War of 1812

The War of 1812 was a three-year conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the United States of America, lasting from June 18, 1812 to February 18, 1815. The war resulted in little change, and neither side claimed victory in the subsequent Treaty of Ghent.

Reasons for War

Trade interference

At the time, Europe was embrioled in the Napoleonic Wars. The French Emperor was rapidly expanding his territories, and an alliance, including Britian, was set against him. The United States, as urged by George Washington in his Farewell Address, had declared neutrality. Both England and France, however, sought to sabotage and/or restrict American efforts to trade with their enemy. Because Britain had a superior navy, the British attempts were more successful, and compounded the grievence of impressment. Because of this, the French incursions were largely disregarded by the American public.

Impressment

The British Royal Navy suffered from low enlistment rates, and to 'recruit' new sailors, British vessels frequently boarded American merchant ships, under pretences of reclaiming deserters. Most notable of such encounters was the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair of 1807. The HMS Leopard fired upon and boarded the USS Chesapeake in American coastal waters, killing three and impressing four. Three of the 'deserters' were actually American citizens.

Embargo Act of 1807

Napoleon in 1806 issued his Continental System, which put an embargo on trade with Britain. In response, Britain issued the Orders in Council, blockinig trade with France. To avoid a declaration of war, President Thomas Jefferson pushed for an Embargo Act in 1807. This law prohibited the United States from trading with any foreign nations. This proved disasterous to the New England shipping industry, and was quickly repealed and replaced with he Non-Intercourse Act.

Non-Intercourse Act

The Non-Intercourse Act was slightly more effective than the Embargo Act, but still did not achieve much. This act prohibited trade solely with beligerent nations, in an effort to continue trade but remain neutral. James Madison, the new President, also ensured that if one country recognized the free trade rights of the United States, the US would cease trade with its enemy and resume trade with that country. Napoleon quickly promised to stop interference with American shipping, and the embargo resumed on British goods. Napoleon, who had no intention of following through on his promise, only wished to add to the American-British tension, and he succeeded.

Expansionism

-british forts on american soil -indian raids -canadian conquest

The War

The White House was burned when the British invaded Washington, DC. The United States defeated the British at the Battle of New Orleans, where General Andrew Jackson destroyed British units ironically after the war's end. As both sides had their shares of victories and defeats, at the peace settlements, the Treaty of Ghent, American delegate John Quincy Adams was quoted saying "we'll call it a draw."