War of 1812 Memories

Just a quick note about events from almost two hundred years ago.

In a strange turn, the War of 1812 is claimed as a victory by both belligerents, the United States and the United Kingdom, and is remembered for different reasons by those belligerents

The US held their own, won a few skirmishes, lost a few skirmishes, invaded Canada, were eventually repelled from Canada. The UK held Canada, and even burned down the White House, the original White House anyway. Can you imagine any invading entity burning down the White House today?

Here in the States the War of 1812 is seen as the emergence of America as a player on the world stage. Over in the UK, the war barely registers in the collective consciousness, as 1812 is the year Napoleon invaded Russia, and marked the start of the end of his French Empire. Heard of the novel War and Peace? That's what get's conjured in the memory banks for Europeans when "1812" and "war" is mentioned in the same sentence.

Napoleon invading tsarist Russia was, and probably is, more important historically than American soldiers slaughtering Indians and invading Toronto. But, maybe that's not exactly accurate, especially if that was the moment when the tiny new nation, in a kiddie fist-fight with their older brother (or father?), gained the confidence that grew them to self-proclaimed status as world police.

The immediate aftermath is more noticeable. The UK was always a maritime empire, and the aftermath of their small scale battles with their old colonies did little to change that. Their eyes have always been focused out over the seas and beyond. The US, since that battle, and for quite a few decades, was much more focused inward, on their vast unconquered landmass.

The idea of American isolationism might actually be a result of the aftermath of the War of 1812, and not some essential characteristic of US policy.