The War of 1812 was a battle fought between the United States and Great Britain, along with help from Canada and the Native Americans, from June 18, 1812, to February 18, 1815. The United States declared war against Great Britain due to multiple disputes that included trade restrictions against the United States, the capture of American sailors, and the support of Native American tribes fighting against American settlers. These issues led to the War of 1812, which Americans ultimately declared the “Second War of Independence.” Great Britain’s primary goal was to defend their North American colonies, but they also wanted to create a neutral Indian buffer state in the Midwest. As a colony of Great Britain, Canada fought in the war as they were being invaded by the Americans. The Native Americans fought against the United States because they did not want the Americans to expand westward. These groups joined forces during the War of 1812 to prevent the United States from becoming a major force in the world. Trade restrictions brought on by the British war with France helped start the War of 1812. France and Great Britain were already at war. France didn’t allow America to trade with Great Britain, and Great Britain didn’t allow America to trade with France.
The victory of the War of 1812 was a huge leap toward America becoming its own nation because of the national unity the win provided its citizens. The morale of the citizens lifted greatly because they managed to defeat the greatest military powers of the world and managed to survive. It also proved to the world that the american nation could defend itself from foreign threats. The victory improved America’s self confidence and faith in the military to defend the natiosn freedom and honor.
America had suffered numerous devastating losses, such as the capture of Washington D.C. The ratification of the Treaty of Ghent on February 17, 1815, ended the war. The war of 1812 was known as the second war of independence and was called the beginning of an era of partisan agreement and national pride, or the “Era of good feelings”. “The Era of Good Feelings” was an inaccurate label for the selected time period.
After the U.S gained their independence form Britain, they faced the greatest obstacle that would threaten their independence. This was a second war fought against Great Britain called the War of 1812. The war was fought on land and on sea and lasted almost three years. There were many forces that led Americans to declare war on Britain in 1812.
The Seven Years War was the first international conflict dealing with all major world powers. The majority of the issue was due to “real estate” speculation and territories surrounding the Ohio Valley (Ohio Valley, 156). Native American’s used furs and traded goods to play each power against each other ultimately resulting in war. The powers that were involved in the war fought for the support of the Native Americans in order to gain favorable lands and goods and the upper hand above the other powers. Ultimately, Native Americans were the most influential power during the war, and the relations held with them not only had affect during the war, but also had influence and led to post war struggles.
Anderson, F., and R.S Stephenson. The War That Made America. Penguin Group USA, 2005. (accessed December 5th , 2013).
The War of 1812, sometimes referred to as “The Second War of Independence,” was one of the bloodiest, yet most pointless wars in American history. After 32 months of Americans fighting for a change in the relationship between Britain and the U.S., the war ended with a treaty that left many of the original conflicts unresolved. Although the war had no obvious victor, it boosted American nationalism and patriotism, something much needed after only 39 years of independence. However, British interferences with American trade, and the cost of war materials had a negative impact on the United State's economy. America’s geographic location, in relation to Canada and New York, played a key role in defense against British attacks. Whoever gained control of the Niagara peninsula that connected these two territories would have an advantage over the other nation.
The War of 1812, also known as “America’s Forgotten War” and “America’s Worst Fought War,” was fought between the U.S. and Great Britain over violations of the U.S. seafaring rights. The British intrusion with American fur trade and their illegal impressment of seamen off American ships severely strained Anglo-American relations in the years before the war. According to the New Standard Encyclopedia, “There is considerable disagreement as to why this ultimately led to war and what this war represented. (W.30)” The strongest pressure of war came from Congressional leaders known as “the War Hawks” who mainly represented the western frontier and the South. Their main interest was the conquest of Canada and Florida. The British encouraged and supported the Tecumseh Indians, who had inflicted severe losses, to bring them the scalps of the American soldiers that ultimately led to the Massacre of Fort Dearborn on June 18th, 1812. The war ended with the treaty of Ghent. According to the “Just War Theory” outlined in this essay-- this war was an unjust war.
America took on one of the greatest army two times for one thing, independence. The War of 1812 was pointless. Many leaders and conflicts came out of this war for many different reasons. When the war ended the war was neither won or lost by either side. Land went back and forth, but in the end no land was either won or gained.
The war of 1812, a fight for maritime and naval power, a conflict between America and Great Britain, would have an massive impingement on the young nation. Major destruction, and lives lost in vain, from a war that neither side recieved something to gain. There was a series of events that drove Americans to ignite the fuel for war on Great Britain. For example; Britain’s restrictions on U.S. trade, impressment of american seamen by the Royal Navy, Britain recruiting Native Americans to fight against the U.S. and lastly America’s hunger to expand its territory.
The War of 1812 was the nation’s first declared militarized conflict that began June 18, 1812 and continued strong to February 18, 1815. The conflict lasted two and half years and was fought by the United States and the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.(Upton) The war was frequently seen as a series of Napoleonic wars due to it being caused by problems related to that war. The war itself even solved many that had still remained from the American revolutionary war. The United States declared war for a number of reasons to include, the impressment of American sailors into the royal navy, British support of Indian tribes against American expansion and outrage over insults to national honor after humiliations on the high seas. (Walker)
George Browm Tindall, David Emory Shi. American History: 5th Brief edition, W. W. Norton & Company; November 1999
The War of 1812 was a small war with big consequences and is often overlooked, or considered unimportant. But the War of 1812 is an important part of our history because of not only its consequences, but the events that lead to its declaration. From Napoleon excluding British goods from “Fortress Europe” to the Battle of New Orleans, there are many issues and events of importance that impacted later history. For example, “Jefferson's attempt at "peaceful coercion" resulted in economic disaster for merchants (Feldmeth 1).” in the Embargo Act. In the following essay, I am going to discuss the causes and consequences of the War of 1812 and their importance.
Was the War of 1812 really worth fighting? Beforehand, Britain began stopping American ships to look for British deserters, soon they began to impress American citizens on those ships. Britain decided to end the policy, unfortunately, that news never reached America in time. By the time it did America already declare war on Britain. In 1814, American and British representatives met to sign a peace agreement, The Treaty of Ghent. This treaty didn't do anything but allow peace between the two and end the war. The news of the treaty signing didn't reach the United States. One last battle took place, Battle of New Orleans. That battle leads to the American victory, leaving hundreds of British soldiers dead. The American citizens felt a new sense of respect and patriotism after the war. The War of 1812 was worth fighting forAdditionallyand it did help the young America.
Grayzel, Susan R. The First World War: A Brief History with Documents. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2013. Print.
"The War at Sea." World War I Reference Library. Ed. Sara Pendergast, Christine Slovey, and Tom Pendergast. Vol. 1: Almanac. Detroit: UXL, 2002. 123-136. World History in Context. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.