History Of The Marine Corps

The War of 1812 was supposed to be a quick conflict. Madison believed that with Britain preoccupied in Europe, the U.S. could take Canada in a matter of months and force the British to the negotiating table. He was wrong. The early months of the war exposed just how unprepared the U.S. military was. Disorganization, poor leadership, and logistical failures turned what should have been an easy campaign into a disaster.  At the same time, political divisions at home made the war even harder to fight. But while the Army struggled, the Navy had a different story. Against all odds, American warships—including the legendary Constitution—took the fight to the British and won. Today, we’ll break down the opening moves of the war, the failed invasion of Canada, and the first major American victory—one that didn’t happen on land, but at sea. ************* Visit HistoryoftheMarineCorps.com to subscribe to our newsletter, explore episode notes and images, and see our references. Follow us on social media for updates and