Can the Brits Swing Ohio?

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
Of course they did, it's all part of the cynicism of journalism...

It only works because people fall for it.

[St Leo]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
We started it, and we like to think we won. Considering we didn't end up being reconquered by the most powerful country in the world, that's not an invalid claim.

You tried to conquer Canada. Troops from Halifax burned down the White House and kicked out your invaders. You lost.^-^

[Dr Strangelove]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara


We started it, and we like to think we won. Considering we didn't end up being reconquered by the most powerful country in the world, that's not an invalid claim.

With the ouster of Napoleon the British world-wide blockade ended, and along with it, the reason for the war. No territory was gained or lost by either side.

It should be pointed out that during the French Revolutionary / Napoleonic Wars the Brits attempted to seize Egypt, Argentina, Cuba, Mexico, Venezuala and Haiti, and were repulsed each and every time. So how powerful was Great Britain then really/

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by St Leo

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
We started it, and we like to think we won. Considering we didn't end up being reconquered by the most powerful country in the world, that's not an invalid claim.

You tried to conquer Canada. Troops from Halifax burned down the White House and kicked out your invaders. You lost.^-^

We also burned down the Canadian capital (York - present day Toronto). After the war, impressment mostly stopped and the British removed their troops from the Ohio River valley. Some historians call it the US's second war of independance. Asserting itself as an independant country.

We won .

[DanS]

However as every day passes, the world is becoming more and more of a global village. As the current vanguard nation, what happens in the States do have ripple effects far beyond her borders. I say that everybody have right to be concerned about what's going on in the States.

This "world is a global village" stuff is hugely overblown. What happens in the US has very little impact on the lives of the vast majority of people overseas. Government policy has even less of an impact.

[Provost Harrison]

The problem is more when you have someone like Bush and Blair who are willing to intervene in the affairs of others without good cause. This situation has had a knock-on effect all over the globe...

[DanS]

This knock-on effect is rather small in the whole scheme of things.

[Provost Harrison]

The price of fuel? That's quite a significant ripple if you ask me...

[Pyrodrew]

So how do we determine which countries can be rightfully influenced in political matters? It would be disturbingly convenient to just draw the line at the US, but I'm sure no one is suggesting that.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
We started it, and we like to think we won. Considering we didn't end up being reconquered by the most powerful country in the world, that's not an invalid claim.

Pish. Three regiments of regulars, the Canadian militia, and some native irregulars beat the stuffing out of your guys.

The folly of your aggression was truely driven home when enough British regulars were available (could be spared from fighting Napoleon) to sail with impunity into the heart of your country and burn your capitol.

And who said 'we' wanted you back? Good riddance to bad rubbish, and all that.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui


We also burned down the Canadian capital (York - present day Toronto). After the war, impressment mostly stopped and the British removed their troops from the Ohio River valley. Some historians call it the US's second war of independance. Asserting itself as an independant country.

We won .

*Cough* Bull****.

If you burned down York (and I have no reason to believe you did not, but have never heard of American forces that far into Canada) you burned down the capitol of a colony that was barely 40 years old.

Upper Canada was a child of the revolution. It was loyalist refugees who settled the area and started the colony.

Congrats. You burned down a fur trading outpost.

We, on the other hand, are the reason the White House is white.

[Geronimo]

Originally posted by notyoueither


*Cough* Bull****.

If you burned down York (and I have no reason to believe you did not, but have never heard of American forces that far into Canada) you burned down the capitol of a colony that was barely 40 years old.

Upper Canada was a child of the revolution. It was loyalist refugees who settled the area and started the colony.

Congrats. You burned down a fur trading outpost.

We, on the other hand, are the reason the White House is white.

To be fair washington DC was likely even younger than york was.

Bottom line in the war of 1812 is that the brits never put everything they had into winning it. I suspect that if they had they would have clearly won the war militarily and could have imposed whatever terms they wished up to aquiring all land outside the orignal 13 colonies. The decision of the US to not keep a standing army or sizable blue water navy meant that it was hopelessly outclassed by the british empire at the time.

[Imran Siddiqui]

*Cough* Bull****.

If you burned down York (and I have no reason to believe you did not, but have never heard of American forces that far into Canada) you burned down the capitol of a colony that was barely 40 years old.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_York

The Americans pillaged and burned York, and captured supplies meant for use on Lake Erie and the Detroit frontier. Although this allowed for the success at the Battle of Lake Erie later in 1813, the attack also helped provoke the burning of Washington, D.C. in 1814.

Also, compared to the capital of a country that was also barely 40 years old? And a capital that was less than 15 years old? Maybe if you burned down Philadelphia that would be impressive, but Washington D.C.? Pshaw!

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Immortal Wombat
It seems unlikely.

The follow-up: Hello Limey Assholes...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselection...329858,00.html

These are friggen great.

This is my favourite:

"I used to visit the UK every year. I love the history and culture of your country. But after I heard about your campaign to influence our elections, I've decided that neither myself, nor my family will ever visit again. I'm offended by your campaign and because of it, I'm remembering more of the negative aspects I've seen in the UK than the positive ones. Though I still love the castles!"

[notyoueither]

York was the 'capitol' of a frontier colony that was being cut out of the wilderness (hard as it is for many to believe that Ontario was essentially helpless and inconsequential at one point in time). Not so helpless that their militia couldn't hang a whipping on some Yanks down on the Niagra peninsula though.

Washington was the capitol of your nation.

Slight difference, I think.

You did good when defending liberty for yourselves. Legends are made of it. You began to fall down when trying to export the revolution to those who didn't want it.

Yer right though. I can't recall exactly, but I am sure there were less than 3 regiments of Brit regulars in all of Canada at the outbreak and through most of the war. When Britain could spare the troops, your cities started to burn and the war came to a rapid conclusion.