The primary reason that America went to war against Britain in 1812 - Essay Example

The primary reason that America went to war against Britain in 1812 The primary reason that America went to war against Britain in1812 According to Haberle (2003), the American war against Britain in 1812 can be regarded as conflict, often misunderstood for a number of reasons. For Americans, the war can be regarded as a continuation of the Revolutionary war. They had the obligation to safeguard their independence against aggression from the British. During the presidency of James Madison, the war in Europe had gained dominance.

On the 1st of June, 1812, Madison called for a war against the British. He asked Congress to declare war against Britain. With the treaty of Paris, agreed upon in 1783, Britain recognized the United States independence. However, tensions still remained between the two nations. The primary reason as to why James Madison declared war against Britain can be associated with differences in the high seas. In his congressional speech, Madison stated that cruisers from Britain violated the American flag.

Besides, he accused the British of seizing persons sailing under the American flag (Haberle, 2003). This, he argued, was against the law that governs the relationships between nations. To Madison, the actions of the cruisers seemed to favor the British while the Americans continued to suffer. Madison also purported that the British had violated the sovereignty of the United States. Therefore, he sought support from congress. Factors that led to the declaration of the war can be associated with the decision of the British to drag American citizens in warships.

Madison claimed that this exposed Americans to significant dangers while in their own country. The actions of the British to use American subjects in their battles triggered Madison to declare war. The British did not respect America as a sovereign country. As such, the war had to be fought to end British control of the United States (Haberle, 2003). ReferencesHaberle, E. S. (2003). The war of 1812. Minnesota: Capstone Press.