Adam T Hopf
The War of 1812 is sometimes called the Second War of Independence, The Forgotten War, or the War of Poor Communication. It was fought until 1815 between the United States and Great Britain. This war was caused mainly by the United States dislike of British naval harassment. Two days before the declaration of war, Great Britain agreed to repeal the naval laws that were primarily responsible for the war. Speedy communication would have eliminated The War of 1812 and the greatest battle, The Battle of New Orleans that occurred 15 days after a peace treaty had been signed where both sides claimed victory.
Even though the United States had won independence from Britain with the Revolutionary War the British never left America. Many Americans believed that they would never be truly independent if the British remained. Some Americans wanted to live beyond the borders they had won with their independence. There were problems with Indian rebellions in the northwestern territories. Many Americans blamed the British, believing that these rebellions were started and supported by the British.
Great Britain and France were at war from 1793 to 1801. These wars had a big effect on the United States. The fighting nations would not trade with each other, but still needed supplies. The United States, as a neutral power, was able to trade with both bringing income to United States merchants. With the increase of American exports, the United States began to make money. In 1806 the French issued a blockade of all British trade in Europe. The British issued their own blockade of all trade from France.
The Americans were caught in the middle. As the Americans tried to continue their successful trade, both the British and the French seized many of their ships for violating these blockades. This made many American merchants very angry, and it hurt American trade with the loss of transportation and goods.
The British began stopping American vessels to look for British Navy deserters. When so-called deserters were found, they were removed and forced into serving the British. This was called impressments. Free American men were taken and forced into serving Great Britain. Between 1803 and 1812, thousands of American-born sailors were impressed to serve in the British Navy.
The United States gained international respect for refusing to give in to the British Empire. American confidence was high because they had fought one of the great military powers and survived, increasing feelings of nationalism. The war also contributed to the end of the Federalist Party, which had opposed the war.
An important military development was improved professionalism in the United States Army officer corps, and the training of officers at the United States Military Academy ("West Point"). The War of 1812 had a powerful effect on manufacturing in the United States. The British blockade of the American coast created a shortage of cotton cloth in the United States, leading to the creation of a cotton-manufacturing industry, beginning in Waltham, Massachusetts.
The War of 1812 ended in a stalemate, but the war had many effects on the futures of those involved. For Americans, The War of 1812 meant a new sense of national pride - for the second time in history, the new nation matched strength with a country as powerful as Britain; it produced a national anthem, and ended European involvement with American Indians in the United States. For the American Indians, the war was a last attempt to take back their lost land and prosperity - an attempt that failed and took away what little they had.
Who really supported the war? Not the British, busy with their struggle with Napoleon. Not the Americans, facing a task of building their young country. Not the Canadians, who had to battle the severe northern conditions to succeed in the colonies. Not the American Indians, who would rather be left alone by the "white man". But they all found themselves involved in a war that could have meant life or death for all - The War of 1812.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
www.multied.com/1812, www.members.tripod.com/~war1812, www.galafilm.com/1812, www.britannica.com/eb/article-9032132/War-of-1812, http://www.gatewayno.com/history/War1812.html,%20www.sparknotes.com/history/american/warof1812
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