Why did many Americans believe they had won the War of 1812, even though the conflict had no clear victor? The Treaty of Ghent had not resulted in significant land losses for the British. American forces had been unable to conquer Canada, and Britain had not agreed to compensate the United States for war costs. Nonetheless, Americans felt confident in their ability to stand against a powerful adversary.

Many Americans believed that they had won the War of 1812 primarily due to the surge of national pride and the sense of unity that followed the war, not because of any specific victory on the battlefield or significant territorial gains. The Treaty of Ghent, signed on December 24, 1814, effectively ended the war by restoring pre-war boundaries between the United States and British territories. The treaty did not involve the British losing large amounts of land, nor did it include provisions for Canada's conquest or Britain paying the United States for the cost of the war.

However, the news of the treaty reached the United States after the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815, where American forces, commanded by General Andrew Jackson, won a decisive victory against the British. This victory, which was militarily significant albeit irrelevant to the war's outcome as the peace treaty had already been signed, contributed to the American perception of having "won" the war. This battle, fought after the treaty was signed (though before it was ratified and the news had not yet reached combatants), helped solidify a sense of victory and valiance in the face of a powerful enemy like Britain.