One of the great bones of contention between British and Canadian historians on the one hand, and American historians on the other, is who really won the War of 1812. Canadian and British historians note the failure of the American forces to take Canada, despite repeated attempts. This, they conclude, proves the War of 1812 was a complete failure. American historians point out that the capture of Canada was never a stated objective of the war, but, rather, that the war was about British infringement on American sovereignty on the high seas, in terms of impressment of sailors and the trade blockade of Napoleonic France, and in terms of interference in America itself. They conclude that America won, because these problems ended with the end of the war.

Actually, the real objective of the American government in this war was rather different, and relates to the whole basis for the American Revolutionary War, as well -- the destruction of the Native Indian tribes, and the manifest destiny of Americans to conquer the entire West. The British had never been sympathetic to this, and tended to take a much less exploitive approach to the Native Americans, and they were quite actively getting in the way of the American settlers. So, in 1776, the Americans started to take quite active steps to get them out of the way. And, they did just that!

But, not entirely. By the 1790's, the British were again struggling to contain the American expansionist settlers, and were arming the native Indian tribes so they could defend themselves against the Americans. This tendency increased as the American population and expansion increased, so, by 1812, the Americans decided they had had enough. With Britain occupied by Napoleon in Europe, they were convinced they could cause the British more than enough trouble in North America, that they would be forced to get out of they way, and they could do as they will with the Native Americans, and their lands. And, they were quite successful in this.

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This is the Ninth Article of the Treaty of Ghent, signed by Britain and America in 1814, to end the War of 1812.

ARTICLE THE NINTH.
The United States of America engage to put an end immediately after the Ratification of the present Treaty to hostilities with all the Tribes or Nations of Indians with whom they may be at war at the time of such Ratification, and forthwith to restore to such Tribes or Nations respectively all the possessions, rights, and privileges which they may have enjoyed or been entitled to in one thousand eight hundred and eleven previous to such hostilities. Provided always that such Tribes or Nations shall agree to desist from all hostilities against the United States of America, their Citizens, and Subjects upon the Ratification of the present Treaty being notified to such Tribes or Nations, and shall so desist accordingly. And His Britannic Majesty engages on his part to put an end immediately after the Ratification of the present Treaty to hostilities with all the Tribes or Nations of Indians with whom He may be at war at the time of such Ratification, and forthwith to restore to such Tribes or Nations respectively all the possessions, rights, and privileges, which they may have enjoyed or been entitled to in one thousand eight hundred and eleven previous to such hostilities. Provided always that such Tribes or Nations shall agree to desist from all hostilities against His Britannic Majesty and His Subjects upon the Ratification of the present Treaty being notified to such Tribes or Nations, and shall so desist accordingly.

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Effectively, this article totally defangs the Indian tribes in American territory, and totally eliminates any legal rights whatsoever of the British government to arm them, so they could defend themselves against American exploitation, ever again. This is a blank check to the American government to exterminate the Native Indians, and steal their lands. And, that's exactly what the American government has been doing, ever since.

So, America really did win the War of 1812, didn't they?