200 years ago last Friday, President James Madison asked Congress to declare war against Great Britain. Thus began the United States' first war since the founding of the country.
It was also the only war in which the president led troops into battle -- while president.
The war hasn't been mentioned much in cartoons, perhaps because the war didn't end in victory for either side, but in a negotiated peace treaty between the United States and England. Nevertheless, here are a couple of cartoons with the theme of the War of 1812 (actually, the war lasted until 1814):
The Story Of H.M.S. Shannon (National Film Board of Canada, 1958) A lively touch to any program, this song story describes an incident in the War of 1812. Colorful drawings give a satirical twist to the engagement between a British ship, the H.M.S. Shannon, and an American ship, the U.S.S. Chesapeake. Sung to guitar accompaniment by Canadian folk singer Tom Kines.
River Boat Mission (Hector Heathcote; TerryToons, 1962) Hector Heathcote has his own Mississippi riverboat in the War of 1812. The Americans are running out of powder, and the British are winning the war. Hector is assigned to bring some ammunition by boat. When the ammunition runs loose, the Americans win the war. Hector goes down in history as an unsung hero.
