Short And Long Term Effects Of The War Of 1812

In the War of 1812, the young America took on Great Britain, the most powerful naval in the world, in a conflict that would leave a great impact on the country. Causes of the war included British attempts to restrict United States trade, the Royal Navy’s impressment of American Seaman and America’s desire to expand its territory. Over the course of the war, the United States Army suffered many defeats by the British, Canadian, and Native American troops. One of the biggest losses was the capture and burning of the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., in August 1814. Though the forces against the United States were strong, the strength of the Americans put them on top of their enemies and led them to gain new spirit and patriotism. The war of

While the Napoleonic Wars commenced, the British government actively tried to suppress American trade with European countries. In 1807, a war was almost started when a British officer boarded an American ship and demanded to seize the sailors we believed to be deserters from the british ship. President Thomas Jefferson wanted to avoid war if at all possible. To do so, he enacted the Embargo Act of 1807, which was meant to punish Britain and France for interfering with American trade. The Act negatively affected the United States more than it did its intended victims. As James Madison became president, he also sought to avoid war with Britain, even though the British made it unavoidable. In attempts to make the rude British attitude known, Madison sent a message to congress with multiple complaints on Britain. The four complaints are: impressment, continual harassment of American commerce by British warships, British laws declaring blockades against American ships bound for European parts, and attacks by “savages” on “one of our extensive frontiers” believed to be instigated by British troops in Canada. At the time, the United States Congress was run by Henry Clay and the War Hawks. Clay believed a war with Britain would restore American prestige and

By the time a declaration of war was complete, the troops were in place and ready to invade Canada. The U.S. troops were unknowingly unprepared as they were about to take on a well-managed defense led by Sir Isaac Brock, administrator in charge of upper Canada. On August 16, 1812, the United States suffered a humiliating defeat after Brock and Tecumseh’s forces chased those led by Michigan William Hall across the Canadian border, scaring Hull into surrendering Detroit without any shots fired. Events in the north looked gloom for the United States, but their spirit was lifted after commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s success in the Battle of Lake Erie in September 1813. This victory placed the Northwest Territory firmly under American control. The United States was also able to retake Detroit in the victory in the Battle of Thaimes (where Tecumseh was killed). The United States Navy was able to score many victories over the Royal Navy in the early months of war. In April 1814, Britain troops had their full attention placed on the war effort in North America, since they defeated Napoleon’s Armies. As a large mass of British troops poured in, they began to raid Chesapeake Bay and moved in on the U.S. capital. On August 24, 1814, Washington was captured and the government buildings, capitol, and white house, were burned to the ground, on September 13, 1814 Fort Mchenry