On August 24, 1814, 206 years ago, British forces invaded America's young capital of Washington D.C. following a victory at Bladensburg, Maryland. They captured the city with ease, and proceeded to set a majority of the federal buildings on fire including the U.S. Capitol and the White House.
Why did the British burn Washington D.C. during the War of 1812? What did this event have to do with Canada? Why did the British spare private residencies and the patent office? Join Roger Bailey as he explains the reasons behind why the British chose to attack Washington D.C. in August of 1814.
VIDEO HERE (4:13 minutes)
Adding my two bits as a Canadian learning Canadian history. Yes the burning of Washington was retaliation of the burning of York (now known as Toronto). York at the time was the leading city of Upper Canada (Ontario) and had the first parliament buildings of fledgling Canada. So it was considered a dastardly deed. The video does describe everything accurately and I have nothing to nay say it. Alas times were different then and civilization was more civil.
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