I'll save you the points because my answer may not appease your guidelines. Here is it in basic form. America want's Canada or what is at the time just a territory of Great Britan with a little autonomy. Essentially a territory and if given leniency for the sake of governance it could be considered a puppet/dominion. Basically America was sick of the Britis. They took their sailors who at the time were getting taken by the numerically superior British Navy and well enslaved them for lack of better terms well the technical term is impressment but yeah its work against their will by that of a foreign power. It angered American Politicians and they felt that at this time they did not get the respect nor recognition they deserved. If Canada was indeed taken maybe the British would leave America alone and pursue the Monroe doctrine. Although unlike most modern Wars it was a war declared by Congress and approved by the president. Problem was we didn't really have a great Army or even one to begin with. You could argue some divisions of the Federal government did exist like Merchant marines, American legion, etc. but lets just say we didn't have a grandstanding army. We win, we loose, our navy ain't so hot. Our generals not so smart we burn Ontario. Go into Quebec it's cold so we get out. Canada burns us too and our White house. Madison somehow leads the people of D.C. to believe in him and surprisingly keeps moral up after their literal Capital is burnt. Also didn't really end until 1814. Also in D.C the invading British forces somehow by a miracle a tornado I kid you not pushed the British out of D.C. and stopped their invasion. Sometimes luck really was on America's side so if you believe in providence I mean that's a great example. Basically 1814 fort mchenry happens. Star Spangled banner. It's the entiphasis of America. Also flag is 15 stars 15 bars extremely unique but fitting for the time. General Andrew Jackson leads his men to victory. The entire city of Baltimore was into the effort. All races, creeds, and people united by one nation indivisible. That day proved to show how we could all one day be simply Americans. We won although being outnumbered and through each day of bombs bursting in air we came back with a bigger flag. This battle created our national anthem. There was a treaty signed between both nations. Basically agreeing to stop mess with one another and recognize each other. It even allowed for some trade so that was a positive. Some speculate on who actually won the War. Is it the British or Americans. Brits don't care since the Napolean wars and such and although I believe the Canadians do well they weren't exactly autonomous and didn't gain much quite either. America did not get to annex Canada but they did gain as some call it their second Independence and solidification into the world stage. They held off so we should give credit where its due. I usually say its a wish wash. A tie if you will. All gains were negated and all losses for very little political points. I say it matters and yet matters not. Lots of lives to be lost for little gain in land. I guess you can say it was just a war of pride although it did not start that way. It ended up just showing capabilities and even both sides really couldn't win at least without changing a large portion of each individual nations history. The brits lists a building America Lost a building and none lost land so yeah lots of people lost over political recognition and withdraw from aggressive tactics but such is war.
