The First Siege on the US Capitol: Why the War of 1812 is More Relevant Than Ever
A hand-colored woodcut illustration depicting the blaze in Washington, D.C. by the British in 1814, during the War of 1812.
The War of 1812.
Who would have thought this long overlooked and misunderstood war would be back in the news just weeks before this episode dropped?
How you feel about the War of 1812, what you know about it, and who you think won all depends on whether you grew up in the United States or Canada. Now, here in Canada, it’s been long drilled into us that this conflict with the Americans is something to be remembered with great pride. There is no question in our minds as to who emerged victorious. We like to think of it as — that time we beat the Americans. But what do Americans think about it? Do they even think about it at all?
In this episode, American historian and culture/travel journalist Robert Reid takes us on a rollicking journey through the highs and lows of this unusual and nation-defining conflict, and explains why Americans might see things a little differently than we do.
