The War of 1812

The War of 1812

On June 18, 1812, the United States declared war on Great Britain. The peace treaty to end the war was signed in Europe, 1814. The war lasted from 1812 to the spring of 1815 because there was a delay in communications. It was fought along the Canadian border, along with several sea battles. By the time the war was over the United States lost 2,260 soldiers, and the British 1,600 soldiers. The war of 1812 was a very significant event that took place in the U.S. It did in fact confirm America’s independence. That is why it is often referred to as “the second war of independence or “the second revolutionary war.

“The United States had been upset with British for several reasons. British failed to withdraw from American territory along the Great Lakes despite United States victory during the Revolutionary war. British military allegedly supported the Indians on American frontier; and their unwillingness to sign commercial agreements favorable to the United States.” American resentment grew during the United Kingdom’s ongoing war with Napoleon’s France. France had domination over the continent of Europe, while Britain had power over the seas. This affected many countries, and it particularly affected America’s trade.

Since Britain didn’t was engaged in war with France, they did not want Americans to trade with France. British saw America as a threat to its maritime supremacy. They argued that it evaded the British rule of 1756, which forbid any trade during wartime that wasn’t allowed during peacetime. The United States believed that the United Kingdom was in violation of a neutral nation’s right to trade with any nation they saw fit. As a result trade tension increased and so did the number of American ships being s...

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...uary 18, 1815. The war you could say was officially over.

Overall, by the end of the War of 1812, both sides had accomplished exactly nothing except destroying little bits and pieces of the enemy. Neither side had settled any of the issues they were originally fighting over, nor had either side technically "won" according to the Treaty of Ghent (1814). The United States did gain some things indirectly from the war though, like another degree of respect from foreign nations and the identification of more war heroes. The war also proved that the Americans were able to survive completely separated from European Affairs. None of these results though were the desired ones from the war. If the Americans would have been able to put aside their regional selfishness and differences, perhaps the War of 1812 would have accomplished more for the United States than it really did