"Don't give up the ship." "The Star-Spangled Banner." "Old Hickory." The Battle of New Orleans.

The War of 1812 gave us some of America's most enduring symbols and phrases. But did it actually change anything? The treaty that ended it resolved almost nothing. The boundaries stayed the same. Impressment wasn't even mentioned. And the greatest American victory came after the war was technically over.

So why does this "Second War of Independence" matter? Was it a pointless conflict that nearly destroyed a fragile young nation? Or the crucible that finally transformed thirteen squabbling former colonies into something that felt like a country?

Join us as we dig into the contradictions, debate the consequences, and explore what the War of 1812 actually accomplished - or didn't. From the myths we tell ourselves to the realities on the ground, from Baltimore's ramparts to New Orleans' muddy fields, we're questioning everything about America's most misunderstood war. And before we're done, we'll grapple with something deeper: the ideals this nation was founded on - and how those very same ideals, however imperfectly realized, eventually gave us the tools to right some of our gravest wrongs.

10-Question Quiz: Famous Quotes

The Brian Lehrer Show

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