June 19; Day 17: War of 1812

     I came home from class and showed my older children a youtube clip we seen in class, "Songs of 1812".  It basically explains how Canada was attacked and they returned fire by buring the White House down.  They laughed and thought it was funny.  Then there was a moment of silence and they look at me asking, "We lost the War of 1812?"

     As much as I hate to admit it but I, too, was ignorant of the War of 1812.  I did know Dolly Madison saved George Washington's painting.  I knew the Star Spangle Banner was written by Francis Scott Key at Fort McHenry but the correct war slipped my mind for a moment.  And we, as a family, have listened to Johnny Horton's song, "Battle of New Orleans" over and over again because we love that song.  But I never connected that song to the War of 1812. 

In 1814 we took a little trip

Along with Col. Jackson down the mighty Mississp

We took a little bacon and we took a little beans

And fought the bloody British in the town of New Orleans. 

     I regaled the story of what the professor taught us in class to my children.  I told them how we went and burned down their capital in York (which I guess is Toronto) and they came to D.C. and burned down our White House.  I asked them what two Michigan cities were taken over by the British and they guessed wrongly.  I helped them remember Detroit and Mackinaw were the answers because I knew once I said the answer they would know it.  The answer confused them even more.  They wondered if the British took those cities then how come they are part of America.  I explained that the British gave us back our land and basically gave us a spanking to remind us not to mess with them.  We talked about Francis Scott Key and how he sat nervously out at see eagerly waiting to see what flag would be flying after the smoke clears out of the fort.  Then they inquired how did The Battle of New Orleans play a part in the war.  I couldn't answer them.  I thought America sent the British packing in that battle but now I have to do more research on the battle.

     Upon looking up extra research I came upon a discussion forum where people were discussing who won the War of 1812.  Someone mentioned that they have friends who were still bragging about winning the war (They must of been from Canada).  Another guy replied with laughter saying how funny it is that this other guy knows someone who is STILL BRAGGING about winning, after all these years.  Most of the comments went on saying that the history books don't like teaching that war the right way and most sidestep the fact that America was acting a little big for its britches in starting a fight we were not yet ready to fight. 

     I guess I can say I learned new things today.  I knew there was a War of 1812 and I knew key facts about the war but I learned new information about how we invaded Canada, about how we lost the war and that America was not yet ready to fight.  I like wanting to learn more about our American history so that when I get home I want to learn more about it and sharing the findings with my children.