Millions more Americans might qualify for dual Canadian citizenship under a recent change to Canada’s requirements that has led to a surge in applications from its southern neighbor.
The British commander that took Washington wanted to take the city peacefully and entered the city under a flag of peace but some Americans in the city opened fire and wounded his horse and killed some of his soldiers. That made him change his mind and he ordered the burning of all public buildings in the city. And his orders were followed so only public buildings such as the White House, parts of the Capitol, the Department of War were burned. The only government building that survived unscathed was the Patent Office because the guy in charge of it pleaded with the British and they listened to him.
The general also wanted to burn down some newspaper that was printing negative stuff about him but some women convinced him not to do it as the fire would likely spread to their houses. He instead ordered the soldiers to take the newspaper building down brick by brick and then ordered the printing equipment destroyed so they can’t write more about him. I always found that to be hilariously petty.
Also another story I heard was that President Madison was so sure that the British wouldn’t take the city that he had a dinner party prepared for that evening. When the British sappers came to burn down the White House they ate all the food and drunk all the wine prepared before starting to burn the White House down.
After sometime a big storm came and put out the fires and even a tornado landed in the middle of the city. The British decided to get out at that point as the storm caused a lot of damage to the city and casualties to their troops and civilians. As they were pulling out the general asked some woman if this is the kind of weather they get in these God forsaken lands. The woman told him the storm was sent by God to save them from their enemies and the general retorted that the storm actually helped them finish destroying the city.
You can even finish off the White House this time.
I always found the story of that so fascinating.
The British commander that took Washington wanted to take the city peacefully and entered the city under a flag of peace but some Americans in the city opened fire and wounded his horse and killed some of his soldiers. That made him change his mind and he ordered the burning of all public buildings in the city. And his orders were followed so only public buildings such as the White House, parts of the Capitol, the Department of War were burned. The only government building that survived unscathed was the Patent Office because the guy in charge of it pleaded with the British and they listened to him.
The general also wanted to burn down some newspaper that was printing negative stuff about him but some women convinced him not to do it as the fire would likely spread to their houses. He instead ordered the soldiers to take the newspaper building down brick by brick and then ordered the printing equipment destroyed so they can’t write more about him. I always found that to be hilariously petty.
Also another story I heard was that President Madison was so sure that the British wouldn’t take the city that he had a dinner party prepared for that evening. When the British sappers came to burn down the White House they ate all the food and drunk all the wine prepared before starting to burn the White House down.
After sometime a big storm came and put out the fires and even a tornado landed in the middle of the city. The British decided to get out at that point as the storm caused a lot of damage to the city and casualties to their troops and civilians. As they were pulling out the general asked some woman if this is the kind of weather they get in these God forsaken lands. The woman told him the storm was sent by God to save them from their enemies and the general retorted that the storm actually helped them finish destroying the city.