Battle of York during the War of 1812

Background. York was the provincial capital of Upper Canada but was considered far less important as a military objective than Kingston. Lake Ontario served as the front line between Upper Canada and the United States, as well as the principal British supply line from Quebec. In early April 1813, Major General Sheaffe instructed officials to hide legislative papers in the forest and fields behind York to prevent their seizure during an attack.

Political Context. John Armstrong Jr. was appointed United States Secretary of War on January 13, 1813. The American attack on York occurred on the first day of New York's three-day election period. Consequently, the battle did not directly benefit the Democratic-Republican Party as Armstrong had originally envisioned, despite the military success.

Aftermath. The mistreatment of the civilian Canadian population, resistance by militia, and the burning of British symbols and buildings after the battle led to a hardening of Canadian popular opinion against the United States. Several commentators viewed the American transgressions at York as justification for the British Burning of Washington later in the war.