Why do Canadians consider the War of 1812 a Canadian victory?

Never quite understood why they thought so.  Here in the United States, it is considered a draw since no land was gain or lossed via Treaty of Ghent, in which both nations required to hand back conquered territories.  In addition, we never considered it a war with Canada, but a war with Britain, a half assed attempt thanks to the Napoleonic Wars.  I've read a few places from Canadians that have said "Canada burned the white house" when we contribute that to a British victory.  It is just weird to read someone stating something that doesn't seem to be true.

I guess it's all a matter of perspective

Because we like to think that we did well on a war on our own. But I've heard some arguments that the State's objective was the defeat of Canada, as they were the aggressors, and since they failed, then it's considered a "Canadian" victory.
 
Anyways the thing was like 50 years before Canada even really started so yeah it's not really a "Canadian" war anyways. The "burning down the white house" thing is just funny at any rate.

I'm guessing because the French word for "victory" is one letter away from being the French word for "participation."

because Canada never won many wars, if any....so that's like the only claim to fame. (which at the time was more like Britain and not Canada...)

Because Canada is the 51st state, the United States clearly won the War of 1812 and anyone who thinks otherwise is a communist.
 
AMERIKKAAAAA! Amer-ica! Estados Unidos! (Please don't take any part of this seriously.)

Why do Canadians think Canadians in 1812 were really Canadians and not just another poor group of people conquered by the British empire forced to do their bidding like everyone else.

" Never quite understood why they thought so.  Here in the United States, it is considered a draw since no land was gain or lossed via Treaty of Ghent, in which both nations required to hand back conquered territories.  In addition, we never considered it a war with Canada, but a war with Britain, a half assed attempt thanks to the Napoleonic Wars.  I've read a few places from Canadians that have said "Canada burned the white house" when we contribute that to a British victory.  It is just weird to read someone stating something that doesn't seem to be true. "

Because we burned down your White House maybe?
 
Seriously though, it's pretty much just because that's how our history books teach it. It's kind of ridiculous to claim a victory by either side though, considering nothing was really gained or lost.

" Because we burned down your White House maybe? "

Also if anyone really gives a shit about good Canadian military performances, there's World War 1 so the idea of holding the War of 1812 as some kind of achievement seems silly to me.

Yeah didn't we attack them, they stopped us, counterattacked, and fought to the white house and burned it down?  I think we get our shits hit.

Because what happened at the end doesn't really matter. Think of it like a grade-school fight. Two kids start scrapping, one kid breaks the others nose right before a teacher comes and breaks things up. It is a draw on paper, but the kid with a busted nose is still considered by the masses as the loser.
We repelled an invasion from the Americans, and even though it was mostly militia that we went up against. We were able to take back almost everything you sacked and then travelled down to Michigan and started whuppin ass. Our navy made its way to Americas capital city and burned the whole place to the ground. By the time your country got its act together, the british were able to finally able to go all in and help us (well, we were a british colony at the time) so we both decided that this was all over a misunderstanding that no one else should die over.

" Why do Canadians think Canadians in 1812 were really Canadians and not just another poor group of people conquered by the British empire forced to do their bidding like everyone else. "

" @FreakAche said:

" Because we burned down your White House maybe? "

We built another one. :P "

I think of it as more of a we one up'd you. The Americans stole our sceptre and in turn we took back the sceptre and burned the white house. However the dissing of Canadian military is unjust as we were feared by the Germans in both World Wars greatly and have some of the best sniper marksmen in the world. Lets not mention the Arrow though...

Canadians are egotistical assholes. 
 
I'd provide a source if I had one.

" Because what happened at the end doesn't really matter. Think of it like a grade-school fight. Two kids start scrapping, one kid breaks the others nose right before a teacher comes and breaks things up. It is a draw on paper, but the kid with a busted nose is still considered by the masses as the loser. We repelled an invasion from the Americans, and even though it was mostly militia that we went up against. We were able to take back almost everything you sacked and then travelled down to Michigan and started whuppin ass. Our navy made its way to Americas capital city and burned the whole place to the ground. By the time your country got its act together, the british were able to finally able to go all in and help us (well, we were a british colony at the time) so we both decided that this was all over a misunderstanding that no one else should die over. "

Why do Americans think that they won the Football match this World Cup against England while in reality it was 1:1?

" Why do Americans think that they won the Football match this World Cup against England while in reality it was 1:1? "

Americans were the aggressors, attempted to basically invade/defeat/humiliate Canada and failed miserably. That's a defeat. Just like Vietnam. HEY-O.

..Why are the Americans taught they defeated an Empire that at the time was global?
 
It's not true really is it? If the British wanted to they could of sent over the man power and resources to of kept America. It wasn't a fight they could of won. The reality of it is the atlantic defeated the British. Sending troops and resources across that took time and money. America at the time wasn't worth the cost.
 
That's the reality of it. But your taught in your schools that you somehow defeated an empire that was at the time was massive. You guys have a nasty habbit of leaving out the French who helped you out greatly as well.
 
What I'm saying is history is very biased depending on who's telling it. That's why.

Because during that war, we had a reason to stop fighting amongst each other and actually stop the aggressor (United States). 
 
The fact that we defended our land successfully meant it was a victory for us, even if we didn't succeed gaining any land. Considering how small our army was compare to the United States, it was a pretty significant achievement.

" Why do Americans think that they won the Football match this World Cup against England while in reality it was 1:1? "

" @valrog said:

" Why do Americans think that they won the Football match this World Cup against England while in reality it was 1:1? "

Probably the same reason why some people didn't think BP wasn't run by some British guys when the spill happened and instead placed all the blame on Americans despite it wasn't until after the spill that an American is running Bp now.  "

" @StaticFalconar said:

" @valrog said:

" Why do Americans think that they won the Football match this World Cup against England while in reality it was 1:1? "

Probably the same reason why some people didn't think BP wasn't run by some British guys when the spill happened and instead placed all the blame on Americans despite it wasn't until after the spill that an American is running Bp now.  "

Just because it's got British in the title doesn't mean it isn't a multinational. "

" Americans were the aggressors, attempted to basically invade/defeat/humiliate Canada and failed miserably. That's a defeat. Just like Vietnam. HEY-O. "

Because at least someone in this continent stood up against the americans on equal grounds ..... silliness aside I never knew Americans fought against Canada .... being from the country that got the ass kicked by them americans the must (Mexico)  , this is weird and means that the Canadians would obliterate us 0_O!!!!!

" ..Why are the Americans taught they defeated an Empire that at the time was global?  It's not true really is it? If the British wanted to they could of sent over the man power and resources to of kept America. It wasn't a fight they could of won. The reality of it is the atlantic defeated the British. Sending troops and resources across that took time and money. America at the time wasn't worth the cost.  That's the reality of it. But your taught in your schools that you somehow defeated an empire that was at the time was massive. You guys have a nasty habbit of leaving out the French who helped you out greatly as well.  What I'm saying is history is very biased depending on who's telling it. That's why. "

"Why do Americans think that they won the Football match this World Cup against England while in reality it was 1:1?"

"But Americans don't care about football... "

Only reason we burnt down the Whitehouse because it was actually cream colour. Get your paint colours straight. :P

" Why do Canadians think Canadians in 1812 were really Canadians and not just another poor group of people conquered by the British empire forced to do their bidding like everyone else. "

" @J12088 said:

" ..Why are the Americans taught they defeated an Empire that at the time was global?  It's not true really is it? If the British wanted to they could of sent over the man power and resources to of kept America. It wasn't a fight they could of won. The reality of it is the atlantic defeated the British. Sending troops and resources across that took time and money. America at the time wasn't worth the cost.  That's the reality of it. But your taught in your schools that you somehow defeated an empire that was at the time was massive. You guys have a nasty habbit of leaving out the French who helped you out greatly as well.  What I'm saying is history is very biased depending on who's telling it. That's why. "

The main reason why Britain didn't do a full on invasion was because they were getting their asses beat in Africa, and were scrambling to maintain those colonies.  But yes, in the end, if they devoted more resources, America would probably be a Dominion just the same as Canada. "

" ..Why are the Americans taught they defeated an Empire that at the time was global?  It's not true really is it? If the British wanted to they could of sent over the man power and resources to of kept America. It wasn't a fight they could of won. The reality of it is the atlantic defeated the British. Sending troops and resources across that took time and money. America at the time wasn't worth the cost.  That's the reality of it. But your taught in your schools that you somehow defeated an empire that was at the time was massive. You guys have a nasty habbit of leaving out the French who helped you out greatly as well.  What I'm saying is history is very biased depending on who's telling it. That's why. "

They tried to stroll in like they owned the place, thinking it would be over in a matter of weeks and we burnt down their whitehouse and kicked their ass to the curb.
 
The first and last bit there are probably exaggerated by Canadian pride, but It was a victory because the Americans were the aggressors and we successfully defended ourselves without losing anything but life.

I don't know, maybe it's just like how Americans like to think we won in Vietnam?

  Here in the United States, it is considered a draw since no land was gain or lossed via Treaty of Ghent, in which both nations required to hand back conquered territories. 

 I get why they consider it a victory and i agree that it was (they burned down the white house) but i don't get why Canadians see it as a victory. 
 

The question is why do Americans not consider it a loss? Because it goes against the idea of American Exceptionalism I suppose? The same reason a lot of Americans won't accept Vietnam was a complete failure, but instead like to call it a 'draw'.

Different sides have different victory conditions. 
The Invader (USA) has to take Canadian territory. If they gain any then that's a win. If they lose their own territory then it's a defeat. 
The Defender (Canada*) only has to prevent the invader from winning. Anything after that (taking American land) is just a bonus. 
Thus Canada can claim victory for stopping an invading force and America can claim a draw because they didn't lose any land. Both are technically right but really, America lost. They started a fight and ended up with more casualties.
 
*Canada may have been part of the Empire but for a long time so was America. I doubt many Americans back then would have called themselves British. Same goes for Canada. In spirit they were their own country.

Canada may not have been seperate country at the time but the people living in the colony were distinct from the British and were referred to as Canadians. So while Canada the country didn't win, Canada the people did.

Well when we burn down your White house...we win.

" The question is why do Americans not consider it a loss? Because it goes against the idea of American Exceptionalism I suppose? The same reason a lot of Americans won't accept Vietnam was a complete failure, but instead like to call it a 'draw'. "