Who won the War of 1812?
On Sunday, September 25, I was one of several hundred Canadian and Americans invited to
Brock University's David S. Howes Theatre to first screen the new two-hour
WNED documentary film, "The War of 1812," which airs on PBS stations nationwide, October 10, 2011, at 9:00 p.m.
Former Regional Chair, Brian Merrett, now CEO of the
Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council, was in period dress to chair the event and introduced David Rotterman, executive producer. Rotterman reported that the "film took six years to produce, far longer than to fight the war."
Besides the film, there is a PBS website:
http://www.pbs.org/wned/war-of-1812/, teachers guide material, an accompanying book available at book stores and electronic apps being developed for approximately 150 of the
War of 1812 sites to help people better navigate around and learn about the War.
David explained how difficult the process was because there were no films or pictures available, and therefore, they relied heavily on
archival materials and re-enactors as well as 30 historians including British, Canadian, US and native First Nations.
He recalled an early border crossing for a meeting in NOTL concerning the film which they were then going to title, "The War of 1812, the war we forgot." When asked about the purpose of his meeting, an older customs officer blurted out, "that's the war we whooped you in;" David was compromised as the customs officer "was holding our passports, etc." The crowd laughed and laughed yet again when Jim Hill, Superintendent of Heritage
Niagara Parks Commission, characterized the win-loss scenario with, "Americans aren't sure they won the war of 1812; Canadians are absolutely sure they won the war of 1812, and the British are unaware there was a War of 1812."
The film does a good job explaining that mixed scenario. Americans were repulsed in all of their border crossings near Detroit, Niagara and the Montreal areas. Both capitals, York and Washington were burnt as well as most of the Niagara frontier, and the Brits at the time, were more interested in defeating
Napoleon which they accomplished in 1814 thereby freeing up their considerable resources and bringing a speedy closure to the War of 1812 with peace signed at the
Treaty of Ghent prior to a US victory at New
Orleans which led to Johnny Horton, a country and western singer, creating a mythic version, totally at odds with the truth.
Some startling components for me were the amazing incompetence of US military leadership from 1812-1813, the heroism of both Shawnee leader,
Tecumseh and Major-General
Sir Isaac Brock and the fact that the ultimate losers of the War of 1812 were the First Nations
warriors who fought valiantly yet lost their land on both sides of the border. In fact, it was
First Nations warriors who drove back the US militia that captured Queenston Heights.
The documentary, all filmed here in the region, is balanced and opens one's eyes to the many themes involved at the time. We were also fortunate to indulge in a wine tasting of Palatine Hills Estate's new 1812 vintages. John Neufeld,
Palatine Hills Estate Winery owner was quite gracious and even helped pour!
"This is our way of bringing Niagara residents out to ignite the excitement that we've been building up for the past year," said Merrett. "This film will certainly spark that 1812 interest when it airs nationwide, as well."
The Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council is a cross-border not-for-profit organization established to commemorate the War of 1812 and celebrate the 200 years of peace between Canada and the United States which have followed. There are many events planned, and I will keep you updated.
|
|
|
