Blog #6 – Was the War of 1812 the 2nd American Revolution?
The War of 1812 is called America’s 2nd War for Independence by our textbook, “but a footnote to the mighty European conflagration…with huge consequences for the United States” (Kennedy 222). The reasons are numerous:
1. America, as a young nation, gained a newfound respect from the European belligerents through the “hot breath of their [ships’] broadsides” and the defeat of the British army at the Battle of New Orleans (Andrew Jackson video). This was a diplomatic and military victory for our country (222). After the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815, Europe receded into a “peace of exhaustion…[with a] return to conservatism, illliberalism, and reaction” (222).
2. “Sectionalism…was dealt a black eye” and exhibited the “folly of sectional disunity” in which the biggest casualty was the Federalist Party b/c of its association with New England’s support for the British. In a way, the war helped unify the country by getting rid of one party and ushering in the Era of Good Feelings.
3. American manufacturing exploded b/c of the embargo, and in a sense, this war gave America a stronger sense of economic and diplomatic independence and less dependent upon European manufactured goods.
4. Kennedy, et. al. felt that the development of American nationalism was the “most impressive by-product” of the war. This nationalism showed itself in a national literature like Washington Irving and James Fenimore Cooper. A tide of national pride also helped with the renewal of the Central Bank of the U.S. in 1816 and more capital was invested in the burgeoning economy.
These are all good and valid reasons why they call the War of 1812 another American war for independence. But, these reasons are all short term gains for the United States and neglect much more severe long term effects that have more dramatic consequences for the country.
1. By the time of the Civil War, the American military was still a small force but was much better educated because of the West Point Academy where most of the CW officers were trained. That a ragtag band of Americans won at New Orleans in 1815 is testament to not only the great leadership of Andrew Jackson but of poor leadership of the British generals as well. These West Point grads were seasoned on the battlefields of Mexico and out West fighting the Indians as America grasped to the Pacific Ocean for land.
2. Sectionalism never died, it predominantly moved South. I think that this is the most ridiculous of their arguments – that sectionalism faded away. Yes, the Federalist Party died, but the Whig Party emerged within 15-20 years after disagreements over federal spending projects.
– Sectionalism soon flared up in 1819 and 1820 when it was time to figure out what to do w/ Missouri and the rest of the Louisiana territories when determining their slave status. It would rear its ugly head almost every time slavery came up – the tariff issue in 1832-33, the Mexican War, the Wilmot Proviso, Compromise of 1850, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Kansas-Nebraska Act, Dred Scott decision, Lecompton constitution, Lincoln-Douglas debates, Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry, and then the 1860 Election w/ 4 candidates.
3. Though American manufacturing grew stronger during the war, the British dumped their excess cheap goods on the American market in a crude version of economic warfare. The economic battle eventually led to the tariff fight of 1828-1833 and America’s first brush w/ nullification and secession.
4. Nationalism is an important aspect of a country’s development like a nation’s literature or its economy. However, the Central Bank was dismantled by Andrew Jackson in the 1830s soon to be followed by the Panic of 1837. The loss of this bank may have hindered the development of American capitalism before and after the Civil War and could have prevented or forestalled the Depressions of 1877 and 1897.
5. Overall, America’s main goal of this war at the very beginning was to capitalize on Britain’s attention being directed at France and therefore we had hoped to seize Canada as part of our next great American land grab. Since that goal was thwarted by 1815, American attention turned southward towards Mexico, Cuba and other territories. Remember, the Mexican War didn’t start because innocent American soldiers were fired upon while they were walking along the Rio Grande River. They were acting on direct orders of the president to invade the disputed border area of Texas when they were fired upon. The War of 1812 set a dangerous precedent in American foreign policy with our country acting as the imperialist. We have invaded smaller, weaker nations to exploit their economic, geographic or physical resources since the Mexican War, and it could have started in 1812 if the Canadians hadn’t stopped us.
6. Lastly, the War of 1812 left the Native Americans to fend for themselves with the American government and the ever-expanding U.S. ppopulation. Our need for land rubbed against Indian sovereignty, and as historian Robert Remini explained in his book, Andrew Jackson and His Indian Wars, the removal of the Native Americans from the East Coast was also a homeland security issue. 3 times in the past 75 years had various native tribes risen up amongst us and sided with American foes when those European forces invaded our shores (F & I War, Revolution, and 1812). To prevent this internal security threat from happening again, reason said that they needed to be moved far away from the coast where they wouldn’t be much of a threat (and as an added bonus, more valuable land was freed up for settlement in the process).
What do you think?
Was this War of 1812 a 2nd war of American independence? Or was the war the beginning of American expansionism / opportunism that flew in the face of Washington’s advise to stay out of foreign entanglements? Or is there another interpretation for the war of 1812 that could combine both? Explain.
Question:
Was this War of 1812 a 2nd war of American independence? Or was the war the beginning of American expansionism / opportunism that flew in the face of Washington’s advice to stay out of foreign entanglements? Or is there another interpretation for the war of 1812 that could combine both? Explain.
Answer:
The war of 1812 was not entirely a 2nd war of American independence, it was actually and in all honesty a beginning of American Expansionism. I honestly feel that if we didn’t fight this war we probably wouldn’t be in the same position we are today, and for a lot of reasons that I may and probably will go on to explain later on in this paragraph. To some degree it was a war of independence because it showed that we were our own country and we wouldn’t let anyone, anywhere mistreat us. We probably wouldn’t have gone this far if they weren’t kidnapping our citizens off of the boats. We had to show that we wouldn’t stand for people interfering with our liberty. But in a sense it was a war for American expansionism because we legitimized our Louisiana Purchase, and we cleared any and all threat of another country trying to establish troops too close to the US. But in all likelihood our biggest accomplishment was the Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815, the battle that ended it all and reaffirmed New Orleans as part of the US. All of this combined to make it safe to expand westward and helped to instill confidence in the American government’s ability to protect its people and their interests.
I think that the War of 1812 was a fight for both expansion AND independence. It was clearly the beginning of an expansionist America, the invasion of Canada is evidence. But one by-product of expansion is independence, and the opposite could be argued as well. What is more independent than breaking away and expanding? It’s as if a child was finally going off on their own after breaking away from their overprotective parent and starting a family of their own. They used their independence to expand. The War of 1812 defined Americas independence and gave it stability. Up until thean the world had been watching America and waiting for it to fail. This is America standing up on its own two feet and becoming an important power.
I think that the War of 1812 was a 2nd war of American Independence in a more mental perspective. Before this war, America was thought to have been nowhere near as powerful as any of the world super powers. Their victory against Britain, which was one of the strongest countries in the world at the time, brought America onto the world stage and other countries around the world began to recognize the U.S. as a legitimate country. The U.S. was also very divided in the lat 18th century due to extreme partisanship between rival political parties. The Democratic-Republicans and the Federalists loathed each other it separated the beliefs of the country. After the War of 1812 there was a widespread dispersal of nationalism across the states. America had just defeated the army that had defeated Napoleon’s army. This was an enormous victory for the Americans and gave them a lot of pride. There was also a mental relief among Americans because our country was no longer dependent on trade with Europe. The War sparked an increase in manufacturing, which meant that the U.S. could buy fewer goods from Europe and more from within the country. The War of 1812 was a 2nd war of American Independence because it gave them respect, amplified nationalism and relinquished American dependence on Europe goods.
I do not believe that the War of 1812 was entirely a second war of American independence although in some ways it was. The war proved that the American Revolution was not a complete fluke and that if provoked America could protect itself from European enemies. The war also gave Americans the freedom to go far west and expand past the Indians who formally stopped their expansionist efforts. However the war was not nearly as much of a war of American independence than the first one, largely because the war was only a small side note to events taking place in Europe at the time. Also, America largely provoked the war and tried to take British territory in Canada, unlike before when the British came in and tried to re-conquer America. The war was more of a war of American existence, proving that the Democracy experiment will stay in tact for at least another fifty years and the only thing that can stop it is itself. The war also proved to be the end of the real threat from the Indians, because although there were some wars with Indians after 1812, they never really stood a chance against the mighty American army when they were fighting alone. This was the last time that they were able to team up with a mighty world power and try to stop American expansion, and when it failed unbridled American expansion soon followed.
I believe that the war of 1812 was another war that was fought for independence. The things that it helped us gain after our victory were definitely some things that helped push us on our way to complete independence. The war of 1812 was quite the impressive victory for us. We defeated highly skilled British troops with minimal loss of life. This victory sent a huge message to all of the European nations that we were a strong force in the world now. This war helped to make our country a lot more united among people of all different kinds. It also let us develop our own economy that wasn’t nearly as dependent on the help of British goods that it had been in the past. All these feelings and accomplishment helped to spread the feeling of nationalism throughout the entire country. People were very proud of the things that we were doing without the help of Britain. All of these accomplishments and feelings did not stick around for good but they were all an important part of the experience of being our own country. This period of time after this war helped to explain to people that we would really be able to last on our own as a country. Creating their own separate country was never going to be a easy thing that was going to be done in just a short period of time so of course their were also very bad periods of time that followed these events. We had to get through all those bad things that followed all of these good events to truly make a successful country on our own.
Both statements about the war are valid points, but I believe that the War of 1812 was a consequence of independence and expansion rather than a trigger.
America was independent after the Revolutionary War, but the case can be made that the US was independent before the war. We repeatedly established our own systems of governance because Britain largely ignored us for the first hundred years that we were colonies and only decided to enforce the laws of Parliament when they realized how strong the country had become. The separation of thousands of miles of ocean led to the development of a uniquely American identity and by the time the war started, we were British subjects in name only. Both the Revolutionary War and, to a lesser extent, the War of 1812 were merely for recognition of independence; we already were independent.
As for the issue of expansionism, it is true that one of the causes of the war was the attempt to swipe Canada from the British, but the idea of expansion was imbued in the American spirit long before the failed invasions of Canada. The country was founded by people who were looking westward toward new horizons, and the first settlements established on the coasts quickly dispersed farther out west as more people arrived. WE continued to push west in search of more land until the ill-fated Proclamation of 1763. This act issued by Parliament incensed the farsighted American frontiersmen by denying them the land beyond the Appalachians, land that they saw as rightfully theirs. Expansion was clearly ingrained in the American psyche long before both wars, and the War of 1812 was really just a consequence of hungry American farmers and explorers. Thus the war was really a natural result of American independence and expansionism, rather than the other way around.
The war of 1812 is commonly referred to as America’s second war for independence. I happen to agree with this statement because if we had lost Britain could have easily regained control over the newly formed nation. However, i also believe that it was the beginning of American expansionism/ opportunism because once we won there was no doubt in the mind of Britain or any other european nation that we were a legitimate country that was a force to be reckoned with. With this firmly established, America was set on a fast track to expansion that would soon stretch from the Atlantic to the pacific ocean and all the way from the arctic to the south pacific. The war of 1812 was a pivotal point in American history because the entire fate of the nation was very much at stake. America could have easily fell under the control Britain which is why i think that it is accurate to refer to this war as a second war of independence. Also this war sparked the beginning of American expansionism and with the victory over Britain our fate was sealed and America would soon rise to become one of the worlds greatest superpowers.
Was this War of 1812 a 2nd war of American independence? Or was the war the beginning of American expansionism / opportunism that flew in the face of Washington’s advise to stay out of foreign entanglements? Or is there another interpretation for the war of 1812 that could combine both? Explain.
I believe that the war of 1812 was not a second war of independence, but a war of American expansionism and opportunism. It was not a war for independence because the British were not trying to control us again, they were fighting the new America in a war which proves we were already independent. While yes they did prove with the invasion of Virginia that this new country might not be ready for a war, we were still independent, and proved to the world that we were not a force to be reckoned with either at the Battle of New Orleans. The piece about this being a war of expansionism comes into play because Jefferson’s Louisiana purchase was finalized, and our country grew past the Mississippi River. Without fighting this war, we may not have gotten that piece of land, and the US may not have ever expanded, or at least for a while. So I think that this war proved our independence, but was not fought as a war to gain independence.
I personally believe that the War of 1812 was not a second war of independence, but in fact the beginning of American expansionism and opportunism. Although it was the first legitimate war fought as a country after the Revolutionary War, that does not mean that it was a second war of independence. Yes, we did assert ourselves as a united nation that would be willing to fight if need be, but we did not win independence from anybody. Some may also argue that the country was very nationalistic after the war, but that happens after every war victory, not just wars of independence. So then, how was this the beginning of expansionism and opportunism? Well, when we decided to fight, we were aiming to take what was thought to be “easy land” from the British, also known as Canada. Luckily for the British, however, the Canadians defeated the poorly executed American invasions of their territory. Although the Americans did not take control of Canada, the mindset had been established for expanding when possible and taking advantage of smaller and weaker countries for our own benefit. The war also led to the selfish act of the relocation of Indians and moving them farther and farther west. Since they were seen as a threat, the government seized their land and forced them to move. The War if 1812 was not a war of independence, rather the beginning of a selfish and opportunistic America.
It is my opinion, based on the passage provided, that the War of 1812 was a second war for American independence. This war ushered in the Era of Good Feelings and got rid of the Federalist Party. This took care of eliminating one of the biggest wedges in American politics, as well as in social respects. Sectionalism was also eliminated, thus bringing the nation a little bit closer as well. This was a second war for independence from an economic standpoint, too. American manufacturing grew exponentially, and we were finally able to comfortably support ourselves; we could be America on its own, not America featuring European goods. Perhaps most importantly of all, however, was the resulting nationalism. We were happy to call ourselves American, and this furthered each of the aforementioned points above. Although there was much conflict with newly acquired land (Louisiana, for example,) nothing can top the sense of American pride and joy that was so common following the War of 1812. Sure, in the long run the War may have served as a sort of war for expansionism, but I’m analyzing short-term effects—what the nation was like immediately following the war. I feel that the long-term effects come from how the short-term effects are.
I always think of the War of 1812 not as a second war for independence; I think of it as more of a test for a new nation. It may have been perceived as a second war for independence at the time; however, it is now an example showing that the U.S. could stand by itself. It also showed that the U.S. was a force to reckoned with because its troops at the Battle of New Orleans, under the helm of Andrew Jackson, defeated the army that brought down Napoleon. It also showed that the U.S. was going to become a world power, either economically or politically or both. The War of 1812 could be considered the war for American sanity and serenity. The United States wasn’t at war with another country until the year 1898 when the Spanish-American War occurred. The United States was left alone by Europe and began to truly develop economically and expand into the rest of the current country, from California to the New York Islands. This break from wars with Europe allowed the U.S. to define what type of society it would become. Clearly, the War of 1812 was a war that led to the nation becoming what it is today: a land filled with people of every demographic imaginable and a few unalienable rights.
Meredith Starkman
4th hour
In my opinion, the War of 1812 was more so the beginning of American imperialism and opportunism than a second war fighting for our independence. I feel this way for a variety of different reasons. Our country at this point in time thought that they needed to make a statement to show the world that we would not tolerate mistreatment or obstruction of our liberties. We wanted to take a serious stance and say “We’re independent, now let us prove it.” However, we were not fighting for our independence, we were merely backing up what we already possessed. With citizens being taken off of our boats and Britain interfering with the peace of our coasts, America was pushed towards taking action. As if this was not enough, Britain additionally goaded Native Americans to act violently against America. The war of 1812, though, was not a war of independence; it was a war of point making if anything. More than that, expansion was our primary concern and accomplishment. Us securing the Louisiana Purchase was yet another step in the direction of America’s love for expansion. Finally in 1815, the battle of New Orleans ensured our ability to pursue the dream of expansionism. New Orleans was officially a part of our country and there was no longer hesitation regarding westward expansion. We could now safely spread out and migrate west without concern. Thus, while I see how some could interpret this war in a different manner, I see it most as a war towards expansion.
As in the case of all wars there are negative and positive outcomes, which is why a combination of both is a better interpretation of the effects of the War of 1812. To some degree it can be said that the War of 1812 was the 2nd American war for independence. In all actuality this war was also the beginning of American expansionism and opportunism. Through the War of 1812 we were able to show Europe that we were a force to be reckoned with. Not only militarily but economically. As a result of the embargo American manufacturing exploded, showing a newfound economic independence from Europe. At the battles of New Orleans and Waterloo, America gained a newfound respect from Britain and France. Although these are positive short-term gains for the United States, there are more dramatic long-term consequences. During the War of 1812, America hoped to take Canada while Britain was distracted with the war with France. Since America was unable to gain this possession, our attention turned south to Mexico, Cuba and other territories. These were the early signs of American expansionism and opportunism which flew in the face of Washington’s advice to stay out of foreign entanglements.
I disagree with the belief that the War of 1812 was America’s second war for independence. I do think it was the United States’ attempt to prove the rest of the world (mostly their European competitors) that they were on the way towards becoming a global power. Disregarding Washington’s isolationist beliefs, I think that the majority of the American population was eager for more land because of the country’s growing manufacturing industries, economy, and agriculture. This mood of the American people, in my opinion, was a vital cause of the War of 1812. Even though this spirit throughout the population seemed mutual, sectionalism brought these attitudes to different perspectives. The embargo placed on American imports increased the manufacturing efforts of the North (which encouraged American independence from European cousins), but weakened the South’s agricultural prosperity because of their success from tending to Britain. Mostly because of these reasons, the War of 1812 was definitely not a second war of independence, it was just an effort to expand the country’s growing needs for power and global control.
I believe that the War of 1812 was a combination of a 2nd war of independence as well as an introduction to manifest destiny. I believe that the treaty of Ghent caused an insane amount of unity between the Americans. Not only was America more united but they tried to become me dependent from the British. The British were ultimately punishing them by handing off their cheap goods. The American’s made protective tariff which helped create patriotism in the states. This inspired home grown products and American goods. Not only was buy foreign goods more expensive but it was unpatriotic. Ultimately I think the war of 1812 also led to the idea of manifest destiny. The Americans’ obsession with land can first be seen with the proclamation act of 1763. The british stopped americans from moving westward. As Americans yearned for more land they looked towards Canada to find British troops awaiting a fight. Once America realized Canada was a long lost dream they looked for other land which seemed to be weak. Over the years America became extremely imperialistic. Other examples of manifest destiny are the Cuban Invasion, The Phillipines war, and the annexation of Hawaii. The war of 1812 didn’t directly cause these imperialistic occurrences. But i do believe that the war did have Americans start thinking about acquiring more land.
The War of 1812 was not a Second War for Independence because, simply put, the US was already independent. Americans had been free of British rule for over twenty years when the War of 1812 began; they had their own government, leaders, and unique way of life. True, Britain had interfered with trade, impressed innocent American seamen into slavery, provided the Indians with weapons, and overall showed a lack of respect for the United States. But the war would have been over in short time if these were the only reasons why it began in the first place – Britain called off their trade restrictions before James Madison signed the declaration of war, and news of this reached the US in a matter of weeks. The War of 1812 was instead a war of expansionism – the first of many. It began with the United States invading Canada and attempting to conquer it. Americans thought Canada would be an easy target, since Britain was preoccupied with war in Europe and might not be able to defend it. They were wrong. After their attempts at invasion fell flat, Americans were left to fend off invading British forces for nearly three years. Only after the White House and Capitol Building were burnt down and the US was nearly overrun did the country narrowly escape with its life. This was no war of independence; it was merely a failed attempt at expansion.
In an economic sense, we did find independence from Britain’s goods, But not until a bit of time after the war. So actually you could say the tariff was the war for independence, we finally started to break away from Britain’s goods and develop our own home industry. The tariff was very effective, because if it wasn’t instituted the massive amounts of cheap excess goods traded to America might have severely stunted the home growth of industry. We might have been even more dependent on Britain for a longer time. So really the tariff was the crusader for American independence, not the war. The war of 1812 was merely a prelude. Other than that there wasn’t much independence being won. The war ended in a drawn, nothing was really gained, or lost. The war would have continued, and we might have lost, if it wasn’t for Britain having to focus it’s attention back in Europe. The war also definitely showed expansionism, because trying to obtain Canada was probably the biggest reason for the war. This continued our hunger for more land, with the south and westerners wanting to keep expanding even more.
I do not believe that the war of 1812 can be considered a second war for independence. This is probably because I’m a black and white thinker, but I do not see how this can be considered a war for independence. I know that we proved ourselves to the world, showing that we can be economically self sufficient and that we have the military might to hold our own against the strongest navy/army in the world. I do however see how it COULD be considered a war for independence. We were fighting against the British basically to defend ourselves. We weren’t fighting for territory or foreign resources, and if we simply laid down our weapons, the British would have eagerly conquered us and reinstated us as the king’s subjects. We were fighting for our survival as a country, but I do not believe that independence was what the war was focused around. Because of the war, our economy developed, our navy gained reputation, and as a whole we proved ourselves to the world. We became a blip on Europe’s radar, and we were now able to defend ourselves, and we were now able to be considered a true country, not a simple collection of democratic states that were expected to fail.
I believe that the War of 1812 was a 2nd war of independence in a more perceptional view. Before the War of 1812, the U.S. was a very small and underappreciated country. Even though they had just defeated Britain in the Revolutionary War, no other world powers really thought much of the U.S. However, after defeating Britain again in the War of 1812, the U.S. really began to receive more widespread respect from other countries. This would begin the escalation of the U.S. from a small country to what it is today, the most powerful country in the world.
This war also played a huge role in uniting the U.S. as a whole. Before engaging in this war, the citizens of the U.S. were completely divided politically, some people adopting a position of a strong central government(Federalism) and some adopting a position of a weak central government(Anti-Federalism). However, after the war, the country began to agree more on a compromise between the two that would allow citizens to keep their liberty and allow for the government to have enough control over the people.
I believe that the War of 1812 was both the beginning of American expansionism and our second war for independence. This war ultimately paved the way for the “Manifest Destiny” ideology to come. At the beginning of the war, we set our sights on British Canada, and it was an important battleground in the War of 1812 because that is where the British had their weakest forces. If the American offensive strategy wasn’t so disorganized, they might have turned the land over into American influence and settlement. Because of the three failed attempts at capturing Canada, our country has had a history of trying to take over countries with weaker economies, military, and weak governments. We believed we had the power to expand and imperialize because of the independence that we felt we gained because of the War of 1812. America gained respect from Britain because of the way that we fought in the war and defeated them. The country felt unified because of the collapse of the Federalist Party. American manufacturing increased because of the stoppage in trade with Britain, making us feel truly economically dependent for the first time. All of these reasons gave America the sense of power and confidence it needed to start thinking that they were a country that could expand and could become influential in certain places and could colonize. The War of 1812 can be called America’s second war for independence, and the independence America won from Britain set the stage for our expansionist ideas to come.
I think that the War of 1812 was a war of both independence and expansion. On the one had the Americans need the freedom from Britain. They didn’t want to be kept under the wings of their foe and creator. They needed room to be free to do as they pleased and the only way to do this was to get into a war with Britain and win to show not only Britain but other countries as well that we are coming out as a country and that we could hold our own. This was a war of expansion because we, the Americans, wanted more room to expand and grow. We were prohibited from that with the Indians and the British. With this war we had more freedom to expand because the British were out of our hair and the Indians didn’t have people to help them fight back anymore. With mo help from outside countries the Indians were left to try to fight the Americans by themselves or to do as the Americans said. By engaging in this war Americans satisfied their independence with showing that they weren’t going to be ruled again without a fight and a hard fight at that. They showed that if they were messed with there would be consequences and the fight would not happen easily. They also showed that their need for more land was great. With the war ending ties with Britain the Indians were at the mercy of the hands of the Americans who greedily took this advantage and took the land promised to the Indians.
The War of 1812 may not have purely been a 2nd war of independence but it was none the less very important in shaping America’s controversial but progressive future. I believe that the War of 1812 was partly a 2nd war of independence but also a beginning of American expansionism. The War of 1812 proved to European belligerents that America could defend itself with out the help of another European power. On the other hand, I believe that even if America had been outright defeated by the British in the war, it would not have meant the permanent end to an opportunistic American future. In the case of defeat by the British, I believe that America would have continued to move forward as a nation, but it would have been a much slower development. The War of 1812 also set America off on the path of imperialism. The war showed American’s the overwhelming potential in the United States as a nation that could not only defend itself against foreign foes, but also eventually expand into outer territories. The war created an American future that spat in the face of Washington and his advice of staying out of foreign involvement. America would eventually reach its hand into foreign soil such as Mexico, Hawaii, Cuba, and the Philippines.
I think that the War of 1812 served as both a conclusion to the Revolutionary War by asserting American independence, as well as the beginning of an American attitude of confidence; not so much expansionism, but a more belligerent approach to foreign affairs. The whole fact that the US was fighting a second war with its mother country following a period of peace, showed to the world that the US was indeed a sovereign nation and no longer beholden to Britain for economic survival. This was affirmed to the world by the emergence of a more serious and competitive American industry during the war as well as during the embargo leading up to it. The War also established an attitude of American confidence and belligerence because the US was the country that declared war, not Britain. The Americans felt so confident in their ability to wage war, that they were willing to risk fighting the British army, the most well-trained and formidable army in the world that had just beaten the unstoppable Napoleon. This insanely confident move by the Americans also may have planted in the mind of the country the seeds of expansionism because it now felt that, having signed a peace treaty with the British after a three year war and not losing in the negotiations, it could challenge the world and get away with it; the world was now the Americans’ oyster, the world belonged to them.
I actually think that the War of 1812 was more of the beginning of expansionism, but the war did have some independence like traits that could be interpreted into a second war for independence. Yes, the European nations may have had some more respect for the newly formed country, but that does not constitute a war of independence. Even though sectionalism may have dissolved between parties, the issues and tensions were still there through the later tariffs and the overloading of cheap British goods on a higher priced market. Eventually the slavery issue would explode again when Missouri wanted to become a state. These arguments are more for a short-term independence period. Canada had been our goal for the first part of the war, which is clearly an expansionistic thought. When those raids failed and the war had ended, the Americans could not move north so the increasingly moved west and south towards the Caribbean and into the Louisiana Purchase. When moving west, this weird Native American problem kept coming up repeatedly. The government’s solution to the “problem,” send all of the Indian tribes onto one single land territory and never disturb them again. When those treaties lasted a grand total of 15 years before those pesky white people came pounding on there doors for more land, the feds just kept moving the poor people farther and farther westward.
I believe it was a 2nd war of independence because the U.S became less dependent on British goods and more unified as a whole. America had never been a real contender in the world market because the British were able to control much of their trade, and after they were freed from the British, they still had a hard time getting into the global economy. The war of 1812 showed that the U.S was now becoming a great world power, helping boost its status. Nationalism also increased as the “era of good feeling” arrived. Many British influences were beginning to get wiped out, like the Federalist Party, which helped unite those against imperial rule together. Writers also started creating literature about the U.S. and how great it was to be an American with freedom and strong values. This made people feel proud to be Americans which also helped start the formation of stronger political parties and an altogether stronger government with leaders that could be looked up to as role models. The military also gained respect, especially after the battle of New Orleans, which ended the war and granted Americans a final separation from the British. I think the war of 1812 helped form the basis of the economy, that we still develop and change today, and strengthened American values instead of British ones.
I believe that the War of 1812 was a war of independence as well as the beginning of expansionism. Madison’s reasoning for asking Congress to declare war in June of 1812 gives light unto the true meaning and purpose of the war. Above all, Madison had “turned to war to restore confidence in the republican experiment” (Kennedy). Madison and the rest of the Republicans believed that only a strong assertion of America’s existence as a nation and of democracy as a form of government would put America on the stage with the other world powers. Essentially, the war was a fight for American “nationhood” and democratic government, both essential parts of independence. Though America was politically known as a “free” country, Britain had never really let go of its grasp on America, especially economically. After the war, Americans came out with a renewed sense of unity and nationalism that led to new growth in the country. “In both an economic and a diplomatic sense, the War of 1812 bred greater American independence” (Kennedy). The new feeling of independence as well as the war economy itself ultimately led to expansionism and opportunism. Manufacturing prospered behind the British blockade, and industries were stimulated by the war. Though America may have already been politically independent in the year 1812, America emerged from the war in 1814 a more self-governed, nationalist, and expansionist society which would shape American history thereafter.
The War of 1812 was a second war of independence for the United States in the sense that it legitimized the first war for independence as well as started the country on the path to where it is today. When Jackson and his troops defeated the British in the Battle of New Orleans, it was the first time America had defeated a world power under its own strength. After the battle, the U.S. was seen as a power and a force to be reckoned with by other countries. The victory also helped to legitimize the Louisiana Purchase and created a strong sense of nationalism. The war also helped to steer the country toward where it is today by planting the seeds of expansionism. Without the victory the expansion into the new Western territory would have been delayed or never would have occurred. Another way the war helped to shape the country was the increase in American manufacturing and the first protective tariff. The war shaped and identified America as a military and economic world power.
The war of 1812 was definitley not a second war of independence. It might have been one if the british had declared war on us first to get us back, but the truth is that we attacked canada (under British rule). In doing so we declared to the rest of the world that we were an ambitious nation and where not satisfied with what we currently had.This was a war of expansionision in which we couldnt have won, we grosssly underestimated the British and overestimated ourselves and our economic situation. We believed that the english needed us when in fact we needed them. This all contributed to the fact that it was a war of expansionism.
The War of 1812 was a very complicated ordeal. It can not be considered exclusively as either a war for independence or an imperialistic endeavor. At the time, the American victory served both as a confirmation of America’s independence from Britain and of the young nation’s potential to become a world power. The war sent a strong message to leading European powers; America was not to be reckoned with—she would demand respect. The significance of the War of 1812, however, runs much deeper than just this. It set a precedent for a unique, and very American, type of imperialism. American’s seem to have a predisposition to “benevolent” imperialism. Americans seek to conquer and dominate other nations in order to instate the “superior” American values. This is an ideology that is strongly incorporated into the mindset of manifest destiny and is used to justify the modern wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the War of 1812, Americans wanted to “free” the French Canadians from the British “tyranny”. This perception of the French Canadians was obviously skewed by an American bias, especially because the conservative French in Canada were pro-British because they desired a reinstatement of the French monarchy and the downfall of atheistic Napoleon. The tendency of Americans to aim to save those who do not want to be saved was prevalent in 1812 and is still important today in perpetuating the wars for democracy and against terrorism in the Middle East.
The War of 1812 was a fight for both expansion and independence. It was the start of an expansionist America, the invasion of Canada proves this. Out of expansion comes independence. Americans used their independence to expand. I think the idea of being free put in their minds that they could then expand. The idea of expansion goes hand in hand with independence. The War of 1812 let Americans expand and this proved that they could stand alone. The War of 1812 defined America’s independence and gave them the stability they were looking for all along. Up until then the world had been watching America and waiting for them to fail. Under all of that pressure America gained their ground. I think this really set the tone for which America became such a huge expansionist country after this. The new found independence forever changed America. Without the War of 1812 ever occurring America would never have had the idea of expanding and would be a completely different country.
The War of 1812 was the beginning of American expansionism, not a second war of American Independence. We had already broken away from England, and were not tied to anybody, so there wasn’t really anybody to declare independence from. It was instead the beginning to American expansionism. We wanted to break off all of our trade restrictions and expand our economy so that we could surpass Britain and France and become a power force in the World competition. We tried to claim Canada in attempts to make our country larger, expanding it. All of these actions also created a sense of nationalism in our country that still is with us today. We thought that we should try and grow while Britain and France were distracted with each other, so we tried to capitalize on that opportunity, trying to expand, not to declare independence. This conflict in foreign affairs that we got into directly ignored Washington’s advice. It can be debated upon whether or not it was the right decision for us to get involved with these foreign affairs, but I like to believe that it was the right choice. If we didn’t try to expand our country both economically and geographically, we might not be the superpower in the world that our country is today.
The War of 1812 was both a second war to gain independence and a war of expansion. The War of 1812 had intent to expand America but by doing so America also proved its independence not only to the British but the world as well. America was finally beginning to do what its mother country had been doing for centuries, concurring and expanding to become a stronger country. America expanded in the south but also became more independent from other countries while gaining their respect. They strengthened up their economy, settled sectionalism momentarily, and united the country to stand against the enemy. The War of 1812 was a war that, in the long run, proved that America was heading toward true independence and that it wasn’t just a mind state anymore. In the revolutionary war, there was an idea of independents and now they proved America’s capability of being an independent nation. It was kind of a broadcast telling the many countries looking to pick at America to back off! From the War of 1812, America has not looked back. Although it has struggled many times, it has been able to maintain its independence and strong reputation internationally.
The War of 1812 was a second war of American independence in that it caused a rebirth of American nationalism and unity and once again helped curb British influence on American society. Before the war, the British had been encroaching on American territory, encouraging Indian attacks and impressing their sailors. America declared war to stop the British from repeated attacks and, in overcoming the might of the British navy, proved that they could fight with the best nations in the world. The War of 1812 brought America respect on an international scale; American diplomats were treated with less scorn from then on. The war also identified sectionalism as treasonous; Federalist involvement in the New England secession movement helped to bring about the end of the Federalist Party. The War of 1812 was a war of independence; it united America as its own nation, independent of all others, and brought America respect around the world.
The War of 1812 may be seen as a land grab by some; indeed, it was brought about by America’s expansion into the West and its involvement in European affairs. The war would have been a nightmare for George Washington; it was exactly the kind of conflict brought about by foreign entanglements that he warned against. However, despite the claims the war made America a stronger, more nationalistic, and more independent nation.
I believe the War of 1812 was the beginning of American expansionism, opportunism, and Manifest Destiny that disregarded Washington’s advice to stay out of foreign entanglements. The main point that leads to me to this conclusion comes from looking at the causes of the war and why Americans interjected, rather than the consequences of the battle, many of which were unforeseen by the new nation. America’s initial goal of the War of 1812 was to capitalize on France’s distraction of Britain and attempt to seize the Canadian Territory. This was the first era in the new nation’s history in which the colonists were neither fighting with other countries such as Britain, nor dealing with domestic turmoil such as colonial rebellions or grievances. This era of calm did not last long, as the ever growing colonist population needed, but more forcefully, craved, more land and resources. This motivation stemmed from the desire for American expansion and conquering, whether it was an innovative and inspirational mindset or a cruel dominative mindset. The post war nationalism that occurred, although possibly predicted, was not a goal that Americans had in mind when they joined the fight in 1812. The nation’s government also could not have foreseen the changes in the American economy and industry that resulted from the embargo of 1807 and other military actions. While these events certainly unified the nation and strengthened and developed its new structure, a push for independence was not what prompted the American nation to become involved in the War of 1812.
I believe that The War of 1812 was, in a sense, a second war of independence. I also believe that it was the beginning of American expansionism and that the two explanations tie heavily into each other. Before the war, America was an infant when it came to its developments in all areas, but the new country was especially weak militarily and suffered from rampant sectionalism and disunity. Although the war did not immediately change these characteristics, it ushered in a new American sentiment that had many adverse effects. The military victories that America achieved were some of the first that the independent country ever gained (ex. the battle of New Orleans). This proved both to other countries and to Americans themselves that this “newborn” republic was nothing to scoff at. It reaffirmed the patriotic and anti-British values among citizens and therefore ushered in feelings of independence and pride. This new feeling of power convinced citizens that their country was very capable of getting what it wanted. As a consequence, imperialistic tendencies began to emerge within the populace. If the country was strong enough to pursue international prizes, why shouldn’t it? The War of 1812 was a sort of “second war of independence”, which created new independent and imperialistic sentiments among citizens and therefore contributed to the beginnings of opportunism.
Prior to the war, America wasn’t respected internationally. France and Britain easily killed its trade because it wasn’t important enough economically. Its foreign diplomats weren’t respected either, as demonstrated by the x y z affair. Internal dissention was also a problem. Nullification had originated with the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions at the turn of the century and New England quickly adopted that rebellious spirit with their own meetings in the early 1800’s. Basically, America wasn’t doing so well.
The embargo forced American industries to develop and begin manufacturing what goods they were no longer receiving from Britain. This was the beginning of America’s role as a major industrial power by gaining an important amount of economic (and not political) independence. When the war came, American anger focused on a common enemy. In battles like New Orleans, American armies proved themselves for the first time against the British, and the world began to take them seriously. Foreign relations improved as well.
In summary, America was already independent. The war of 1812 asserted its role in the world and strengthened the union with newfound nationalism, but politically, the United States didn’t separate itself from another power, as it had in 1776. America was already America.
The War of 1812 was a war of maintaining independence from Great Britain, for the most part. The war did focus on American expansionism but the main idea of the war was to keep America’s independence. I feel that America was trying get their independence and this soon led to expansionism. The war started because of humiliation of American honor, Britain going against American expansion, trading restrictions, impressments and much more. Although the United States fought for their independence in the past, Britain still wanted to control them. Britain’s ways of controlling were invading, placing trading restrictions. The United States did not want to be controlled by Britain any longer, which resulted in the war. The War of 1812 is known as the Second War of Independence because the United States were standing up for themselves, against Britain. America felt, the way to be truly independent, they should expand in different areas, which brought about American expansionism. Invaded Canada was an example of expansion. America did not want to rely on Britain for things so they wanted to go to other countries or even produce goods themselves, which brought the idea of manufacturing to America. As a result of getting away from being controlled, America became its own nation and was able to expand also.
I believe that the war of one thousand eight hundred and twelve cannot be classified a s either a second war of American independence or as the beginning of American expansionism/opportunism that flew in the face of Washington’s advice to stay out of foreign entanglements. Instead, I choose to believe that the war of one thousand eight hundred and twelve should be interpreted as an interpretation that combines the two views. I shall explain. I think that it was in some part the second war of American Independence because it showed, especially the battle of New Orleans, that we were independent from Europe and could stand on our own without help. It also helped to add wood to the blazing spirit of American identity. Yes, that is a mediocre metaphor. I’m working on it. I also believe that it was the beginning of American expansionism/opportunism. This is because we only jumped into this war because it benefited us at the moment and national passions flamed high. We were opportunistic and seized the chance to gain new territory. So, both of these are good reasons. But the combined one is better, so that’s why I chose that.
I don’t think this war was either a war of independence or a great foreign entangler. I think that the war had its upsides and its downsides, but since the downsides were greater and more long term, the war couldn’t be called a war of independence. Although we gained new found respect from European countries, gained nationalism, and defeated the Federalist powers, there were many downsides to the war. The country was further split by the fight for an equal slave/free state ratio, and the Whig party sprang up. The 2 group fight never died. The precedent was dangerously set for America to invade its weaker neighbors, because of our attacks on Canada failing, and us looking toward Mexico next for expansion. And although European respect was won, it didn’t do much for us because British still dumped their excess goods on us in an attempt to kill our economy, whether they respected us or not. The loss of the bank and the increased southern/northern sectionalism also contributed to a loss of nationalism that offset the Era of Good Feelings. In fact, the Era of Good Feelings contained a huge economic depression of 1819, and was dramatized. Not everyone was “feeling good” during those times, and it’s foolish to say the war was simply another Revolution with no adverse affects.
I think the War of 1812 can’t be put into one category because the motives for the war show it was both a war of independence and the war that led to the wave of American expansionism that would follow. I think at the beginning of the war, motives were fueled by a sense of expansionism. America wanted to take Canada, which we saw as weak at the time. This need to expand was not forgotten after the war due to the new sense of unity and nationalism the war produced in America. As the war progressed, however, we began to view our fights against the British as a repeat of the Revolution. One of the main events in the war that led to the protective feeling of our nation was when the war in Europe was over and the British sent 10,000 soldiers to America. This aggressive act by the British turned a war that had started to acquire new territory into a war used to prove our strength and ability to stand as a free nation. We weren’t necessarily fighting for our country’s independence from Britain as a ruler, but more to create a reputation as a country free from British influences that could survive on its own. We needed to prove that even with restrictions on trade, we could thrive and we could overcome our enemies. The fact that we succeeded in surviving without the trade of some of our main importers and exporters showed the people in our country, and in countries around the world, that we were a finally, truly independent.
The War of 1812 was a war for independence, but not in the typical sense of the word. It was not a fight for the birth of a new nation, but the fruition of the expansionist mood across the nation. America was going through its adolescence as a nation, and was tired of being constrained by its European elders. They encroached on American land, bullied American soldiers, and ignored American treaties and directives. We had quickly become the malcontent teenagers of the world, and we were ready to lash back. The easiest way to do this was to combine foreign anger with expansionist feelings to give the ensuing fight willpower and a goal. The trigger that opened the floodgates of war fever was found with the huge European war. With the European powers occupied, it seemed the perfect time to attack. Though our attack ultimately failed miserably, it showed the rambunctious nation that we did not need to cower in fear of a sudden, whimsical attack on our soil. This fed our desire for land. Once we tasted expansionism could be like, we could no longer control ourselves and became the imperialistic bully of the world. Clearly, the War of 1812 was more a war of ideological and emotional, not physical, independence.
The war of 1812 is not the second war of independence; with the declaration of independence and the defeat of the British in the revolutionary war we were a separate entity from our old mother country. The war just confirmed to other countries that we were a strong nation, for example the British defeat at the Battle of New Orleans, under the command of General Andrew Jackson. This battle/war was not a fight to be an independent governing body like in 1775 but to be guaranteed certain economic freedoms. Just if today Cuba, an independent nation like the United States in 1812, fought the United States for the strict embargo enforced on trade and travel to their country. However this war is the beginning of American opportunism and expansionism. Through the strict embargo posed on American goods and products, the American economy was strengthened for a strong, internal, self-reliant capitalistic economy was created in America. With the win at the battle of New Orleans, the Louisiana Purchase was deemed void and a sprit of exploration and independence was revived in American society, especially because it was the first time in American history that without foreign aid America had won a battle.
The War of 1812 was a second war of independence for the United States. The war proved that the United States could stand up to a European power in a war with out the help of another European power. The United States secured its independence and also secured its position in international politics. After this US relations with Great Brittan greatly improved. We have become great allies and metal trading partners.
The war was not the start of American expansionism. Americans have always had an expansionist mind set starting with the day they landed in North America they have been constantly pushing for my land and the power that comes with it.
I think that the American government in the early 1800’s followed Washington’s words to stay out of foreign entanglements really well. The United States was not firmly entrenched in European alliances until after WW2 with the creation of NATO and The United Nations. But prior to those two organizations the United States has stayed incredible neutral in foreign politics. The president that George Washington Set allowed for both world wars to escalte prior to the US involvement.
The War of 1812 was a 2nd war of American independence. When you think about it, the American Revolutionary War was a fight for American expansionism and opportunism. The Crown had forbid American colonists from settling beyond the Appalachian Mountains, which we believed was not their right to declare. We wanted to be free to make decisions for ourselves and grow economically independent from Britain, or at the very least have economic relationships with other countries. It was a war involving Britain, France, and the United States, so a war like the War of 1812 was bound to occur at some point, because although we had our own government, we were not yet detached from our past. A war between the two powers was something we could not avoid somehow being forced into, some way or another. Yes, we wanted to show the world that this radical idea of government could be a huge success and surpass anything they’d ever seen. Yes, we wanted to show that we didn’t need other countries to survive economically. But it was more. It was a fight to truly be able to fight independently, to be able to dissociate ourselves willingly, and remain neutral as we choose. It was a fight for the right to fight on our own terms. Britain still had this idea that it had the power to force decisions upon us and France believed it could simply manipulate our actions with our owed debt of trust. America needed to show that it could no longer be bullied. It was proving for the first time that it was truly more than a cluster of colonies; it was a nation.
I believe that the War of 1812 can most definitely be considered a second American revolution in that it we were fighting for our economic independence and in order to emerge as a future world power. Directly after the revolution, no other world powers really thought much of the U.S. However, after defeating Britain again in the War of 1812, the U.S. really began to receive more widespread respect from other countries. After the war we started to brake away from European goods and develop our own home marketplace and industry. The War also established an attitude of American confidence and belligerence because the US was the country that declared war, not Britain. This instilled new confedence in the military and set America in the direction of imperialism. This made people feel proud to be Americans which also helped start the formation of stronger political parties and an altogether stronger government with leaders that could be looked up to as role models. he new feeling of independence as well as the war economy itself ultimately led to expansionism and opportunism. In a sense the war didn’t physically make us any more free or independent as a nation but it created Americans as an independent people.
The war of 1812 was more of a continuation of the American Revolution than a second revolution. After America “won its independence” from Britain, Britain still continued to economically dominate the country by restriction trade, impressing sailors into the Royal Navy, and supporting Indian tribes that were against American expansion. They may have earned their political independence from the Revolutionary War, but America didn’t earn its economic independence until 1814. Because Britain didn’t have an economic grip on them, America’s dependence on European imports was much less. Therefore; after the war, they could manufacture more within the country. Americans also had more freedom to explore their country and expand with less worry about the British helping the Indians rise up against them. The war of 1812 free didn’t only separate America from Britain’s grasp. It gave Americans a stronger feeling of nationalism that was much needed at the time. Partisan politics was strong at the time, and the country was often in the midst of harsh debates. The war brought the citizens of America together. The opposing Federalist Party collapsed after the war, thus leading to the “Era of Good Feelings”. The bitter partisanship of the past was, at least for a time, over.
* On my last one, I messed up on the last sentence. Sorry
I think that the war of 1812 was the beginning of American Expansion, which went against Washington’s, advise to stay out of foreign affairs because it now showed the world that America was a force to be reckoned with. By winning, it showed the European powers that our first war with Britain wasn’t a fluke and that we could protect ourselves against them and we were a threat to them. After the war, the Indians lost all their land and many were slaughtered so now we could expand west without having to worry about Indian attacks or ambushes against the American people. Also, the United States tried to get Canada from the British so we were trying to get the British out of north America so we could be the sole power their. I don’t think it was a war for independence because the British weren’t in control of us; we were freed from them for thirty-four years. They were just seizing our boats and sailors and as an emerging nation, we had to take action or the rest of the world might think that they could push us around to. The Unites States had bad relations with the British since the revolutionary war ended so it was understandable that their were tensions between them.
The War of 1812 was not solely a second war for independence or the beginning of American expansionism. We were not fighting for independence in the typical sense; we had already emancipated ourselves from Britain at this point. But through this war we gained respect from several European countries and further distinguished ourselves as our own independent country as well as a force to be reckoned with. We continued to prove this point with the embargo that displayed our apparent lack of dependence on European goods. Thrilled with our still newfound freedom, we were eager to flaunt and expand upon it. But this war was just as much the beginning of expansionism in the United States. Native Americans were now lacking allies to support them against the American government, and when our craving for land encountered their land, we took advantage of their diminished power. From this point onward, Native Americans were pushed further and further west and/or eradicated. Also, at the beginning of the war, one of America’s main goals was to snatch up Canada while the British were distracted with the French. This was not a success and we soon after turned south to Mexico and Cuba and have since in our history invaded smaller and weaker nations than us in order to exploit their resources. Had we not been initially distracted by Canada, this would have happened even sooner. Independence and expansionism are both prominent themes in American history, and it is fair to say that both were key themes in and results of the War of 1812.
The War of 1812 was not a true “2nd War of Independence” for the Americans in the sense that America already had its independence, and had America lost, they would not have fully lost their independence. The war was not about Britain trying to regain control of the United States, it was largely about expansionism and the fact that we were still a strong enough nation to fight (and win) a war. This expansionism rises from the Louisiana Purchase and our victory at the Battle of New Orleans. This allowed our country to start growing westward, which in turn allowed it to grow in every aspect as a whole. Had we not won the war, this sort of expansionism may not have been possible, and today, America may have been much less powerful or big. In addition, another important point to notice is that the Americans started this war, not the British. This proves that America was so certain of its strength and unity that it was willing to give its own mother country a “rematch”, a rematch which America won. In this way, the war of 1812 more concluded any sort of war for American Independence than becoming one.
Overall I think that the war was actually America’s first example of Imperialism. It started with us advancing on Canada if this is defiantly a very sure sign of imperialism. If this war had not been fought the country of America would not be the sizes that it is today. The battle that ended the war actually gave us New Orleans which gave us control of the Mississippi River. Another thing is we made the illegal purchase of the Louisiana Purchase a legal issue. To some extent it was a war of independence we probably would not have been as provoked if they hadn’t been kidnapping our ships that we would not have been able to have gotten as much support of the country. One of the things that it did bring was that we did become more respected as a country. Countries learned that we aren’t a country to mess with and to respect the American borders and possessions. The war gave us the ability to expand westward for sea to sea and gave the American people a new found reason to trust the American government. This was Americas first taste of imperialism that disappeared for a couple decades.