Treaty of Ghent and American-British peace negotiations

¶ … Treaty of Ghent on the United States as well as how it affected the economy.

Ghent Treaty

The Treaty of Ghent in 1815 set the path for the answer to the Canadian-American territorial disputes. Analysis of this treaty determines that a treaty is successful if it can not only end wars but also take care of other issues as well.

The Treaty of Ghent is evidence that the long-term national interests of the concerned parties are the most important factor in the success of any peace treaty. Before the war both the United States and Great Britain had mutual grievances that were the major cause for war in 1812, but as time elapsed the two nations realized they had a profound interest in peace so the treaty was signed to end the issues that provoked the conflict.

The United States, before the war broke out was trying to focus on its maritime rights, customs and commercial trade, but it was afraid the nation might have to go to fight a second war of independence if Britain did not recognize the rights of its citizens. The English wanted to settle the issue regarding the border between Canada and the United States, in a way that would form a wall between the two countries around the Great Lakes so that Americans would not be able to invade.

Czar Alexander I of Russia began the mediation process between the two countries that were hostile to one another. In 1814, direct negotiations began leading to the Americans focusing once again on the security of their nation, meanwhile the British focused on taking complete control over American commerce, merchantmen and military resources in Europe. The settlement of the land restored the status quo ante bellum even though the British had conquered Washington and the Americans had their naval forces deployed on the Great Lakes. The destroyed property was compensated for. The treaty also led to the eradication of the slave trade between both countries, and a mutual agreement to respect the rights of Indians. This treaty also established the peaceful resolution for future conflicts.

One week later, the paper announced several celebrations in Providence to honor the return of peace, but not specifically the treaty. In America's first capitol-Philadelphia-peace was announced with an enormous headline, which was rather unusual for papers of this period. The Mayor, Robert Wharston, issued a proclamation in this issue "permitting that this city be illuminated" in celebration (again for the peace, not the actual treaty)."

The Shamrock of New York, not being a weekly paper, commented on the peace in its September 2 issue, declaring, "a peace, an honorable peace, was the happy result of virtue and bravery."

In 1815, the Treaty of Ghent had a chance of success because neither of the two countries would gain in anyway by continuing the military conflict for the sake of their own national interests. Another drawback was that even though Great Britain had the strongest navy in the world and could have taken over America forming colonies, it was unable to do so because it feared the French would be taking over the English Channel. After six weeks since the treaty was signed, Napoleon was on the march again and the Americans had just won the Battle of New Orleans. Strategically, everything changed for the two countries. The two countries knew the benefits they would reap mutually. Another reason the Treaty of Ghent was successful was because the two countries had goals that required the treaty to be ratified and enforced.

In Wilmington, Delaware, the American Watchman announced peace on February 15. The paper reported that the treaty was "highly honorable to our country," and this seems to be confirmed by the London Times, a paper which "during the war has shown a most malignant spirit of enmity toward the United States."

Following the war, the British mercantile interests in the West Indies was less because they started to see their commercial interest in American cotton. The Treaty of Ghent met the national interest of the two countries leading to its implementation very quickly. In 1920, the Allies and groups within the old Ottoman Empire began to show diverse interests. France became allies with Syria and signed a separate treaty with Kemal, acting as foreign minister of Turkey. Great Britain diplomatically showed unconditional support for the Sultan's government, but continued to inquire about the borders between Iraq, and Turkey.

The Turks, considered the implementation of the treaty as unfair and the Sultan was dethroned. In conclusion, the issues were left unresolved by the Treaty of Sevres and are still the main cause of conflicts today.

On the contrary, the British and the Americans had Russia be a third-party mediator for the boundary settlement between the two countries. The success of the Treaty of Ghent has given it the prestige of never having been challenged.

Effect on the Economy:

At that period the economy of the country was not doing that well. The war had led to some important changes in the industrial relations of America. The embargo had destroyed the economy for several years before the war, and this caused an acute scarcity of foreign goods. Goods such as sugar, woolens, pottery, glassware, hardware, and cutlery, were made locally, so they weren't adversely affected but products such as cotton, tobacco, and food-products suffered due to low prices. Meanwhile, efforts to produce foreign goods at home led to deep interests in industrial production within America as a way to overcome scarcity.

The Columbian of New York agreed with this view, as one author wrote, "it is certain that the offensive orders, blockades, and impressments are discontinued, and, as this is all we wanted on those subjects, we have no cause of complaint."

Towards the end of the war, foreign goods, from Britain were coming into the country rapidly, and also the prices fell to less than half their war value. This led to the gradual end of manufactories of America.