America 's Most Obscure Conflict

The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and Great Britain from June 1812 to the spring of 1815 (Findling, 15). When the war began, it was being fought by the Americans to address their grievances toward the British, though toward the end, the issues eventually were unjustified and reasons manipulated. There is no single cause for the War of 1812 but instead, several related causes, such the influence of the War Hawks, the impressments as well as the Embargo and Non-Intercourse acts, and the British's possible interference with the Indian Nations, and land ownership disputes between the Natives and Americans, ultimately leading to the Battle of Tippecanoe.

From June 1812 – February 1815, the United States fought a war against Great Britain, Native Americans, and Canadians. Most Americans today have either forgotten or remember very little about this war. The reason for this is that there was president associated with the war. President James Madison as a war leader is greatly overshadowed by the likes of George Washington and the Revolutionary War, Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, Woodrow Wilson and World War 1, or Franklin Roosevelt and War World 2. Also there were seven or eight theaters of war during this time, but only 3 capable Generals, Andrew Jackson, Winfield Scott, and Jacob Brown. No capable leader or general emerged to carry the nation to victory.

The War of 1812 signified a military conflict between the USA and the United Kingdom of Great Britain. It’s known for many things, but the most memorable event in this period was the writing of the Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key. His devotion to his country and inspiration to do anything for freedom led him to write this song, which eventually became our national anthem. He once said, “It seemed as though mother earth had opened and was vomiting shot and shell in a sheet of fire and brimstone.” (Francis Scott Key) The feeling that came across Scott’s being was a realization of true freedom. Both sides of the war had suffered losses, but America gained an ability to sail and trade freely. Freedom shed light once again.

The War of 1812 has always been a part of American history not very exiting to learn about for most Americans. It was a tumultuous time for the New Republic and some of the battles of the war shamed the new nation. The War of 1812 did not have the same glorious, honorable, and just cause of the American Revolution. The British made fools of the American people and even burned the Capitol and the White House, the centers of American politics, to the ground. However as shameful as the war was, it also had some good benefits and it demonstrated to Great Britain and the rest of the world that the United States of America was its own sovereign nation, and not some British Sphere of Influence. Although the treaty of Ghent failed to address

The war of 1812 was caused by several different reasoning’s. First, Britain was at war with France. However, Britain did not want the United States to provide France with food and supplies. This would lead to Britain setting up a particle blockade. Second, between the years of 1802 and 1803 the British had captured (kidnapped) about 6,000 American sailors forcing them to work on British ships. Third, many of the American settlers believed that the British were stirring up the Native resistance to limit settlement. Finally, members of congress like Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun had started to sire up about the ideal of war. This was based off of their resentment towards British violation of maritime rights and Britain’s encouragement of Native American hostility against American expansion in the West.

On June 1, 1812, the United States’ fourth President James Madison signed a declaration of war against Britain approved by Congress. This is obscurely known as the War of 1812, which was also the first war of the 19th century and lasted from 1812 to the spring of 1815. The War of 1812 is widely known as the “forgotten war” because the war has left very little to the popular memory. Despite the opposition from an entire region, mainly the Federalists, of the United States for the War of 1812, there were many reasons for the United States to commence the war. The War of 1812 was caused by numerous reasons including British impressment of American sailors and their refusal to acknowledge American neutrality rights, the United States’ widespread belief the British were encouraging Indian rebellion, the actions of some newly-elected Congressmen dubbed the “War Hawks,” and the American desire for more land.

The United States of America was undertaking a major task in setting out to conduct its first war after the drafting of the Constitution. The British Empire had encroached just too far for President Madison, and the waterways in which the United States depended were threatened by British naval vessels repeatedly. There were three stated causes to the beginning of the War of 1812, and each of them has to do with specific problems that the British had put into place before the Americans.

On June 1. 1812, President James Madison submitted a war message to the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States. This message Madison submitted describes how the British have been violating the American flag. It also in tells how the British violated neutrality rights in United States. The Americans also complained of dealing with British ships in American waters. The Americans were angry of the seizure of the American sailors to join the Royal Navy. Madison believed this war would help to protect American ships on the high seas. He believed it to stop the British from impressing United States sailors. President Madison also wanted to stop Britain from having alliances with the Native Americans. Madison hoped to increase the size of the United States by gaining control of Canada and Florida. Because Madison’s War Message did reflect the reality of what was happening between the British and the Americans. His message was approved for the United States to declare war against Great Britain.

The War of 1812 is among the most "obscure" wars in American history, according to journalist Donald Hickey, writing in the Public Broadcast Service. That is because most Americans have no idea what the fighting was about or who the U.S. was battling against. The lack of familiarity with the War of 1812 is likely true, Hickey explains, because the president at the time, James Madison, was "hardly" in the same league as Abraham Lincoln or Franklin Roosevelt. And there was no great general like Washington or Eisenhower to rally the American troops to victory. Moreover, the cause of this war is complex and not well understood. Meanwhile the reasons behind the War of 1812 involved "Free Trade and Sailor's Rights," which really relates to England's attempt to block American trading ships from Europe. It also pertains in history to the rude practice of the English of removing American seamen from U.S. merchant vessels. Hence, Hickey makes the point that in hindsight this war prosecuted by American troops invading Canada was fought (and lost) in an effort to secure maritime rights far, far away from the battlefield.

The United States suffered many defeats to British, Canadian and Native American troops throughout The War of 1812. With the burning of the nation’s capital in Washington D.C., on August of 1814, we had to take a stand. On January 8, 1815, The U.S. and Britain meet in known it know as the Battle of New Orleans. Military general, Andrew Jackson was elemental for the U.S. victory of the battle. With Jackson’s aggressive tactics, American troops were able to defeat British invasions in New Orleans. The victory vaulted Jackson to national stardom, and helped foil plans for a British invasion of the American frontier. However, the Battle of New Orleans ultimately sparked a flame of extreme patriotism and led to the War of 1812 being classified

The War of 1812 is also known as the Second War of Independence because America and Britain had multiple disputes for numerous years since the early 1800’s; America desired revenge. Contributing to the title of Second War of Independence, the First War of Independence between America and Great Britain was twenty-five years before 1812 as well. Some prominent reasons were impressment of American soldiers by Britain, Britain siding with Native Americans, and Britain violating America’s neutral rights. One cause of the War of 1812 was British impressment of American soldiers. Document one states, “The central disagreement surrounded the impressment of American soldiers by the British.”.

Historians have long debated the causes of the War of 1812, with some arguing that Americans incited a baseless dispute to protect domestic markets and appease bellicose governmental factions, and others contending that British policies provoked America into war through unreasonable violations of sovereignty. Reginald Horsman and Drew R. McCoy present such opposing viewpoints explaining the initiation of the War of 1812. McCoy suggests that attitudes regarding American virtue as inextricably linked to domestic industry and free markets permeated public policy and provoked war, while Horsman asserts that external European factors caused Britain to instigate conflict in order to stifle France at the expense of the American economy. Horsman

Leah Ben-David Miss Flynn Social Studies May 10, 2017 "The war has renewed and reinstated the national feelings and character which the Revolution had given, and which were daily lessened. The people are more American; they feel and act more as a nation; and I hope the permanency of the Union is thereby better secured” (Gallatin). In 1812, America was once again at war with Great Britain. This war was not unexpected, for it had been brewing for a long time. America tried to exclude themselves from the war between the French and British by creating the proclamation of neutrality in 1800.

The War of 1812 is probably our most obscure conflict. Although a great deal has been written about the war, the average American is only vaguely aware of why we fought or who the enemy was. Even those who know something about the contest are likely to remember only a few dramatic moments, such as the writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the burning of the nation’s capital, or the Battle of New Orleans.

Twenty-nine years after the signing of the Treaty of Paris of 1783, which ended the Revolutionary War between America and Britain, was the year that marked the beginning of a new conflict that would last America the next three years, the War of 1812. On June 16th of that year, President James Madison declared the start of a war that would greatly impact the future of our country. Britain, still one of the world's greatest superpowers, was currently warring with France at the time of the declaration, however, Britain's reputation as a formidable opponent stood strong. The War of 1812 held a great significance in the history of America: Reasonable purposes for conflict, major conflict with Native Americans, great controversy among its supporters and opposers, numerous honorable battles, the inclusion of African Americans in the war, a memorable conclusion, and notable results.