Main Content

War Experience

Britain waged a successful defensive war against the United States while Halifax and Quebec, the keys to Canada’s defence, were never seriously threatened by American attack.

Quebec City

The United States could not defeat Britain in North America without capturing Quebec City.

View from Near the Officer Barracks, Citadel, Quebec-Cap Tourment, Island of Orleans, 1840

Formidable Defences

View from Near the Officer Barracks, Citadel, Quebec-Cap Tourment, Island of Orleans, 1840

Watercolour by Millicent Mary Chaplin, 1840
Library and Archives Canada, 1956-62-13
Quebec City Militia Officer’s Coat

Quebec City Militia Officer’s Coat

Quebec City Militia Officer’s Coat

CWM 19790001-006

Halifax

Halifax, Nova Scotia provided an essential base of operations for the Royal Navy in North American waters.

Halifax Mortar

Halifax Mortar

Halifax Mortar

CWM 19430003-001
Flintlock Musket, India Pattern

India Pattern Musket

Flintlock Musket, India Pattern

CWM 19770467-011

Taking the War to America

While the British Army defended Canada, the Royal Navy sought to force the United States to end the war by blockading the American coast and conducting amphibious raids.

HMS Shannon Leading Her Prize the American Frigate Chesapeake into Halifax Harbour

Blockading the Coast

HMS Shannon Leading Her Prize the American Frigate Chesapeake into Halifax Harbour

Lithograph by John Christian Schetky, around 1830
Library and Archives Canada, 1970-188-1937
Admiral Cockburn Burning and Plundering Havre de Grace on 1st June, 1813

Amphibious Raids

Admiral Cockburn Burning and Plundering Havre de Grace on 1st June, 1813

Artist unknown
Anne S. K. Brown Military Collection, Brown University Library, Providence, Rhode Island

The British–American Peace

For Britain, the war ended successfully with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent.

A Hundred Years Peace. The Signature of the Treaty of Ghent between Great Britain and the United States of America, Dec. 24th 1814

The Treaty of Ghent

A Hundred Years Peace. The Signature of the Treaty of Ghent between Great Britain and the United States of America, Dec. 24th 1814

Print by Amédée Forestier, 1914
Library and Archives Canada, 1993-275-1
Footer Scrape | Canadian War Museum