The War of 1812

[rcaf_777]

To celebrate the British and Canadian victory over the imperialist US forces during the War of 1812. The Canadian Government has released a Pin for all member of the CF to wear on there dress uniform from 19 Jul 12-26 Feb 15, also selected units will awarded an 1812 War Commemorative Banner. It is consider a water shed movement in Canada – US relations. It war was also the last time a foreign army invaded Canada and only time Washington D.C. was captured and burned. Here is the Infomation on the banner and picture of it and the Pin.

Badge

Gules on a Canadian pale Argent two swords in saltire proper, hilts and pommels Gules, surmounted by an anchor Or fouled Gules and flanked by two tomahawks addorsed, the whole ensigned by the Royal Crown proper and above two scrolls Or edged Gules and inscribed 1812-1815 and DEFENCE OF CANADA - DÉFENSE DU CANADA in letters Sable;

Symbolism

The banner honours those who defended British North America during the War of 1812; the Royal Navy and Provincial Marine, the British Army and colonial militias, and their First Nations allies. The three fighting elements are represented by the anchor, the swords and the tomahawks respectively

Awarding of the banner

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has approved the design of a war of 1812 commemorative banner. The banner is for, and will be presented to, Canadian forces units, formations and establishments whose heritage embraces service in the defence of Canada during the period 1812-1815. The banner will also be available, through the department of aboriginal affairs and northern development, to those first nations wishing to recognize and commemorate the contribution of their people to the conflict.

Once presented, the banner may be carried, flown, or displayed throughout the 2012-2015 commemorative period (18 Jun 12 to 16 Feb 15). Thereafter it may be paraded on anniversaries of events of the war of 1812 that specific units, formations and establishments consider important within their own heritage. However, as the banner is not a colour, guidon or standard, it shall not be paraded with any other flag nor shall compliments be paid to it. Banners will not be replaced. Once they become worn through age and use, they are to be deposited in an appropriate commemorative location

[Raellus]

I heard an interesting piece on NPR in mid-June about how the War of 1812 is viewed in Canada vs. how it is viewed in the U.S. There's two sides to every story and the truth is often somewhere in between.

According to the piece, in which both American and Canadian history teachers were interviewed, in American public school U.S. history classes, most teachers can't/don't spend more than a couple of days on the War of 1812. In Canada, teachers often spend two weeks or more teaching about the war. In the U.S., the war is considered to have resulted in more or less a draw. In Canada, it is considered a British/Canadian victory. Apparently, in Canada, the war is considered a consequence of early American imperialism. In the U.S., Britain is considered responsible for starting the war by its impressment of American sailors, and by selling guns to frontier tribes hostile to American expansion. In the U.S., the war is considered a minor speedbump in the path to becoming a American continental power- we faced off against a global superpower and fought them to a strategic draw. In Canada, it is considered a fight for survival. The U.S. tried to take Canadian territory by force and were beaten back. So, in Canadian eyes, the war ended in a strategic victory. The piece didn't speak to how the War of 1812 is viewed/taught in British schools.

I can't speak for Canadian schools/teachers, but as an American high school history teacher, I can vouch for the report's accuracy regarding how the War of 1812 is viewed/taught here in the states. I would hazard to guess that the majority of adult Americans remember little to nothing about the War of 1812.

I'd love one of our British posters to explain how the War of 1812 is viewed/taught in British schools and/or seen by the British public at large.

[simonmark6]

The what?

It was only in the mid-nineties when the statement on the back of the BYB was explained to me:

How could we forget that in 1812 the two greatest democracies in the world made war on each other.

I'd always assumed that it referred to Russia and France but couldn't work it out because Russia obviously wasn't a democracy in 1812.

The war is barely a footnote and certainly not covered in the curriculum. From my experience of teaching secondary history, British schools cover:
The Romans
The Black Death
The Tudors
The English Civil War and Restoration
Industrial Revolution and Civil Rights movement
The Victorians
World War One
World War Two

When you get up to 15-16 and choose GCSEs the options include:
Medicine through History
Nazi Germany
The American West
World War Two
Post War UK

As an aside, when I was teaching the American West, I had one of the best answers ever.

The question was: Sum up Custer's position at the Little Big Horn
The answer was: Custer left his gatling guns at camp to move faster. He split a small group of men into three and sent them to places they couldn't support each other. Then he charged a couple of hundred men into thousands of Souix, some of who had repeating rifles when his men had single shot guns and crappy ammunition that jammed. Once he realised the situation he dismounted and waited for help instead of running away. Basically, Custer was fucked.

A concise if fairly inaccurate assessment.

[Cdnwolf]

http://www.royal-scots.com/id5.html


Every year I go and watch this event.

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As to what they teach in high school....


Canadian history classes in high school teach a little bit of everything. We usually start with the Viking explorers from 980AD, move on to the French explorers looking for the northwest passage, the arrival of the British, conflicts between the aboriginal tribes and the French and English settlers, the war with the Americans, and so on and so on.

In Ontario, for example, high-school students do not learn about the 50 years following Confederation, skipping everything it seems from John A. Macdonald to the settlement of the West.

Recent history grads may be forgiven for not knowing the significance of the 1st Baron of Dorchester, or that his 1774 Quebec Act was once known as Canada’s Magna Carta. They don’t teach much pre-Confederation history in school. “In high school, you had to take one history course and all learned about was World War One, World War Two—maybe touched on the Depression

The really important things happened after John A. MacDonald, that World War One was Canada’s war of independence, that we didn’t really become a country until we had our own flag and that our rights and freedoms began in 1982 with the Charter.

[simonmark6]

Ah, starting history at 980AD! When I was at Uni studying English the Medievalists thought that nothing worthwhile was achieved after 1400. Some grudgingly went up to 1600 to include Shakespeare but most thought he was a worthless parvenu.

[Raellus]

It's a bit humbling to see that the time period that British students study for British history is majority of the span of what we in the U.S. teach as "world history". The U.S.A. is still a comparitively young nation.

[Targan]

Originally Posted by simonmark6

How could we forget that in 1812 the two greatest democracies in the world made war on each other.

"Greatest democracies"? I acknowledge they are 2 great nations but in the modern era which nation was the first to give all adult male and female citizens the vote? The USA? No. Great Britain? No again.

It was New Zealand. The same place you go to find someone capable of being the first to climb to the top of the world's highest mountain .

Thanks for creating this thread, Rcaff 777. My knowledge of the War of 1812 is woefully inadequate and reading this thread has made me want to learn more about it.

[Panther Al]

Originally Posted by Targan

"Greatest democracies"? I acknowledge they are 2 great nations but in the modern era which nation was the first to give all adult male and female citizens the vote? The USA? No. Great Britain? No again.

It was New Zealand. The same place you go to find someone capable of being the first to climb to the top of the world's highest mountain .

Thanks for creating this thread, Rcaff 777. My knowledge of the War of 1812 is woefully inadequate and reading this thread has made me want to learn more about it.

And not to mention creating Pavlova, the worlds finest desert creation.

[LAW0306]

I find myself in an interesting place as I have a canadian company 2nd Bn PPCLI, A Coy, a Aussie Company 1st Bn RAR, A Coy and a New Zealand Platoon In my SPMAGTF for the last month and a half. I went to my first Canada day and had a good time. The big thing I see is that we as nations study and celebrate the good things we have done and our victorys. The Canadian company commander and me have had good talks about Lundys lane and it has been a great learning experiance for all. I have grown to like these men and only wish them the best. We have only a week left and all of our final attacks are coming up. It should be a good time. I came out of the field on the big island last night and now go to the field here tomorrow to finish. Quite funny to see AAV's land with Aussies getting out and Canadians assault from LCAC's and CH-53's.