hear NPR 'live' coverage of the event:

http://www.npr.org/2014/08/21/342184458/breaking-british-burn-washington-2-centuries-ago

Aaah. Happy days

Ah yes. The war of 1812 which ended without gain for either the British or the Americans but big losses for the American Indians. The British burned our White House but we defeated the British fleet in Lake Erie with our Old Ironsides and other ships. We wanted Canada but didn't get it because we attacked up through Detroit instead of farther east. Oh Canada!

Vietnam, Afganistan, and Iraq, and a host of other wars did not work in the United States favor either. Yes we lost a lot of Indian fighters in the war but their chilling war cries at night had the Americans reaching for their hair in fear of being scalped

Let's remember who actually started the war, regardless of the reason. The peace loving Americans. By the end of the conflict the reason had finished along with Napoleon.

Who actually won? Depends which side of the fence you are on.

One of several reasons for the war of 1812 between the US and the Brits was, I believe, festering resentment on the part of the Brits for having lost the Revolutionary War (the Brits call it 'War of Secession') 35 years earlier. The Brits didn't win the War of 1812 unless you count defeats at Baltimore and New Orleans 'wins'. The 'Star Spangled Banner' was written at that battle at Baltimore. Also: it's said that a British naval bomb landed at Fort Sumter's Arsenal room, where all the gunpowder was stored, but it was a dud - the fuse went out. Imagine if that bomb had gone off, it would have destroyed the fort guarding Baltimore.

Canada kicked their ass and the yanks have decided to play nice ever since.

The new White House is much nicer anyhow.

United States declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions brought about by the British war with France, the impressment of American merchant sailors into the Royal Navy, British support of Indian tribes against American expansion, outrage over insults to national honour after humiliations on the high seas and American interest in annexing British North American territory (part of modern-day Canada), which had been denied to them in the settlement ending the American Revolutionary War.

The war was started by the Americans.

Who won, did the Americans gain there objectives, Canada?

No.

The Americans, British, and French were all after the same thing: Beaver

Ah yes. The war of 1812 which ended without gain for either the British or the Americans but big losses for the American Indians. The British burned our White House but we defeated the British fleet in Lake Erie with our Old Ironsides and other ships. We wanted Canada but didn't get it because we attacked up through Detroit instead of farther east. Oh Canada!

Disgraceful aggression against Canada, the Yankees thought they would get away with it as the Brits were occupied by Napoleon.The Royal navy activities were just a smokescreen.They lost just about every battle and were at the negotiating table when they realised Napoleon's defeat in 1814 meant the full force of the British army and Navy could be used against them. Luckily for the yankees a couple of last minute victories scuppered the Brit demands and the border remained the same, so a complete wast of life cause by yankee aggression. The losers were the American natives who the Brits wanted a territory for, winners were the Canadians, yankess never dared to try and invade them again. One of the most disgraceful wars the yankess started. Pity it did not go on a bit longer as Wellington would have kicked their sorry ass.

As with most of the so-called "American War of Independence" the War of 1812 was a Bankers War. It was the execution of a threat by the Bank of England to embroil the colonists in a retaliation for severing ties with the Rothschild controlled Bank of England.

Nothing more.

The Canadians under British guidance burned the American seat of government to the ground.

Nothing less.

You don't get this in 'marka's history books.

Vietnam, Afganistan, and Iraq, and a host of other wars did not work in the United States favor either. Yes we lost a lot of Indian fighters in the war but their chilling war cries at night had the Americans reaching for their hair in fear of being scalped

Don't forget the war of independence started as they were too stingy to pay low taxes to help pay for the vast cost the Brits forked out to protect the colonies in the French and Indians war where Washington fought along side his fellow British officers. Ironically the yankess would not have won that one either without the help of the French! The war of independence was really a civil war that could have been avoided if not for lord Norths aggravating policies and the kings blatant obstinacy and the more unreasonable demands and 'grievances' put up by the colonists.

Ahhh History and American style history, good guys bad guys.

American history

Remember the Maine and lets start a war with Spain

Bay of Tonkin incident, lets start a war with Vietnam

WMD's, lets start a war with Iraq.

It's not Yankee bashing, just a reminder to get the act together.

I thought the war was brought about by the US aiding the French and the retaliation by the British (who were in the midst of the Napolionic wars) in response to this.