> I think they were referring to the War of 1812. A war the US lost
The outcome of history indicates the US won that war. Technically it was considered a stalemate. The US lost no territory, repelled a malevolent empire again, kept its economy & trade fully intact, and won numerous major battles throughout the war. In the following decades the US became an economic juggernaut, while the British Empire began to fade into the history books.
A supposedly mighty empire failed twice in less than 40 years to bring a small nation to its knees. Quite humiliating.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_1812
- "In 1813, the US won the Battle of Lake Erie, gaining control of the lake, and they defeated Tecumseh's Confederacy at the Battle of the Thames, defeating Britain's largest Native American ally, a primary war goal."
- "In 1814, the British burned Washington, but the US later repulsed British attempts to invade New York and Maryland, ending invasions from Canada into the northern and mid-Atlantic states."
- "Attempts to smother American maritime trade failed, however, and soon both sides began to desire peace."
- "In early 1815, after a peace treaty had been signed, but before this news had reached the Americas, the US defeated the British Army near New Orleans, Louisiana."
- "Peace negotiations began in August 1814, and the Treaty of Ghent was signed on December 24, 1814. News of the peace finally reached America in February 1815 about the same time as news of the victory at New Orleans. The Americans triumphantly celebrated the restoration of their national honor, leading to the collapse of anti-war sentiment and the beginning of the Era of Good Feelings, a period of national unity. The treaty was unanimously ratified by the US Senate on February 17, 1815, ending the war with no boundary changes"