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Why is the War of 1812 often referred to as 'The Forgotten War'?

Kali McRill

Ah, the War of 1812. You may have heard of it, or you may not have. In fact, it's often referred to as 'The Forgotten War', and you know what? I can totally understand why.

First of all, let me give you a little history lesson. The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and Great Britain (with some help from their respective allies) from 1812 to 1815. The main causes of the war were British impressment of American sailors, the British blockade of American ports, and some general bad blood between the two countries. The war ended in a stalemate, with no real change in borders or territory.

So, why is this war so often forgotten? Well, for starters, it was kind of overshadowed by some pretty big events that happened around the same time. You know, like the American Revolution (1775-1783) and the Civil War (1861-1865). Those were some seriously big deals, and the War of 1812 just kind of gets lost in the shuffle.

Another reason the War of 1812 is forgotten is because it wasn't really a decisive victory for anyone. Sure, there were some notable battles (like the Battle of New Orleans, which happened after the war had technically ended), but overall the war didn't really accomplish much in the grand scheme of things. It was just kind of...there.

But you know what's really interesting about the War of 1812? It had some seriously wacky moments. For example, there was the time that the British burned down the White House (yep, that White House) in 1814. Or how about the fact that the US tried to invade Canada not once, not twice, but three times during the war, and failed each time? And let's not forget about the Battle of Plattsburgh, where the US Navy defeated a British fleet even though they were outnumbered and outgunned. It's like a real-life game of 'Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better'.

So, while the War of 1812 may be 'The Forgotten War' to some, it's definitely not without its quirks and interesting moments. And who knows, maybe one day it will get the recognition it deserves (but let's be real, it's got some stiff competition).