British citizens. Even after Confederation, Canadians did not have seperate citizenship until 1 January,1947.

Cockburn is actually pronounced Coburn, I have cousins in UK with that last name.

The “Battle Of New Orleans” victory for the Americans, as personified in the song, actually happened 2 weeks after the war was declared over. The news had not reached that far.

When I was looking at this a while ago, many of the Canadian militia troops that thrashed the American invaders in Lower Canada, were actually French Canadian. The American leaders convinced themselves that a lot of the American emigrants to Canada had just gone north for the cheap land, and would welcome the invasion.

You should watch the video on CANZUK which is about the possibility of the countries of Canada United Kingdom and Australia forming a single country or a union however you would describe it and which would make any citizen of any of those countries a citizen of all of them Which would mean you could live work in any of those countries at well whenever you want

More instant communication between the UK & Canada/America happened in the 1800's, when Britain laid the first & second transatlantic telegraph lines/cables across the Atlantic ocean.

I love you Tyler. Your outlook on these events is SO accurate and I adore watching you learn our history. Our SHARED history 🇺🇸🇨🇦💜. Hold the line, my American friend.

Find out where the Mayflower stopped enroute to Plymouth...and when was the first child born in Canada? The white house actually wasn't white when we burnt it as well.

Actually, we burned the Grey House down; the replacement structure became known as the White House simply because it was painted white.

Think you mean when Britain burnt down the Whitehouse, I've never heard it referred to as when Canadians burnt it down

Canada, in the 1800s, was cold... we were always looking for things to burn that no one would miss. And we were right... you didn't miss it. You didn't even know it burned... 🤣😁🙃

Have the heard the song "the war of 1812" by the Arrogant worms? Not many outside of Canada have heard of them but it goes well with this subject. I'm a born and raised Canadian and love your reactions

The burning of the White House was in retaliation which you seemed to have missed when the Americans burned down the Capital of what was then Upper Canda, the city of York, identified in the video as Toronto. You easily missed that part as you focused on the fact that the Americans had a successful attack on Canadian territory. 😃 I suppose they did get their revenge in the Battle of New Orleans!

You can’t understand the relationship with Canada without understanding the relationship both sides had with the Indian nations. Briton promised them land that was already being settled by Americans and used them as storm troopers in the areas around the Great Lakes. Very complex situation.

It is said that nobody won the War of 1812, but the Aboriginal people lost. The country they were promised failed to materialized when the Americans had success late in the war. From what I've been told, it was the last time they were treated as equal allies in any war.

This Canadian tells this Yank it did not burn down.

Léo Major a French-Canadian captured the Dutch town of Zwolle by himself during World War II there's a "Simple History" video of it on youtube thats pretty good.

They did not take the ship, they took some sailors off the ship and pressed them into service on the british warship.

I live in Windsor, Ontario (directly across from Detroit), and I can tell you we still have the house where some important stuff happened (can't specifically remember). I went to an open house through it a few years back to help them fundraiser for it. Learn something new every day!

Canada wasn't an official country until 1867 which is why he said that about making this easier

Canada didn’t do it it was the Brits occupying land that is now part of Canada. This occurred in 1812 but Canada officially became a nation on July 1, 1867.

This is the reason why during the Jan 6 insurrection they said that the Capitol walls hadn't been breeched in over 200 years. This was that breech.

Just to add to the excellent comment by Nicholas Rutherford-Young. Preceding the atrocity of burning Newark (now Niagara-On-The-Lake) on December 10, 1813, American General Zebulon Pike landed with his forces west of the City of York (now Toronto) on April 27, 1813 and made his way east to Fort York, on the western edge of the city of York. Realising they were heavily outnumbered, the defenders retreat to the city; but, not before laying a long fuse to the ammunition warehouse at the eastern end of the Fort. Shortly after the Americans entered the Fort, the lit fuse reached the warehouse's interior, which, in turn, caused a massive explosion. As a result, General Pike (Pike's Peak) and many of his forces were killed. Not adhering to the general practice of merely occupying the area of the general population, the invading forces proceeded to loot the City of York and burn many of the buildings. Instances of rape were also reported. So outraged by the attack on, and looting of, civilians, the city's militia began to formulate a plan to retaliate. When the Americans attacked and burned the Town of Newark the following December, the York Militia joined the militia from the area around Newark and finalised their revenge. Contrary to the videos' claim that it was folklore, in actual fact, the combined militias marched across land down to Washington, where on August 24 - 25, they 'quickly set fire to “the capitol, including the Senate-house and House of Representation, the Arsenal, the Dock-yard, Treasury, War-office, President's Palace, Ropewalk, and the great bridge across the Potomac. The fires spread and burned some of the houses nearby public buildings." To make it complete, the British captured Alexandria, Virginia, just down the Potomac River from Washington.

Pretty sure it was a British expeditionary force under general ross

I’m a Canadian and I thought that I should mention that we don’t have free healthcare. Our tax system helps to pay for our healthcare

That's why they painted it white. It wasn't entirely white before being burned and I think the tour guides can show you some evidence of the fire that is still there.

There was a border change! Drummond Island on Lake Huron was annexed into the states from Canada. The Metis people who lived there were forced to relocate. They were the ones who, with the British captain Longlade, and 600 Ojibwe, took the garrison Fort Michimilimackinac in northern Michigan.

Opps nope Canada did not burn the white house they were not with Admiral George Cockburn in charge of the fleet and Major General Robert Ross in charge of the land force this fleet sailed from the UK that ment all the troops were British some were former peninsula War veterans .Dolly Maderson on her husband request had laid out a banquet for the celebration of the defeat of the British but things went slightly wrong she had to flee the white house but before she did she took down the painting of George Washington cut it out of its frame and rolled it up before she left because she knew the British would either capture and remove it as a war trophy or burn it .so when the British troops arrived found the table set and ready with food they had there Owen celebrating meal then as they left on orders from Major General Robert Ross set fire to the house the Amaricans after the war painted the house white to cover up the fire damage a point of interest unlike the Amaricans sacking and burning down of Newark MG Robert Ross gave orders only Goverment buildings were to be burnt iam not sure but I think the white house was the only dwelling to be burnt because it was the Presidents place of residence an official building if it had been the Madersons privet address I dont think it would of been touched during the war of independence privet homes were set alight .you must remember the change in the British army by then they had seen the destruction of Spanish and Portuguese towns and villages and the displacement of the local population also land clearance had begun in Scotland and Ireland also the potato famine and the plage that spread across England from French prisoners held in hulks on the Norfolk broads .this led to alot of Scotish and Irish men joining the army to survive and help there family's do the same so British Officers knew they had to be more cearfull about burning buildings and destroying farms because in the Sctish and Irish regerments it would not go well if they did

The one thing people are forgetting to mention.....CANADA didn't burn the Whitehouse. It was the British. Canada wasn't a country until July 1, 1867. So nope, it wasn't Canada technically. lol

It wasn’t Canada, 1812 it was just Britain… Canada wasn’t founded until July 1st 1867 and we Canadians can’t take credit for it if we truly respect our history

Despite what Canadian education taught many it wasn’t Canada that burned down the White House but British Troops, that said given their relationship between Canada and Britain during that period and how some troops settled in Canada after the fact we kind of like to claim that as a shared victory. Still it’s fun to say and the Canadian military has since earned its badass status even if they aren’t the best equipped or largest force.

As a Canadian, I have to point out that the British were the naughty arsonists, and the Canadians basically tagged along. At the very least the British probably thought it up and with Canada being in the Commonwealth we probably felt it was incumbent on us to back them up. British sentiment always ran high and the United Empire Loyalists were active into the 20th century. Anyways, sorry about that.

(The Francis Scott Key song referenced after the Battle of Baltimore is The Star Spangled Banner) A great story from the war is that of Laura Secord, a young Canadian woman who made Paul Revere look like a chump by WALKING (as opposed to riding) 20 miles (as opposed to 12 and a half) to warn Canadian militias of an impending American attack. Also unlike Revere, she was successful and didn't get caught. The Arrogant Worms wrote a song about this, which everyone should experience: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Fsfz3f18NxU.html

Great commentary and as a historian myself, you are bang on about the impact of weather on historical battles. Look up the original meaning of Kamikaze for a very interesting ancient example of a thwarted massive Chinese invasion of a greatly outgunned Japan - due to the weather of course

It is interesting to see how history is reported depending on who reported. The reasons why America lost the war is because they expected the French to side with them, but since American and British were English, the French did not want to participate. Remember French were more numerous than the English at the time in Canada, that is why they were granted so many things like the french civil code

There is still remnants of ships in the Detroit River from the war 1812.

I never learned this in school… I’m in my 40s.. I’ve learned more about my own country watching RU-vid than I ever did in history class

Dinner was served in the White House when the denizens fled in disarray, all candles still lit. The invaders understandably sat down to feast. Perhaps there was too much port at hand, but the place burned down and some yob took credit for it. More significant in the War of 1812 was the role of Tecumseh, the native Alexander the Great. He led a confederacy of tribes against the Colonies because of their policy of genocide and land theft against the Indians. This guy was so smart that he scared the commander of Fort Detroit into running for it without a shot fired. It's worth reading about Tecumseh. He was your original badass North American.

First off back then Toronto was actually named York. And it was the original capital of Canada (later then moved to Ottawa because it would be better defended) but the real motivation to burn down the White House was because when the Americans invaded at York they torched the town and burned down the parliament buildings there. So basically it was payback.

The Storm that drove the British out of Washington just happen to be a Itsy tiny wee TORNADAO. The Battle of York aka Toronto is interesting in that the American had a overwhelming force to the point that the British were going to surrender. One of the last thing they did was blow up their Gun powder reserve so the American forces could not use it. The resulting explosion was so great it cut through the American troops on land killing over 200. The explosion also killed General Pike and Damaged Ships in the bay causing at least one to sink. This Enraged the surviving Americain who went out and burned and Pillaged the town of York. This one event turned the Canadian against the Americains. Until then the View was Taxes to UK or Taxes to US what is the diff. As long as we can live in peace and we can keep our property. Burning kind of went against the idea of living in peace and Pillaging stuff kind of went against keeping our property. This was the point Canadian decided the Americans could not be trusted and it caused them to rally to their own defense.

You should take a look at the Jay Treaty. Specifically the part that allows any Canadian-born Native American, who is at least 50% Native American by blood, the right to enter, work, study, and live, in the US. They cannot be denied entry, or deported for any reason. Unlike other immigrants, these Canadian-born Native Americans are also entitled to public benefits and domestic tuition fees on the same basis as US citizens.

Re: Winter / Spring weather conditions - Even this current year with the Russian invasion of Ukraine is subject to the seasons, the Russian troops were not prepared for war, especially a prolonged one such as this when after doing "training exercises" as part of the build up on the Belarus/Ukraine border, the upper echelons of Russia military didn't want to tip off anyone so that any Russian soldiers who knew Ukrainians could tip them off. What was even worse with spring coming when it did, the frozen ground around the major artery that headed in Kyiv with that 40 tank convoy got stuck in the mud because the land thawed around the highway and made it impossible when some of the tanks were blown up. Russians were cold, hungry, very little training and discipline. Weather was certainly a factor and thankfully, this time it had. Fun fact: I'm not sure so don't quote me on this but the White House became the White House because they needed to paint the House to cover up all the black smoke/burnt damage it enduring during the War of 1812 and they used the colour White.

Canada's capital Ottawa is where it is because the Queen of England did not pick Toronto, Kingston, Montreal or Quebec City because they to exposed to US attack by water. Ottawa was picked because it was not directly accessible from the US by water.

I want you to name all the provinces and territories of Canada, good luck KMSL ♥️🇨🇦🌏 What Olympic year did the Americans walked out with the Canadian flag hung upside down explain that one

The reason why Lower Canada (Modern day Quebec) didn’t want to be part of the U.S and sided with the British (that we hated) was because French Canadians were afraid to lose their language and religion.

It wasn't the Canadians. It was the British Army. Canada wasn't a thing yet.

‘Ruining history’ has a fun video about this event. It’s really funny and entertaining. Worth a watch if you’re looking for a good time while learning weird history events (as a Canadian I know this was retaliation for a horrible crime by the US, but the video pokes so much fun at the US that some missing context can be excused)

I live a few minutes walk from the site of a battle in June 1813 (Stoney Creek) where the American invasion force was repelled, mostly through a series of strange incidents, and two of the American Generals in charge were captured (Winder and Chandler) and later paroled. Winder was later put in charge of the defenses of Washington and was in command when the British attack took place. Another American commander, Zebulon Pike (namesake of Pike's Peak) was killed in the attack on York (Toronto) when the British powder magazine was blown up. It's been said by some historians that the burning of Newark (Niagara-on-the-lake) was retribution for that explosion and that the attack on Washington was largely retribution for Newark.

actually, the time between communication in history is very very significant. it is the true reason why the Roman Empire fell. the empire was too vast and large that by the time important information reached its final destination it was too late.

As a Canadian who has toured the White House, I was impressed how they managed to repair it so well.

It's often said that when Canadian forces reached the white house dinner was being served. So the officers sat down for dinner before painting the one side white and burning down the rest.

Canada has universal healthcare but it is not free, it is paid by our taxes. However we don't think twice if we need to see a doctor. You do require a health card and not all procedures are covered but cancer treatments, heart surgery, main issues are covered.

The American national anthem tells the story of the war of 1812.

I grew up near where many battles took place, including a nearby fort that was attacked in the war. We learned a lot about the War of 1812 because of this. General Brock and Chief Tecumseh (Teh-Cum-Seh) might be worth a look into for a future video!

Also: did you know that part of the Decleration of Independance was written in Montreal? A delegation had come up to Canada to try and convince us to join the Revolution against England, a mission at which they failed miserably. In fact, Benjamin Franklin, who was part of that delegation, notoriously said that it would have been easier to buy Canada than to convince us to join them 😂

I didn't know that either, I knew the British burnt it down in 1812 when America got grand ideas about invading Canada.

Cockburn (the general @ 9.32) is pronounced Coh burn (the middle "c" and "k" are silent). "Cock burn" is a completely different thing !

The way I heard it was that the British army arrived in DC and sent a soldier to the front door. He marched to the door and knocked and after a while it was decided that no one was home. The Canadians were given the task to set the Whitehouse ablaze as the American army had set the Governor General of Canada's house ablaze. The Canadians then asked some of the local African American men if they would like to help. Together they set the Whitehouse ablaze.

The reason why you have never heard of this is because Hollywood has never made a blockbuster movie about it!

The British sent napoleon trained troops over to Washington, the Devonshire regiment was there. A total off 5000 British troops where sent.

For more about US ambitions, please look up the slogans "Manifest Destiny" and 54-40 or fight.

I believe it was one John Oliver that called Canada, "The world's largest exporter of Ryans". Something to think about. 😆

Check out the Canadians during WWI and WWII. It's interesting.

The Arrogant Worms even wrote a song called the war of 1812 😅

"Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie" wrote a fun song about the war of 1812 from the Canadian perspective. Worth a listen. Edit: I, for one, will take the credit. If only to mention it to Americans to aren't taught about that chapter of their history and act all indignant until they look it up. Trolling Americans is a national pastime 😀 (we only troll our friends)

It's not the CANADIAN,Sit was the British

Canada became an independant country in 1867, so technically both the Canadians and the British can claim to be responsible for this, as Canada was part of Britan at the time

Canadian here, if you guys want you can burn down one building you have our permission. Cheers guys.

As a friend of many of the drunken descendants of the drunken sailors from Halifax who burnt the White House I know they were just in Washington looking for rum. The locals denied them so they went kinda berserk. Lesson learned. British sailors take their daily rum ration seriously.

Hey Tyler! I have a friend who is an U.E.L. (United Empire Loyalist). It's dying out, but it was a title awarded to people who helped the British side in the US during The War of Independence, lost, and needed somewhere to live that wasn't Britain or Australia. 😆 It's a hereditary title, most of them use it for charity work, or historical reenactments, if at all.

When the US invaded they tried to occupy Toronto which was at this time the location of the capital of Upper Canada. After battling Br. & Canadian troops the Americans withdrew but not before burning the capital buildings. This led to the Br. attacking Washington & burning the White house in response to burnings in Toronto. A side note: the White house fire was not complete but when it was rebuilt it was painted white to cover burn marks hence the White house.

I love that you're trying to learn some history about us...that's nice! (And rare for Americans 🙁 (seeing as we've learned lots about the USA)). Your reactions are hilarious and honest...thank you! We're not a perfect country, but then, who's is? 🤔 Just know, 🇨🇦❤️🇺🇲 (Minus Trump, "sorry", lol! 🤣). 🕊

It was 5 drunk Canadian soldiers. I have seen copies of the court-martial records, they were charged with being drunk on duty and leaving there posts. I had a teacher in highschool that liked to find little known facts of history. I will admit they could have been faked but always ask why? This not something he taught in class, this was something that he showed to a few of his students that had a genuine interest in history.