Causes and Impacts of the War of 1812 - Essay Example

WAR OF 1812 The War of 1812 began between the United s of America and Great Britain in June 1812. It ended in 1815. The declaration of war by America astonished Britain and angered many American citizens, both looking upon it as a foolhardy exercise because America was too young and had not been involved in war, it had only 6,000 army soldiers and 16 naval vessels as compared to Britain’s huge 250,000 army troops and a massive fleet of 600 plus naval vessels (Harney). There were many causes that led to the War of 1812. 1) Unfair British maritime practices related to commerce There were two reasons why Britain adopted this policy. During the war between Britain and France that began in 1803, the U.S. remained neutral. In 1805, the British defeated a combination of French and Spanish fleets near Cape Trafalgar, confirming its status as the world’s most powerful naval power. The main strength of the French, on the other hand, lay in its strong ground forces. Since the two opponents could not directly pit their strengths against one another, they resorted to economic strangulation methods. This was the first reason why Britain resorted to unfair maritime practices. The second reason was the perception that the American merchant marine was unfairly benefiting greatly from the European war, while also growing at a rapid pace thus posing a threat to Britain’s naval dominance and its commercial shipping (Harney). The British Orders in Council of 1807 decreed that all neutral ships should pass through British ports. France’s Berlin decree of 1806, and Milan decree of 1807 proclaimed Britain as commercially isolated, and condemned neutral nations whose ships adhered to the British decree. America perceived that both countries were disregarding its neutral rights, but British maritime practices were opposed more because Britain controlled the seas (Gateway New Orleans). 2) Unfair British maritime practices related to Impressment Impressment refers to the right to search for deserters of a nation’s armed forces. Britain started stopping and searching American ships for British deserters – an act looked upon as a breach of sovereignty. American displeasure was exacerbated by the arrogant power entrusted by the British to their naval officers whereby they made unilateral, on-the-spot judgments about the nationality of any man on the boarded vessel Britain resorted to impressment because an increasing number of its sailors were deserting the navy due to discouraging factors like poor food, hard work and excessive discipline and preferring to work in the American merchant marine that itself faced a shortage of sailors and could afford to offer British deserters a wage treble of what they earned in the British navy (Harney). The U.S. claimed Britain had no right to search American ships on the high seas where neither country could claim sovereignty, besides also insisting that the ships were detached parts of U.S. soil still protected by its sovereignty (Harney). As a result, the Monroe-Pickney Treaty of 1806 that was negotiated in Britain did not get formal approval from America as it did not face up to or deal with impressments (War of 1812-History.com {causes}). Secondly, British officers engaged in heavy-handed behavior and actions while carrying out impressment and there were many instances where American citizens were wrongly taken away. American citizens were infuriated at this slight to their honor and integrity, feeling that no independent country could tolerate such arrest and near-enslavement of its citizens (Harney). Confrontation on this subject reached its peak on June 22, 1807 when the British ship HMS Leopard fired upon the American vessel Chesapeake, boarded it and took away 4 of its crew members (War of 1812-History.com {causes}). American protests were the loudest yet because the Chesapeake was a vessel of the United States Navy, and not of the merchant marine. Thomas Jefferson, the third U.S. President, demanded that Britain publicly apologize for the Chesapeake incident, stop its impressment policy immediately and reimburse all related damages to America. The British shrugged off this demand and went on with its policy, causing American resentment to continue festering. The British eventually gave in partially by paying restitution damages {without changing its impressment policy}, but by then it was too late. The Chesapeake incident remained a simmering point of discord until America declared war in June 1812. Many historians consider the Chesapeake incident as the single critical catalyst that triggered the war declaration (Harney). 3) Failure of the American Embargo Decided to implement an economic strangulation policy, President Jefferson passed the Embargo act in 1807, which forbade American ships from sailing to any foreign ports, and denied all access to American ports by British ships (War of 1812-History.com {causes}). Jefferson chose this form of retaliation because America had had successful experiences in using economic boycott against the British before the Revolution, and because he was attentive to the fact that American military strength was inferior to that of the British (Harney). The British economy hardly felt any adverse effects because at the same time the embargo began, there was a huge spurt in British trade with Brazil and the Spanish colonies, the trade increase more than compensating for the non-availability of American trade. In fact, the British actually benefited from the embargo because American trade was blocked to their arch-rival France, thus preventing any assistance they might have got from American shipping (Harney). The effect of the embargo on the U.S. itself was disastrous as it was not able to sell its goods in foreign markets (War of 1812-History.com {causes}). All areas of the country and all economic sectors were so unfavorably affected that the American economy was virtually paralyzed. The worst hit was the grounded American merchant fleet with many sailors having no alternative but to join the British navy to earn their livelihood (Harney). The embargo especially drew sharp criticism from the citizens of New England, with merchants professing to be better off dealing with a minor problem {impressment} as compared to the present major one {cessation of all overseas trade} (War of 1812-History.com {causes}). The utter failure of the embargo forced President Jefferson to repeal it, which he did just before he left office in 1809 (Harney), leaving Americans seething at their unsuccessful attempt to hurt the British economy. 4) Failure of the Non-Intercourse Act and Macon’s Bill no.2 America decided to change its retaliation tactics to one of peaceful coercion. The Non-Intercourse Act signed into law in 1809 by fourth U.S. President James Madison, directed the re-start of American trade with all countries except France and Britain. This move too suffered the same bad fate as the embargo, forcing America to add another twist to its tactics. It passed Macon’s Bill no.2 in May 1810 that cancelled all trade restrictions with France and Britain, also dangling a bribe before both countries, viz., if one of them restored trade relations with America while the other did not, then America would reinstate non-importation against the latter country. As anticipated, France immediately took the bait, and America relished the chance to economically hurt Britain. Its hope was dashed when Napoleon suddenly and inexplicably backed out of the agreement with America (Harney). The failure of both the Non-Intercourse Act and Macon’s Bill no.2 added to the growing resentment and mounting frustration on the part of America at not being able to even dent the economy of Britain. 5) The Indian Menace In the aftermath of the Chesapeake incident, the British contingent in Canada anticipated the onset of war, and as a counter measure, began making friendship pacts with the Old Northwest Indians. The Indian tribes responded quickly and favorably as they were being pressurized by the continuing westward expansion actions of America, and were in the process of forming a general Indian confederacy to oppose it. The leaders of the Indian tribes were Shawnee, Tecumseh and Prophet. The British contingent in Canada began helping the Indian confederacy in 1807. The first major confrontation between the Indian confederacy and America occurred in November 1811 when Indiana governor William Henry Harrison clashed with the Indians at Tippecanoe. America viewed the incident as a serious return to warfare by the Indians fortified by British help, and this served to add fuel to its already simmering resentment against the British (Harney). There were many effects as a result of the War of 1812. 1) Effects of the War of 1812 on Britain The War of 1812 had very little effect on Britain, who looked upon it as unimportant as compared to their notable victory over France that culminated in the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo on 18th June 1815. The only significant effect was the stoppage of the Royal Navy’s impressments policy (War of 1812-History.com {effects}). 2) Effects of the War of 1812 on America There were 5 distinct effects on America. First of all, America gained world respect for bravely confronting the mighty British and ending up without being vanquished. Secondly, the war {proudly referred to as the ‘Second War of Independence’} spawned a heartening level of confidence and optimism, which in turn fostered widespread feelings of nationalism among American citizens. The third effect was the death of the Federalist Party, its downfall brought about by its opposing stance to the war. Fourthly, there was a tremendous boost in the inherent manufacturing abilities of America, the greatest being the birth of the cotton-manufacturing industry. Fifthly, there emerged a greater focus on military development. The move was spearheaded by General Winfield Scott who insisted on greater professionalism in the army officer cadre, which was strictly implemented while training army officers at the United States Military Academy {‘West Point’}, a move which paid off well considering the admirable American army performance during the 1846 – 1848 Mexican-American War (War of 1812-History.com {effects}). 3) Effects of the War of 1812 on Canada The war served to unite the French-speaking and English-speaking colonies in Canada against their common enemy {America}, fostering feelings of nationalism in them that even retained some sort of loyalty to Britain. This was despite the fact that nearly 33% of Upper Canadians were born in America. The main reason for Canadian antagonism was its suspicion of American ideas (such as responsible government), which even after the war ended in 1815 went on to hinder political reform in Upper and Lower Canada until the Rebellions took place in 1837 (War of 1812-History.com {effects}). However, the War of 1812 paved the way for a particular course of action that included events like the Rebellions and the Fenian raids of the 1860s that ultimately culminated in the formation of the Canadian Federation in 1867. While most historians consider these events pivotal to the formation of the Canadian Federation, some of them like Pierre Berton contend that if the War of 1812 had not taken place, Canada would now be a part of U.S.A because Americans would have increasingly settled in Canada, and the growth of Canadian nationalism would never have taken place ((War of 1812-History.com {effects}). 4) Effect of the War of 1812: The Star- Spangled Banner On September 13, 1814 American Francis Scott Key was stranded in Fort McHenry {one of the forts protecting Baltimore} after successfully negotiating the freedom of fellow American Dr. William Beanes who was held captive by the British fleet in Chesapeake Bay. Key endured the heavy bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British during the night. When morning came, he was astounded to see an extraordinarily large American flag proudly fluttering in the smoke laden breeze, unscathed by 25 hours of British shelling. The sight of the flag brought such great enjoyment and pleasure that he was inspired to write a poem to honor the memory of the event, with a note that it should be put to the music of an old British melody “To Anacreon in Heaven,” thus giving birth to the “Star-Spangled Banner.” However, official recognition came more than a century later when it was elevated to the status of the National Anthem of the United States of America in 1931 (Ben’s Guide). References used: “Causes of the War of 1812.” Warof1812-History.com. 2007. 5 May 2007. “Effects of the War of 1812.” Warof1812-History.com. 2007. 5 May 2007. Harney, W. W. “The Causes of the War of 1812.” Globalsecurity.org. 2005. 5 May 2007. “Songs & Oaths: The Star-Spangled Banner.” Ben’s Guide. 2003. 5 May 2007 “The War of 1812.” Gateway New Orleans. (N.d.). 5 May 2007. Read More