Women in the War of 1812
A heroine less well-known as Laura Secord, but equally brave is Mary Madden Henry. She was an Irish woman who married a Royal Artillery gunner named Dominic Henry. After being posted to Upper Canada, Henry retired and became lighthouse keeper at Niagara (now Niagara-on-the-Lake) in 1803. In May 1813, 5,000 American troops landed at Niagara and attacked 800 British troops at Fort George. The battle was vicious and brutal. Cannon balls, grapeshot (a machine gun-like scattering of bullets that covered large areas) and exploding shells were everywhere.
Read MoreFacts about the War of 1812
Here are just a few interesting facts about the war of 1812! American leaders expected that Canadians would greet them as liberators. Political and military leaders in the United States expected that conquering Canada, a British colony with one-twentieth its population and many American-born citizens, would be, as former President Thomas Jefferson wrote, “a mere matter of marching.” Indeed, many Americans assumed that Canadians would be eager to join the United States. Rather than welcoming them with open arms, however, Canadians took up arms to successfully resist the Yankee invaders.
Read MoreThe War of 1812 in Canada
The were many heroes during the War of 1812 for Canada, but maybe none as brave a Richard Pierpoint. On June 18, 1812, the United States declared war on Great Britain. Britain at the time were also at war with France and their leader Napoleon. Much of the war was fought at sea and on the Great Lakes but the American army also tried to invade Canada. Blacks fought on both sides of the war. In Canada thousands of Black volunteers fought for the British. They were quite frightened that the invading Americans would return them to slavery. Many Blacks in Upper Canada served bravely in Black and regular regiments. The British promise of freedom and land united many escaped slaves.
Read MoreThe War of 1812 for Kids
The War of 1812 has often been called the Revolutionary War Part II and sometimes, “The Forgotten War”. It was another war between America and Great Britain, fought in both the United States and Canada. Great Britain during those days was already fighting in another front, against Napoleon Bonaparte of France. Great Britain was fighting alongside Spain and Portugal against the Army of Bonaparte who were trying to control the Iberian Peninsula which is made up of Spain and Portugal. Although Great Britain has the biggest navy in the world at that time, the pay and living conditions of their sailors were harsh compared to sailors working on vessels of other countries. British sailors would desert their ships and work on American ships.
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