Ironically, the Star Spangled Banner anthem commemorates an attack on the United States by another hostile power 187 years before 9-11. That power was Great Britain. No doubt Queen Elizabeth II knew the irony of playing the American national anthem at Buckingham Palace.
Ironically, the Star Spangled Banner anthem commemorates an attack on the United States by another hostile power 187 years before 9-11. That power was Great Britain..” [Wallace T., post 5]
Read history more carefully. Start with _Amateurs, To Arms!_ by John R Elting.
The United States declared war on Britain - perhaps the most ill-advised foreign policy move the country made in its first hundred years. The provocations cited in the bill of particulars had already ceased, or had been resolved.
Despite its overwhelming naval power, Britain came off surprisingly poorly in isolated naval engagements; privateering increasingly damaged their seagoing trade. And in land engagements, British forces proved incapable of dealing a knockout blow to American forces. The muddling-about caused the British Empire to become the (discreet) laughingstock in diplomatic services across Europe.
The USA got lucky; the British engaged reluctantly, committing only a fraction of their strength. They were preoccupied with the duties of empire. Also, they were heading up the final operations of the coalition battling Napoleonic France, then sorting out the mutual fears and residual hostilities between allies, enemies, and survivors.
Wellington advised England’s senior leadership to accept the status quo ante; they caved. Americans were just as willing; the nation’s morale was foundering. A delegation from the New England states was on the schedule, to meet with President Madison, to discuss secession.
The Treaty of Ghent was signed on 24 December 1814, before the American victory at New Orleans.
All of it eventually caused a new respect to dawn for the United States, among the European powers - before 1812, the new nation wasn’t much more than a joke.
And the war war forced Americans to rethink national defense: realization sank in, that the militia system could never support an effective military establishment. “Republican virtue” was not enough.