Editing Battle of New Orleans (section)

=== The battle in American historiography ===
The battle became historically important mainly for the meaning Americans gave it, particularly with respect to Jackson.  According to Matthew Warshauer, the Battle of New Orleans meant, "defeating the most formidable army ever arrayed against the young republic, saving the nation's reputation in the War of 1812, and establishing [Jackson] as America's preeminent hero."{{sfnp|Warshauer|2013|p=79–92}} News of victory "came upon the country like a clap of thunder in the clear azure vault of the firmament, and traveled with electromagnetic velocity, throughout the confines of the land."{{sfnp|Ward|1962|pp=4–5}}  Popular pamphlets, songs, editorials, speeches, and plays glorified Jackson's new, heroic image.

The [[The Eighth (United States)|Eighth of January]] was a federal holiday from 1828 to 1861, and it was among the earliest national celebrations, as "previously, Americans had only celebrated events such as the [[Fourth of July]] or George Washington's birthday on a national scale".{{sfnp|Stoltz|2012|pp=112-127}} The anniversary of the battle was celebrated as an American holiday for many years called "[[The Eighth (United States)|The Eighth]]".{{sfnp|Donning Co-NPS, ''The War of 1812''|2013|p=147}}{{sfnp|Stoltz|2017|p=147}}

The historiography has been revisited by contemporary historians. According to Troy Bickham, the American victory at New Orleans "did not have an impact on the war's outcome", but it shaped "how the Americans received the end of the war by creating the illusion of military victory."{{sfnp|Bickham|2017}} Benn notes that American popular memory  focused on the victories at [[Battle of Baltimore|Baltimore]], [[Battle of Plattsburgh|Plattsburgh]], and New Orleans to present the war as a successful effort to assert American national honor, or a Second War of Independence, in which the mighty [[British Empire]] was humbled and humiliated.{{sfnp|Benn|2002|pp=82–83}} In keeping with this sentiment, there is a popularly held view that Britain had planned to annex [[Louisiana Territory|Louisiana]] in 1815.{{sfnp|Eustace|2012|p=293}} The amoral depravity of the British, in contrast with the wholesome behavior of the Americans, has the "beauty and booty" story at the center of a popular history account of Jackson's victory at New Orleans.{{sfnp|Eustace|2012|p=212}} According to historian [[Alan Taylor (historian)|Alan Taylor]], the final victory at New Orleans had in that sense "enduring and massive consequences".{{sfnp|Taylor|2010|p=421}} It gave the Americans "continental predominance", while it left the indigenous nations dispossessed, powerless, and vulnerable.{{sfnp|Taylor|2010|p=437}}