While not terribly germain to health care; the United States did not win the war of 1812. The US declared war on Britain for a variety of reasons. Military battles and land were won and lost by all (British, American, British North Americans i.e. Canadians, Indians, etc.). Effectively a military stalemate. The whole mess ended with the Treaty of Ghent and pre-war borders were respected. Therefore since the United States declared war and did not gain any land, it is therefore argued the United States lost the war.