by Jonathan Rauch
"Historians can't agree on who won the war," emails Randy Reade in response to my praise for the War of 1812. There's a case to be made that Canada won. I think all three of the countries involved won. America was never again hassled by Britain; Canada was never again hassled by America; Britain accepted the U.S., laying the groundwork for the world's most durable and reliable alliance.
But, says Reade:
there is no doubt who lost the war. Different tribes of Native Americans fought on both sides during the war, and after the war were pushed out permanently from the region, leaving only a small population relegated to reservations. It was, in fact, a disaster for them and marked the beginning of a permanent decline in population, political and economic clout, and cultural influence in America. It was most definately not a "cool war" for any Indian.
The Dish 