Since the United States became a nation, it has fought eight
major wars. The war of 1812 with Great Britain was one of the three
wars that did not end in unmistakable victories. It was tragic in its
loss of life , money, and property. In 1812 Madison gave into
widespread pressure for war against Great Britain. The war of 1812
had very mixed cuccess on the fields. The British navy blockaded the
American ports.
It grew out of quarrels over several issues. But almost all of
them were virtually settled before the first shot was fired.The largest
share of the fighting was done by the men from the West and the
South, which had hurt the business and the seamen of New England
the most. But the New England states opposed the war bitterly from
the begining. At times they seemed ready to withdraw from the union
rather than to fight. The most important battle of the war wa fought
after a peace treaty was sighned.
The war had its origin in European affairs. In the gigantic
conflict between Great Britain and Napoleon, Great Britain gained
comtrol of the seas by its victory over the combined French and
Spanish fleets in the battle of Tralfalgar on October 21, 1805.
A second cause of the war of 1812 was the Impressment of the
American sailors. In common with other countries at the time Great
Brritain did not recognize the right of naturalization. Its theory of
citizenship was "once an englishman, always an enlishman" least of
all it meant to admit that the British had sinked.Accordinaly its naval
commanders had strict orders .
The battle of Tippecanoe made William Henry Harrison a
popular hero. Later the campaign slogan "Tippecanoe and Tyler too"
would help to elect him president.The war of 1812 also made Andrew
Jackson the hero of New Orleans a popular argue and helped pave his
way to the presidency.When Andrew Jackson became the hero of New
Orleans no one in America knew that the war ...