WAR OF 1812 BEGINS, BUT NOT WITH THE CANADIANS
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The United States went to war with Great Britain on June 18, 1812. Sometimes referred to as the Second War for Independence, it is historically known as the War of 1812*.
In a recent telephone conversation between President Donald J. Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on tariffs, the PM asked how Mr. Trump "could justify tariffs as a 'national security' issue?". The President answered...
"Didn't you guys burn down the White House?"
The President, as is sometimes the case, is misinformed on this issue. In June 1812, the Americans attacked and burned the city of York, Ontario (Canada), a territory of Great Britain.
In August 1814, the British attacked Washington, D.C. and, in retaliation, occupied and then set fire to the White House. President and Mrs. Madison escaped the city before the British came in, but they never returned to the White House to live. They moved to the Octagon House.
*The War of 1812 (1812-1815) began after a declaration of war was passed by the Congress and signed by President James Madison. A war message stated the United States was going to war with Britain in response to a British blockade, impressment of American sailors into the British navy and incitement of Native-Americans on the frontier.
SOURCES
"British troops set fire to the White House", This Day in History: August 24, www.history.com/
"Exclusive: Trump invokes War of 1812 in testy call with Trudeau over tariffs", by Jim Acosta and Paula Newton, CNN, June 6, 2018, www.cnn.com/
British Burning Washington
from The History of England
from the Early Periods, Vol 1
by Paul M. Rapin de Thoyras (1816)
