Causes for the War of 1812

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There were many causes of the War of 1812. The most generalized cause for the war was Britain being resentful after the American wanted to be independent. The British and the American colonists had been feuding since the beginning of the United States. The War of 1812 was also in response to a series of economic actions taken by the British and French against the United States as a part Napoleon’s rise to power, as well as the American people being angered at the British practice of impressments. Another cause was when the Nonintercourse Act allowed for trade with Europe except France or Britain (and their colonies). The American people tried to stay neutral because they need valuable goods from both the British and the French. This in fact would not become the case when the British stopped American trade ships, captured American merchants at sea and attempted to get them to enlist in the British Navy, as well as started using Native Americans to hinder the Americans from expanding, making the people ready to fight. However, a lot of the merchants (in the North) questioned the War. This did not influence President Madison having Congress declare war against the British in 1812 though. There were various battles that were fought as a result of the War of 1812. While American proved to not be successful in all of these battles, they ultimately won the good fight. There were many major battles that affected the war for either side in a dramatic way. The battle of Lake Champlain, Battle of Lake Erie, Battle of Fort McHenry, Battle of Washington DC, the Battle of New Orleans, the Battle of Thames, the Battle of Baltimore, as well as the Battle at Niagara River. For one, both the Battle of Thames and the Battle of Champlain allowed ... ... middle of paper ... ...from the Seven Years War, to World War 1 and 2, as well as the 9/11 attacked in 2001. Our country, although the people in it change, the message of hope and unity still rings. Works Cited Francis Scott Key and the Defense of Fort McHenry. Dir. Sean Mobley and Scott Mobley. 2011. Youtube. Lineberry, Cate. "The Story Behind the Star Spangled Banner." Smithsonian Magazine. Smithsonian Media, 1 Mar. 2007. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. . Roark, James L., Michael P. Johnson, Patricia C. Cohen, Sarah Stage, Alan Lawson, and Susan M. Hartmann. "The War of 1812." The American Promise: A History of the United States. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2009. Print. Ruehl, Kim. ""Star Spangled Banner"" About.com Folk Music. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. .

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