The War Of 1812 And The Chesapeake Bay

In the early 19th century, Britain and France were engaged in a life-or-death struggle. After much war through the years, France dominated a lot of Europe, though Britain was the ruler of the seas. When it became obvious that neither side was likely to win a decisive military contest, the warring nations turned to commercial warfare: Britain tried to blockade all of Europe, and France attempted to prevent the sale of British goods in their possession(http://gatewayno.com/history/War1812.html, War of 1812). During the 1790s, French and British maritime policies produced several crises with the United States, but after 1803 the difficulties became much more serious. In November of 1807, Britain issued a trade regulation called an Order in Council, which compelled all neutral ships to either call at British ports or be subject to a search by British authorities. A month later, Napoleon decreed

The U.S. had enough of the British Navy impressing American sailors and seizing American merchant ships. Even though the U.S. Navy lacked the size that British had, the Royal Navy was stretched to its limits. Many of the British efforts were focused on the Napoleonic wars taking place in Europe, leaving just two dozen British ships between Halifax and Bermuda. The U.S. frigates were larger and had much more armament than those of the British giving the U.S. one more key advantage over their

New and the Chesapeake’s both had significant and similar purpose to escape from Europe and make states that can allow their own freedom. However, in time both regions began to change and in most ways different in many divisions. Many of these changes or differences such as purpose for freedom, the climate and the environment, and political and economic structures through the changes. Each of these changed the regions own perspective and back ground thus making these regions very different in was unimaginable.

The War of 1812 was started by America due to British encroachment on three fronts, trade restrictions imposed by the British, the increasing alliances of the British with Indian tribes blocking American expansion West, and due to British interference with merchant class ships in the Atlantic. The war was fought in the Great Lakes region between America and Canada, near New Orleans in the Gulf of Mexico, in the Atlantic trade routes, and around Washington DC. The British had always considered the American insurrection in the 1770s to be a temporary event, their continued battles within the European continent as well as the rest of the British empire had proven to be too distracting to keep a solid check on North America. The British also had not anticipated a war in North America in the lead up to the war of 1812 due to the fragility of the American states, leading to the hubris Britain retained in its relations with the young United States of America.

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 first thing that started the events leading up to the war was the attainment of William Pitt to power in England in April 1804. It marked the beginning of a new and uncompromising British attitude toward neutrals that soon led to a crisis in Anglo-American relations. Next, Pitt took office and this caused the British to send naval officers to America. Then, in the spring of 1805, a British court declared illegal the lucrative American practice of converting goods from the French West Indies into “neutral” goods by taking them o U.S ports before shipping them to France. Soon after, British warships called the Cambrian and the Leander boldly took up regular station at New York. There they took up a dozen or more American ships waiting within sight of the port to be searched. This such action angered many Americans and when word of this reached the West, Kentuckians joined the outcry.

Aside from the “rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,” and the controversy surrounding its victors, the War of 1812 was best described as “perhaps the least remembered of American wars because it was fought in such a left-handed slapdash manner on both sides.” 1 The War of 1812 took place in a time shortly after the United States declared independence from Great Britain, but with this newfound freedom came some challenges. For example, Britain’s new lack of control over their American lands brought forth some underlying tension when it came to the cases of alliances and international trade. In addition to the pressure caused by Britain’s loss of power, Napoleon’s campaign in Europe piled on even more stress. This conflict escalated, bringing both sides to make foolish, rash decisions that eventually led to a war recognized by few. Though the War of 1812 is considered an American victory, it can be argued that there was no true victor due to a lack of success in achieving any original goals.

Through the start of the 19th century a great turmoil was occurring between two of the most powerful nations and a small up and coming nation just across the Atlantic Ocean. This great turmoil came to be known as one of the most defining moments for that new country name The United States of America. The other countries, France and Britain, were just going after each other to no ends. At a point in time America had to make a choice to support which side of this argument. Of course this was difficult and hard, and was avoided for some time, but the tipping point was now. This tipping point came to be known as the War of 1812. The War of 1812 was a great, influential war not very well liked and supported and was almost avoided because of the Trade involved between America and Britain, but started because of the impressment of American soldiers, to show to

What were the causes of the War of 1812? Was the war justified? During the year of 1812, United States had an attack Britain with For about twenty years, Britain had claimed the right to intercept American ships on the high seas, seize their cargoes, and seek their crews for British navy deserters. During the invasion with France Britain defended these actions as wartime measures; irritated Americans called it outrage of their rights as a neutral and sovereign nation From the American side, the stated reason for the war of 1812 was to defend the United States rights, which had been violated by antagonist during the Napoleonic War. United states had critics about the British harassment of Neutral merchant shipping, investigation and seizure of contraband on American

As Hickey states, “its government issued a series of decrees that restricted U.S. trade with France and the rest of Europe. At the same time, the Royal Navy stepped up its practice of impressment: forcibly taking sailors from American merchant vessels to serve on its own undermanned warships…They were subjugated to all the harsh discipline,

7) During the War of 1812 Where was it fought? Be sure to tell the significance of the Ferries in this War.

One of the main reasons why the French even helped America in the first place was because of the charm of Benjamin Franklin, who successfully convinced the French to help them in the Revolutionary War. This continues the common theme of public knowledge of the Revolutionary War not always being the complete truth. 3. Benjamin Franklin, who was in favor of the use of privateering, said that “We expect to make their merchants sick of a contest in which so much is risked and nothing gained.” (50) This next example is shown through the use of privateers for the American Navy. While the average American would assume that the American Navy during the Revolutionary War succeeded with the help of John Paul Jones and other richer, more well-known heroes, this was far more the entire truth. Privateers played a huge role in the success of the American Navy. A privateer is a legalized pirate who was allowed to plunder enemy commercial ships. They, in reality, did far more damage to British

The maritime trade of Philadelphia was interrupted by the war of 1812 between the United States and the Great Britain. During the war, British blocked the coastline as a strategy to against American, which significantly affected Philadelphia’ economic activities. After the war was over, the maritime trade in Philadelphia

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.

The United States of America was already fighting more than one war, with Britain and France, but still decided that they needed to protect their ships. They passed an amendment so that merchants cannot trade with foreign countries. The U.S. also sent armed ships to protect their merchants. The European states paid privateers to fight each other.