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Colonial War

From 1689 to 1763 was all about European powers carving up the North and South American continents for their own use. There were many, many border disputes and wars fought over who owned what parts of these continents. But by the middle of the 18th century these had become pretty established with Spain ruling most of the Caribbean and South America, Britain in the far north and France in the North American center. But then France sells its property to the US.

In that single act, England now has to look at the US, not as a former colony and trading partner, but as a rival colonial power in North America. Even as late as WWI, Britain didn't deal well with rival colonial powers. In a very real sense we did become a colonial power in North America, srarting with the Monroe Doctrine, stating that all European powers should get out.

One might look at the War of 1812 then as the last of the North American colonial wars. Looking at it from that perspective, it's hard prove that the US did not win, as it left its state of being a tiny seaboard country to becoming the largest colonial power in North America.