What was the importance of the War of 1812?

The historical significance of the War in 1812 was that it helped the people of America have a strong nationalism for their country, despite the second failed American attempt to forcibly annex the territory known as Canada.

Ironically, that attempt at invasion, and Canadians' successful defeat of the invasion, was crucial in igniting a discussion of nationhood between the very separate French- and English-speaking cultures that led to the creation of Canada as a country.