History is known to repeat itself. This is something often brought up in politics and foreign affairs, and people will use it to explain reoccurring events in their life. What if I told you that the War of 1812 repeated itself with the relationship I had in 2015? Sounds crazy, right? Check the evidence.
1. One party didn't think it was as important as the other did.
Britain sees the war as fairly minor, the same way my ex saw my feelings.
2. One party didn't want the other getting too involved with someone else, but it was happening anyway.
Britain didn't want the US getting too involved with France, and I didn't want him getting involved with Kristen. But it happened anyway, so I feel you, Britain.
3. People were making moves on their close neighbors when they shouldn't have.
The US made several moves to conquer Canada, just like he did with his "friend."
4. The end was known as an "Era of Good Feelings."
That was the actual name for the period after the war, but I like to call my post-break up happiness the same thing.
5. It wasn't until after the fact that some people cleaned up.
After the war, the US realized it needed to work on its military. My ex seemed to work on some stuff after the split, and I did too.
6. People were encouraged to stand their ground.
Britain encouraged Native American leaders to defend their territories when America tried to attack, and my friends encouraged me to stay true to my beliefs and not change them for a boy.
7. Support towards one party was a little weak in certain areas.
Federalists weren't too big on America being in that war, like how my roommate wasn't too big on my ex when I dated him.
8. In the beginning, everyone thought there would be a different ending.
At the start of the war, the US had a weak army and lost many battles, but pulled through in the end. I just thought I'd date the guy for longer than a few months.
9. People wrote pieces based on the situation.
Francis Scott Key wrote "Defense of Fort M'Henry," which went on to become the national anthem. My ex wrote me a bad poem for Valentine's Day, which went on to be shoved deep in my closet and forgotten about.
10. The end was mutual.
Britain and the US agreed that the war would be considered a tie and ended with the Treaty of Ghent, and my relationship ended when I started crying on the phone.
11. It was seen as another quest for independence.
After the war, America said it was a "second war of independence," and I say this was the second relationship where I learned to be more independent.
12. It didn't take much to kick start things.
The US sent a declaration of war to Britain, which was basically responded with, "OK, let's do that." My ex sent me a text asking for a first date, and I basically responded with the same thing Britain did.
13. It wasn't super necessary.
Historians believe the war didn't really need to be fought since territories stayed the same, and all that changed were some burnt buildings in D.C. and Key writing the future anthem. I could've gone without that relationship and still be about the same as my present self (seeing as how one of the only good things out of it was a knife he gave me).
Credit to the Odyssey Rejects' Twitter for the article idea.
