Final answer:
The winner of the War of 1812 was neither Britain nor the United States; the war ended in a stalemate with the Treaty of Ghent restoring the pre-war borders, although it was often viewed as a moral victory for the United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
The War of 1812 ended in a stalemate, where neither side gained or lost territory. This was formalized with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in December of 1814. While it may have been interpreted as an American victory, especially due to the well-publicized win at the Battle of New Orleans, the treaty restored pre-war boundaries. It's also important to note that this battle took place after the treaty was signed due to slow communication.
The treaty stipulated that both the United States and Britain return any territory and property they had taken during the war, resulting in a stalemate where neither side gained or lost any territory.
Furthermore, the Treaty of Ghent did not meaningfully address Native American claims, and the subsequent years saw them pushed further aside by American expansion. The War of 1812 also signaled the demise of the Federalist Party, which had opposed the war and suffered a loss of public approval as a result. While the war resolved some tension with Britain, it set the stage for future American expansionism at the expense of indigenous peoples.
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