War of 1812 Sometimes Referred

War of 1812

Sometimes referred to as the Second War of Independence, the War of 1812 marked the beginning of a new era of American nationalism. Some of the causes of the War of 1812 can be traced directly to unresolved issues between the United States and Great Britain. The Treaty of Paris officially ended the Revolutionary War. However, the newly formed nation struggled with internal political factions including the continuing division between Republican and Federalist camps in Washington. Furthermore, regional difference came to the surface during the early 1800s. Western states, especially those bordering the Great Lakes region, wanted territorial expansion. The quest for expansion began to dominate the political discourse for many Westerners, who felt that Britain broke their promise in the Treaty of Paris, which outlined specific Great Lakes territories that would be granted to the United States. Radicals in Western states viewed Britain's resistance as a sign of hostility. The British sought to control the Great Lakes region for several strategic reasons: to control the fur trade, to prevent Americans from entering Canada, and to prevent American troops from invading Canada. The latter option was briefly considered by radicals, who formed a loose alliance in Congress referred to as the War Hawks. The War Hawks, who were mainly Republicans, sought to instigate a war with Great Britain to secure territories in and West of the Great Lakes region.

According to the War Hawks, the British had been inciting the Indians to rebel against the United States. Many Native Americans had sided with and fought for the British during the Revolutionary War. Moreover, the possibility of a Native American tribal coalition loomed, threatening American territorial expansion. The War Hawks believed that the British supported the creation of an independent Native American state located in the Great Lakes region to serve as a buffer between the United States and Canada. Chief Tecumeh championed tribal unification and his efforts might have succeeded had the War Hawks not been as vocal in Congress. To the War Hawks, British support of the Native Americans was a declaration of war.

Thomas Jefferson was President until 1808, when James Madison was elected. Jefferson had cultivated strong political and economic ties with France and other European nations and therefore any transgressions by the French were perceived as being less threatening than those perpetrated by the British. Also, the United States felt some lingering belligerence toward Britain as spillover from the War of Independence which it did not feel towards France.

France, Great Britain, and Spain were all valuable trading partners with the United States. Still, President Jefferson suggested that the United States put economic pressure on both Britain and Europe to encourage a peaceful resolution to the conflicts that were brewing. Congress passed the Nonimportation Act in 1806 and the Embargo Act in 1807, which prohibited trade to the United Kingdom and Europe. However, Europe was not financially dependent on the United States and the embargo failed to make an impact on anyone but Americans. New England, which was a Federalist stronghold, in particular felt the brunt of the embargos and would be financially injured as a result of the war. In 1809, Congress passed the Nonintercourse Act and Macon's Bill No. 2, which offered limited concessions for whichever nation opted to lift the trade restrictions on neutral ships.

Tensions between Britain and France escalated in the years preceding the war, drawing the United States deeper into the conflict and more prepared to take a stand against one side or the other. Napoleon closed off Continental ports to British merchant ships and Britain retaliated in turn. At first the United States took advantage of the tense situation in Europe by manning the trade routes between the Continent and the West Indies.

However, Britain passed a set of trading regulations that prevented neutral ships from trading with enemies. Great Britain initially requested that American ships obtain a special license but later began seizing American ships. When Great Britain started to maintain presence in American waters and especially when the Crown began impressing American soldiers to fight against Napoleon, the War Hawks' cry resounded through Washington.

Britain had been prepared to ease its trade restrictions on the United States but by the time tensions escalated between the United States and Great Britain, James Madison was in the White House and the Republicans had caused a significant stir in Congress. In light of the impressments of American soldiers and perceived aggression on the part of the British, Congress declared war on Britain in 1812.