Saturday, January 28, 2012

The torching of Washington


Canadians picked the White house! The attack on York has changed the war of 1812 around all together. Before this personal attack the British remained stationed in the areas near the American border in order to protect Canada. The actions of the American army on the city of York enraged both Canadian and the British soldier. British officers plotted their revenge, which resulted in a retaliatory attack on the nation’s capital in Washington.

Now if the burning of Washington doesn’t seem that cool to you you’re wrong. British Generals Ross and Cockburn led their battalions straight to the Whitehouse while they government officials there were still evacuating. When the British arrived they went straight to Congress to hold a mock legislation. The vote was unanimous BURN THE WHITEHOUSE, and so after destroying Congress on fire they made their way into the Whitehouse. A feast which had been prepared for a presidential diner remained untouched. Not wanting to waste any food the British officials decided to have a party of their own in the Whitehouse. Once there was no more food they decided that it would be a good time to burn it down.

The reason I think that the destruction of America’s capital is much more successful than that of York is because the style and manor they did it. In York the American’s had a surprise attack with three times more the soldiers. Whereas in Washington the British still had less soldiers and their arrival was known. They destroyed the presidents home leaving him homeless for a long period of time. Till this day there are still doorways in the Whitehouse that are burnt, and they were left there to remind the Americans of what the British battalions had done to their dear capital.

The link below is a song written by a Canadian rock band, and I thought you guys would enjoy it. OH CANADA!

1 comment:

  1. Nice song Nick.. sounds a lot like the one we heard in History class...Its interesting why you said the British had a better distruction at the White House compared to York.

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