19th Century FORUM
War of 1812 Monument
kuvaszsleepybear
A provocative new monument in downtown Toronto that reminds people who won the War of 1812 shows a giant British toy soldier towering over a toppled American figurine.It was created by Vancouver based artist and author Douglas Coupland and was unveiled yesterday at the corner of Fleet and bathurst streets as the public art conttribution of a 32-story condominium."I grew up thinking the Americans lost the War of 1812,and it turns out there's this creeping revisionism happening.Americans are saying maybe they didn't lose."Coupland told a crowd of onlookers gathered to see the installation.The standing soldier is dressed as a member of the 1813 Royal Newfoundland Regiment;the soldier on the ground is a member of the 16th US Infantry Regiment."I wanted to come up with an elegant and simple way of saying no,the British/Canadians won."said Coupland.A Canadian and US disconnect over what happened during the war when American troops invaded what was then a British colony only to be pushed back,has become apparent as the two camps plan to mark the 200th anniversary of the war.
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| deankal |
1
No doubt the citizens of Ontario and Quebec are relieved that none of the attempts during the American Revolution and the War of 1812 to add these regions to the United States succeeded. And maybe in that sense the Canadians won, but I’m not sure the U.S. lost, and the results were probably mixed for the British, and I know the results were disastrous for the Britain’s American Indian allies.
I’m also not sure that there is “creeping revisionism” in the assessment of the War of 1812 on my side of the border. I emerged from my primary and secondary education (about 35 years ago) with an understanding that the war was a draw. If it was not for the "Star Spangled Banner" having its origin in the War of 1812 it probably would have been ignored entirely since it did not fit with the triumphant emphasis on expansion and economic progress that is expressed by so many U.S. history texts. I remember that the narrative of the war was very event-centered, and therefore, very tactical (i.e. Constitution captures Guerriere; British burn Washington; then Jackson defeats British at New Orleans.) There was much more about “sidebar issues” like the "Star Spangled Banner" and the Battle of New Orleans happening after the peace was signed than there was about the causes and outcomes of the war. If there is a reassessment of the War of 1812 in the U.S., it is more a matter of changing the focus from particular events to a discussion of causes and outcomes. The overall assessment for the United States from this change of focus is much better, as I will explain below, but I don’t have a sense that it results in a triumphant “We won!” proclamation.
To start to understand why the U.S. might be feeling better about the War of 1812 you have to start with the situation before the war. The British had been occupying territory ceded to the U.S. by the 1782 Treaty of Paris, and using these forts to supply Native American allies in their struggles against the European-Americans. In fact the 1811 Battle of Fallen Timbers took place right under the noses of a British garrison at what is now Toledo, Ohio. Other causes of the war were the impressing of U.S. citizens by the Royal Navy and the enforcement of the blockade of Napoleon’s Europe. Add a big helping of greed and lust for Canada on the part of the United States, and you get a war.
The U.S. attempts to invade Canada end in disaster. British invasions of the U.S. are inconclusive, but very embarrassing for the U.S., especially the part where the British burn Washington. The U.S. finally wins some important victories, primarily in the West. The war ends when both sides end up on their respective sides of the border, and since Napoleon has been defeated the blockade is no longer an issue. Neither side fully achieves their war aims.
So why should the U.S. feel better about all of this, you ask. Well, when the war ended:
1) The United States survived the war; 2) The British were no longer occupying forts inside the United States; 3) The blockade of Europe ended; 4) While not conceding the point, the Royal Navy was no long impressing U.S. citizens; 5) A British attempt to cordon the United States in its existing territory was foiled; 6) The United States was in de facto control of West Florida; and very importantly 7) The war eliminated the military power of the American Indians within the boundaries of the United States.
For Britain and Canada the primary results were that they did not have to concede anything they felt they had clear-cut right to claim, and they held onto Canada. The most important result for both sides is that it was the last major conflict over U.S.-Canadian borders, and the last serious conflict between the United States and the United Kingdom. The U.S.-Canadian border has been the world’s most peaceful international boundary for more than a century. While it would take a generation or more for distrust resulting from two wars to fade, the overall trajectory of U.S./U.K./Canadian relations since the War of 1812 has been one of increasing mutual support and interdependence. It would be really silly to make interpretations of the War of 1812 an issue in this relationship.
Posted: 09-Nov-2008 04:07
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| Flint_N_Steel |
2
I highly doubt this statue will cause much controversy between the three nations, even with the War's bicentennial coming up. Its seems to me that, except for those living in areas where the war actually took place, most Americans only know the war by name and not much else. For me, the artist's comment that "I wanted to come up with an elegant and simple way of saying no, the British/Canadians won", seems just a redress of popular American belief that since the Battle of New Orleans was an American victory, the war itself was won by US arms rather than concluded by negotiation.
Incidentally, earlier this year I was made aware that about a month AFTER the Battle of New Orleans, another battle was fought a relatively short distance away near Mobile Bay, Alabama. Here over 1,000 British soldiers landed to lay siege to American Ft. Bowyer. Although strengthened by New Orleans victor Andrew Jackson prior to the siege, the American garrison of 300 was vastly outnumbered & unable to prevent the British from building siege works. Once the works were completed the British launched a small barrage on the fort, then requested its surrender shortly thereafter. This obtained, the British prepared to move on to the city of Mobile itself when word about the Treaty of Ghent arrived, requiring the Brits to return the fort to the Americans. Funny how this "epilogue" to the Battle of New Orleans doesn't get much publicity here in America... lol.
Posted: 12-Nov-2008 17:47
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| Colin Upton |
3
It might interest you to know that there is an Osprey connection to this monument. Doug hired me to do the preliminary drawings and historical consulting for the piece, I knew Doug in high school and art school and he remembered my fascination with military history. He was terrifed that someone like me was going to start nitpicking over the uniform details at the launch ceremony if they were inaccurate. I wasn't there but four members of a War of 1812 recreation group were and to my great relief the figures passed inspection! And of course I based my research primarily on various Osprey titles! Thanks to Osprey!
Posted: 18-Dec-2008 03:31
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| Kate |
4
How great to hear that Osprey books have been used to create a piece of sculpture in the middle of down-town Toronto! Thanks so much for letting us know Colin.
Posted: 19-Dec-2008 11:27
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