Background to the War-- Part 2: Bad American Assumptions

The rationale for the war was based on two assumptions by the Americans.  NUMBER ONE: That Napoleon would keep Britain fully engaged in the war on the continent.  NUMBER TWO:  When our troops marched into Upper Canada they would be welcomed as saviors.

Both assumptions proved wrong.  Napoleon was defeated and forced into exile, freeing up British troops and ships to come to America.  And not only didn't Canadians flock to their "saviors,: they organized and fought alongside the British.

Though the population of the U.S. outnumbered  Canada 10 to 1 (6 million to 600,000), the bulk of the conflict took place along the border states like New York.

--Brock-Perry