Analysis of the War of 1812: Causes, Events, and Impacts

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of the War of 1812, examining its origins, key events, and lasting consequences. It delves into the primary causes, including British maritime restrictions, the Chesapeake incident, British support of Native Americans, and American expansionist ambitions. The essay explores the military strategies and forces involved, highlighting the roles of the United States, Great Britain, and Native American tribes. Furthermore, it assesses the significant effects of the war, such as the rise of American patriotism, the weakened position of Native Americans, economic stagnation, and the loss of life. The conclusion emphasizes the war's impact on the political landscape of both the United States and Great Britain, the shift in foreign policies, and the emergence of the United States as a nation that realized the importance of its military and national unity.

Running head: WAR OF 1812
War of 1812
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note
Introduction
The war of 1812, also known as the Battle of New Orleans was a state of conflict that
arose between the United States of America and the Monarchial state of United Kingdom and
the countries who supported them. The battle started from June 1812 and continued until
February 1815 (Skeen and Edward). Many historians project this war as the portrayal of the
Napoleonic Wars. When the war started, United Kingdom barred all the sea routes to disrupt
the trade between other countries. The United States of America appealed against the sea
route the blockade of trade disruption and was declared illegal under the international law of
trade. The United Kingdom was enraged when 11 of the soldiers were reported to be dead.
The support Britain provided the Native Americans fuelled the anger of the American
towards them.
DISCUSSION
The strategy of expansionism employed by the United States of America was
disrupted by the aid Britain provided to the natives to cause harm to the US. This created a
state of discontentment among them and fuelled the rise of war. There are certain theorists

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who believe the desire of the United States to expand the territory led to them to go for war.
It was under the regime of the American President; James Madison that declaration of war
was signed by the United States (Skeen and Edward).
CHESAPEAKE INCIDENT
The main causes for the beginning of the war of 1812 are the economic restraints that
Britain and France collectively imposed on the United States. The incident of Chesapeake in
the year 1807 was another major force that led to a state of unrest among the countries. The
naval combat that took place between the British and American naval forces with each of
them trying to establish the supremacy over the other. The British naval ship, Leopard and
the crew on board attacked the American naval ship, Chesapeake. The American ship was not
prepared for the war and after a short series of retaliation the captain of the ship, James
Barron surrendered. The crewmembers were subjected to torture and one of them was
eventually hanged. The occurrence of this event led to a sense of dissatisfaction amongst the
Americans and they resorted to take revenge from Britain (Trautsch and Jasper). President
Jefferson failed at the political state and this led to economic unrest as well.
BRITISH SUPPORT OF NATIVE AMERICANS
The support the British offered to the Native American for conducting raids on
Americans who stayed in different parts of the country. The settled Americans were called
evil spirits. The Native Americans wanted to create a state for themselves, which will be free
from the threats of expansion of the Americans (Pratt and Stephanie). This was the main
reason the British supported the Native Americans. The British cleverly masked their own
intentions and used the sentiments of the Native American people to serve their own purpose.
EXPANSIONISM STRATEGY BY AMERICA

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The American strategy to expand was opposed by most of the other states. The
Americans established territorial control over the Canadian territory (Green and Michael).
Many believe the capture of Canada as the beginning of the war. There is also an opinion,
which advocates that Americans captured Canada in order to bargain with the British to ease
the naval trade restrictions they had imposed on them (Trautsch and Jasper). The economic
policies employed by the British were based on the concept of benefitting the imperial
structure were inflicting harm on the American economy. The main reason for the retreat of
the American army on the Canadian territory was that they were unable to obtain any local
help.
POLITICAL CONFLICT IN UNITED STATES
The conflict within the American territory was a major reason, which resulted in the
weakening of the status and power of the United States. One political party supported the
southern part and the supported the northern part. One party was in support of having close
association with the British while the other did not want to mend the distances and wanted the
US to declare war on them (Trautsch and Jasper).
FORCES IN THE WAR
The United States used their naval strength to defend themselves whereas the British
army led the war with the best of the armed and trained forces it had. The Americans used the
strategy to raid the commercial ships and capture the crew. The United States had a large
army with respect to the size when it was compared to the British army. The British Royal
Navy led the war and they used the forces from Canada, which was dedicated in defending
their own country (Turner and Wesley). The Indian forces also joined the British army to
increase their strength in the war. While the British wanted to the Indian forces to increase
their number strength and make up for their inferiority to the army of the United States. The

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Indians on the other hand chose to maintain a neutral stand and protect their country against
any other external threat.
EFFECTS OF THE WAR
The war of 1812 left impact on the politics of both the countries of UK and US. They were
quite evident and are mentioned as follows
RISE OF PATRIOTISM
The American patriotism received a boost in the war of 1812 when they outnumbered
the British army but eventually the American army was defeated heavily in the war of 1812.
The Americans lost the war but the sense of patriotism grew immensely within the country.
The men of the country were in praise of the strength and resilience their country has shown
during the time of war.
WEAKENED POSITION OF NATIVE AMERICANS
The position of Native Americans was weakened when the war reached climax. The
Native Americans who supported the British during the war were in favor of the British and
fought for them but when the war was over the Native Americans realized that the British has
cleverly used them to fulfill their own motives which was to drag the US army out of their
country. The main reason for them doing this was to decrease the competition they had on
their land.
ECONOMIC STAGNANCY
The war brought economy stagnancy in the economy of the United States. The naval
trade suffered because of the restrictions imposed on them by their British counterparts. The
business structure was destroyed and economy became dysfunctional. All the products
manufactured earlier for the purpose of export were stagnant in the country. The products

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remained concentrated in the country and the trade with other countries was reduced. The
economic growth was hindered and the economy came to halt.
LOSS OF LIFE
The war brought with it the loss of human life. Most of the soldiers from both the
countries suffered but the soldiers from the US army were the ones who suffered the most.
The estimated number of soldiers, who died in the war of 1812, was 15,000 and 8,600 British
and Canadian soldiers lost their lives. It proved to be a debacle in the American history. It
was later realized that war only leads to the loss of humanity without concerning any
particular country. Whether the side involved in the war wins or loses, the loss of life in
inevitable.
CONCLUSION
The United States and Britain became enemies as US did not support it during the war
Britain had with France. It remained neutral during the war and this lead to the rivalry
between the two countries. Both the countries suffered heavy loss in terms of life and
property. A sense of nationalism grew in the Americans after the war. The Americans lost but
they realized the importance of the army of their country. New foreign policies were adopted
to protect America from external aggression and foreign invasion. There Native Americans
suffered heavily as they felt loss of their authority over their own native land and lost support
of America. The Native Americans lost their own purpose for which they opposed their
American counterparts. The main gainers of the war of 1812 were the Americans who
realized the power of their military and patriotism. The collective effort of the Americans to
protect and defend their country against any external aggression proved that the spirit of
goodwill was still alive in them. They reinstated the fact that the unity of the country is above
all and they will do anything to protect their own country. The United States realized that

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their strength lies in the being together. The war resulted in rivalry between both the elite
powers of that time and the other countries availed benefits from this rivalry. The benefits the
other countries obtained helped them in the growth of their own personal interests. The
smaller countries tried to gain control by getting together but failed to attain the elite stature
that United States has in the world politics. The United States emerged as the main gainer in
the war of 1812. Despite, the United States lost in the war but it realized the internal strength
it had and tried to find better ways to construct the military force. Thus, it can be concluded
that America emerged as the winner in the war of 1812.

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Works cited
Green, Michael J. By more than Providence: grand strategy and American power in the Asia
Pacific since 1783. Columbia University Press, 2017.
Hickey, Donald R., ed. The War of 1812: Writings from America's Second War of
Independence (LOA# 232). Library of America, 2013.
Pratt, Stephanie. American Indians in British Art, 1700-1840. University of Oklahoma Press,
2013.
Skeen, C. Edward. Citizen Soldiers in the War of 1812. University Press of Kentucky, 2015.
Trautsch, Jasper M. "The Causes of the War of 1812: 200 Years of Debate." Journal of
Military History 77.1 (2013): 273-293.
Turner, Wesley. British Generals in the War of 1812: High Command in the Canadas.
McGill-Queen's Press-MQUP, 2014.