What was the war of 1812 all about?

Question

Why did Britain and America fight each other again?

I've always wondered why we pointed muskets at each other for a second time

Answer 1

I will give you a skeletal outline and YOU can research each one:

1. The British Orders in Council angered the Americans greatly
2. Impressment of American sailors by the British Navy
3. British troops were STILL stationed in western United States forts, nearly 30 years after the Revolutionary War ended
4. America's fishing rights off the coast of Newfoundland was being restricted by the British Navy
5. British agitators were stirring up problems between the Native American tribes in the west (Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, etc...) and they kept attacking American settlers settling there
6. The War Hawks drummed up war fever in America since they desired Florida and Canada added to the American stable of territories
7. The failure of the Jay Treaty to resolve these problems back in the 1790s.


There you have it. If you want to understand the War of 1812, simply read about each one of these points I raised and you will know A LOT about the causes of the War.

Answer 2

The relationship between Britain and the United States had been frigid since the latter gained their independence from the former. Trade had been substantial but diplomatic relations consisted of each party ignoring the other’s existence.

In 1793, Britain went to war against France in what became known as the Napoleonic Wars. The United States was neutral during this conflict but hostilities between the two belligerents interfered with its trade. The Royal Navy blockaded French ports and obliged all neutral shipping, especially American vessels, bound for France, to call first at a British port and pay duties on its cargo before being allowed to proceed. Furthermore the Royal Navy frequently stopped United States ships and pressed into service those seamen who had either deserted from the Royal Navy or were vaguely suspected of having deserted. This policy so incensed United States officials, that on 18th June 1812, President James Maddison declared war on Great Britain.

The Americans were ill prepared for war. An initial incursion into Canada was easily rebuffed. There were some minor naval skirmishes particularly involving the USS Constitution, which sank several Royal Navy vessels. The British army was too involved in Europe to send troops to fight, but British interests were preserved by supplying the Shawnee tribe with armaments to attack wagon trains, heading for Oregon. The Americans sent an expeditionary force into Canada, which burnt the city of York, now Toronto, and hurriedly retreated.

By 1814, after a series of victories in Europe, Britain had available resources to mount an offensive. An amphibious British force landed at Chesapeake Bay and after defeating the American army at the battle of Blandensberg, captured the city of Washington, destroyed the Capitol building and burnt down the president’s house. This residence was rebuilt soon after but had to be painted white in order to hide the burn marks, hence the name of the White House.

After such a disturbing and humiliating defeat, the Americans called a truce and signed a peace treaty, the Treaty of Ghent, which restored matters to the state they were in before the war.

Answer 3

The 1810 election brought in freshmen congressmen from the frontier states such as Henry Clay from Kentucky who wanted to expand further westward. He and the War Hawks drummed up the expression "Free Trade and Sailors' Rights" to gain support from the New England states because American sailors (though many were British born) were being forced into the British Navy to fight Napolean, who also was capturing U.S. ships and sailors. After Napolean was defeated, the British turned its attention to the United States and looked to exact some punishment against the weaker nation for attacking her during a moment of vulnerability.

Answer 4

England wanted to make one more try at getting its colonies back. The treaty ending the war actually gave them still another chance, but Jackson's devastating victory at New Orleans made them finally concede that American independence was for real.

If you want to quibble about names, you contradict yourself. The English aren't literally "British." The Britons were exterminated or driven out when the Angles and other Nordics invaded around 500 AD. There are practically no "British" words in the English language.

Answer 5

*the impressment of American sailors by the British
*the fact that the British were still in America long after
the Revolutionary War had ended
*the British supplying Native Americans with weapons to
use against Americans

Answer 6

Still determining US independence, the final two years of fighting largely in a US attempt to take Canada from Britain.... which failed, btw! British armies were defeated on US soil, thus ending the wishes of Britain.
Another one of those skirmishes - the failure to take Canada, that is, that the US has lost! Tell that to George W!!! :-)

Answer 7

To protect the Empire of the English Crown by regaining lost land and recovering some lost dignity.

Answer 8

The Americans thought that they could just invade British North America and unite all of North America undertheir flag.
Manifest destiny!
They invaded expecting to just walk in and take over.. somethings never change!!!

Answer 9

You might want to consider that the British were extremely unhappy with the outcome of the first war and wanted to try again to reclaim what was theirs...

Answer 10

The United States wanted to be free from the British.
FYI.Canadians are the reason the White House is white, we set it on fire. Before than it was brown!