Who won the War of 1812 in Canada?

Discover Canada says British troops, First Nations and Canadian volunteers defeated the American invasion, and by 1814 the American attempt to conquer Canada had failed.

Why did the War of 1812 start?

The guide says Americans resented British interference with their shipping while Britain was fighting Napoleon. Believing Canada would be easy to conquer, the United States invaded in June 1812.

Major-General Sir Isaac Brock captured Detroit during the war. He was killed at Queenston Heights, near Niagara Falls, while defending against an American attack. The Americans lost that battle.

Who was Laura Secord?

She was a pioneer wife and mother of five. In 1813 she walked 30 km (19 miles) to warn Lieutenant James FitzGibbon of a planned American attack, which helped win the Battle of Beaver Dams.

Chief Tecumseh led the Shawnee, one of the First Nations who supported British soldiers in defending Canada.

Why is the War of 1812 important to Canada?

The guide says it ensured that Canada would remain independent of the United States, and that today’s Canada–U.S. border is partly a result of the war.

War of 1812 Canada: What the Citizenship Guide Says

Why the war started

The guide links the war to Britain’s fight against Napoleon Bonaparte. After Napoleon’s fleet was defeated at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, Britain’s Royal Navy controlled the seas. The British Empire, including Canada, was fighting to stop Napoleon from taking control of Europe.Discover Canada, Canada's History › A Growing Economy, p. 16 (opens the official guide on canada.ca)

Americans resented that Britain was interfering with their shipping. The United States thought Canada would be easy to conquer, and it invaded in June 1812. The guide says the Americans were wrong.Discover Canada, Canada's History › A Growing Economy, p. 16 (opens the official guide on canada.ca)

Who defended Canada

British soldiers defended Canada with the help of Canadian volunteers and First Nations. Among them were the Shawnee, led by Chief Tecumseh. French-Canadian militiamen also helped defend Canada.Discover Canada, Canada's History › A Growing Economy, p. 16 (opens the official guide on canada.ca)

In 1814, the Duke of Wellington sent some of his finest soldiers to help defend Canada.Discover Canada, Canada's History › A Growing Economy, p. 16 (opens the official guide on canada.ca)

Key people and events

Major-General Sir Isaac Brock captured Detroit. He was later killed at Queenston Heights, near Niagara Falls, while defending against an American attack. The Americans lost that battle.Discover Canada, Canada's History › A Growing Economy, p. 16 (opens the official guide on canada.ca)
In 1813, at Châteauguay, south of Montreal, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles de Salaberry and 460 soldiers, most of them French Canadiens, turned back 4,000 American invaders.
In 1813, Laura Secord, a pioneer wife and mother of five, walked 30 km (19 miles) to warn Lieutenant James FitzGibbon of an American attack. Her bravery helped win the Battle of Beaver Dams.
In 1813, American forces set fire to Government House and the Parliament Buildings in York (now Toronto).
In 1814, in return, Major-General Robert Ross took an expedition from Nova Scotia to Washington, D.C., where it burned the White House and other public buildings. Ross was killed in battle soon after and was buried in Halifax.Discover Canada, Canada's History › A Growing Economy, p. 16 (opens the official guide on canada.ca)
At sea, in 1813, the Royal Navy ship HMS Shannon brought the captured USS Chesapeake into Halifax harbour. There were also naval battles on the Great Lakes.Discover Canada, Canada's History › A Growing Economy, p. 16 (opens the official guide on canada.ca)

How the war ended and why it matters

By 1814, the United States had failed to conquer Canada. British troops, First Nations and Canadian volunteers together had defeated the American invasion.Discover Canada, Canada's History › A Growing Economy, p. 16 (opens the official guide on canada.ca)

The guide says today’s border between Canada and the United States is partly a result of the War of 1812. The war made sure that Canada would remain independent of the United States.Discover Canada, Canada's History › A Growing Economy, p. 16 (opens the official guide on canada.ca)

Britain paid for an expensive defence system in Canada. It included Fort Henry at Kingston, the naval drydock at Halifax, and the Citadels at Halifax and Québec City. These are popular historic sites today.

The Duke of Wellington chose Bytown (Ottawa) as the end point of the Rideau Canal. The canal was part of a network of forts meant to stop the United States from invading again. The guide says this means Wellington played a direct role in founding Canada’s capital.Discover Canada, Canada's History › A Growing Economy, p. 16 (opens the official guide on canada.ca)

Study this for the citizenship test

The War of 1812 is covered in the history chapter of Discover Canada, the official study guide for the test. To review it, read our study notes for Canada’s history at /discover-canada/canadas-history, then try the free chapter quiz at /chapters/canadas-history.

Common questions

Who won the War of 1812 in Canada?: Discover Canada says British troops, First Nations and Canadian volunteers defeated the American invasion, and by 1814 the American attempt to conquer Canada had failed.Discover Canada, Canada's History › A Growing Economy, p. 16 (opens the official guide on canada.ca)
Why did the War of 1812 start?: The guide says Americans resented British interference with their shipping while Britain was fighting Napoleon. Believing Canada would be easy to conquer, the United States invaded in June 1812.Discover Canada, Canada's History › A Growing Economy, p. 16 (opens the official guide on canada.ca)
Who was Isaac Brock?: Major-General Sir Isaac Brock captured Detroit during the war. He was killed at Queenston Heights, near Niagara Falls, while defending against an American attack. The Americans lost that battle.Discover Canada, Canada's History › A Growing Economy, p. 16 (opens the official guide on canada.ca)
Who was Laura Secord?: She was a pioneer wife and mother of five. In 1813 she walked 30 km (19 miles) to warn Lieutenant James FitzGibbon of a planned American attack, which helped win the Battle of Beaver Dams.Discover Canada, Canada's History › A Growing Economy, p. 16 (opens the official guide on canada.ca)
Who was Tecumseh?: Chief Tecumseh led the Shawnee, one of the First Nations who supported British soldiers in defending Canada.Discover Canada, Canada's History › A Growing Economy, p. 16 (opens the official guide on canada.ca)
Why is the War of 1812 important to Canada?: The guide says it ensured that Canada would remain independent of the United States, and that today’s Canada–U.S. border is partly a result of the war.Discover Canada, Canada's History › A Growing Economy, p. 16 (opens the official guide on canada.ca)