Fort York

Fort York, Toronto

Fort York, Toronto

Fort York and the War of 1812

  • On June 17th, 1812 the U.S. Senate voted to approve a resolution declaring war on the British Empire by a 19 to 13 margin.

  • You can view the Senate’s approval of the resolution declaring war on the British Empire here.

  • The House of Representatives had already voted to approve war against the British Empire by a margin of 79 to 49.

  • President Madison signed the bill into law on June 18, 1812, marking the start of the War of 1812.

  • This declaration of war was the first in American history.

  • (To learn more about the legal mechanisms by which the U.S. government declares war, see here).

  • The declaration of war was prompted by a desire among some American policy-makers to annex British Canada, frustration with European trade blockades, the British Empire’s alliance with indigenous peoples locked in a bloody battle for survival with an America expanding westward, and British harassment of U.S. vessels in the Atlantic.

  • (Learn the full backstory here.)

  • The war did not involve a U.S. campaign against the island of Britain, located across the Atlantic.

  • Rather the offensive portion of America’s military campaign was directed against the British Empire’s dominion along the United States’ northern border: present-day Canada.

  • This offensive would result in the temporary capture of York (present-day Toronto).

  • On April 27, 1813, the United States launched an overwhelming ground and naval campaign (via Lake Ontario) on Fort York, which today sits just a few minutes drive west of Toronto’s downtown business district.

  • The ensuing battle is now known as the Battle of York.

  • The war did not involve a U.S. campaign against the island of Britain, located across the Atlantic.

  • Rather the offensive portion of America’s military campaign was directed against the British Empire’s dominion along the United States’ northern border: present-day Canada.

  • This offensive would result in the temporary capture of York (present-day Toronto).

  • On April 27, 1813, the United States launched an overwhelming ground and naval campaign (via Lake Ontario) on Fort York, which today sits just a few minutes drive west of Toronto’s downtown business district.

  • The ensuing battle is now known as the Battle of York

 
Fort York, Toronto

Fort York, Toronto

The American naval campaign against York was conducted via Lake Ontario. Video: Lake Ontario and the Toronto Islands.

 
  • The fort fell under American control as the outnumbered British and indigenous troops stationed there retreated and, for six days, the American flag flew over York.

  • The occupying American forces proceeded to pillage York and burn buildings used by Ontario government officials (these buildings do not exist today).

  • The British Empire would later retaliate by occupying Washington, D.C. and torching the White House.

  • The war ended in 1814 with the conclusion of the Treaty of Ghent (agreed in Ghent, located in present-day Belgium).

  • The Treaty required that all territories captured during the war be returned.

Written By: Aiden Singh Published: July 10, 2020