The best answer is (2).
Though suffering some bad losses and defeats, America also scored some crucial victories over the British especially on Lake Erie and Lake Champlain. It was these victories that made England agree to a peace treaty in 1814 and thus America retained her independence and territory.
The main benefit for the U.S. was a renewed self confidence and faith of its military to defend the nation's freedom and honor despite the fact that neither side came away with a clear cut victory.
