A War of 1812 Question?

Question

What progress was made in the final battles of the war?

Answer 1

Little. America's greatest victory (the Battle of New Orleans) actually took place after peace had been declared. The war did keep England from turning full attention to Napoleon for awhile, though.

Answer 2

British troops with Canadian militia stalemated the Americans in battles in the Niagara peninsula and in eastern parts of Upper Canada (Ontario). Americans had earlier captured York (Toronto), burnt public buildings, etc., but couldn't continue in occupation (this was the reason given subsequently for British retaliation when they landed troops near Washington and burnt the White House (which wasn't really white, until it was painted to obscure the marks left by the fire).

With the ending of the Napoleonic Wars (or at least their end, till Napoleon returned from Elba and had to be defeated again at the Battle of Waterloo) the British had forces available to send overseas to North America. This reallity played a significant role in narrowing the issues being negotiated at Ghent, where a peace treaty was signed that essentially restored the prewar status quo ante.

However, after the peace treaty was signed, but before it arrived in the U.S. for Congressional ratification (hence it wasn't known locally) the Battle of New Orleans was fought by a mixed force of regulars, millitia, and citizens (allegedly including pirates and roughnecks) fighting against the first waves of British regulars drawn from hardened veterans of the European wars. The Americans were headed by the best general that emerged on the U.S. side during the war and, at the Battle of New Orleans, the British were defeated. This counted, but not as a victory that had an impact on the war. It made no difference since the peace treaty had already been signed. But it gave a lift to American morale and prevented the hardening of the notion that, not having achieved early ambitions on land, the Americans had nevertheless come out of the war covered in glory. This meant that there wasn't a 19th century equivalent of the Vietnam syndrome; also, that the U.S. could very quickly begin to work together with Britain on issues such as supportiing South American revollutions for independence and non-intervention by European states (Monroe Doctrine plus British seapower), and, most of all, became the basis for two Presidential careers, John Quincy Adams (the real author of the Monroe Doctrine) and Andrew Jackson.