What Are The Primary Causes Of The War Of 1812 Dbq

The War of 1812 was a war that lasted for two years that helped the United States to firmly and officially establish its independence. After finishing with the concern of France, England turned its attention over to the United States. At first, the United States did not want to resort to war and fighting (Doc. B) but rather sort out their issues economically--because England had seized all ships that did not stop in the British port before heading to their other European destinations, Congress passed the Embargo Act and then the Non-Intercourse Act, allowing trade with all nations except France and England. Then, England refused to allow this trade to occur, so America had to resort to war. The Northeastern Federalists were not in favor of

Accepting the disappointment of the Embargo Act, President Jefferson brought into effect the Non-Intercourse Act. The Non-Intercourse Act was somewhat similar to the Embargo Act, but with one distinct difference. The Non-Intercourse Act continued its no trade with Great Britain and France, but it allowed the U.S. to trade with all other foreign countries.4 This act was intended to bring the American economy out of despair yet continuing to punish Great Britain and France. The Non-Intercourse Act like its predecessor the Embargo Act failed miserably. Congress was forced to restructure the Non-Intercourse Act.5 The message that most Americans were formulating after the Embargo and Non-Intercourse acts was that the United States was not ready to fight. They were unprepared and unwilling to fight the British for control of their

The harm of trading rights and citizens were one major cause of the War of 1812. Great Britain was known to have been interfering with U.S rights to use the sea. “Great Britain, in defiance of this incontestable right, captures every American vessel bound to, or returning from, a port where her commerce is not favored; enslaves our seamen, and in spite of our, perseveres in these aggressions.” (Document 1) The Americans feared that they would lose all their trading rights to Great Britain. If the American leaders did not do something soon, then Great Britain would take over American trading ports. “… Which shall we do, abandon or defend our own commercial and maritime rights, and the personal liberties of our own citizens employed in exercising them? These rights are essentially attacked, and war is the only means of redress.” (Document 2) For Americans to regain their freedom of trading they had to declare the War of 1812.

The Federalists observed neutrality in the war that broke between France and Great britain in 1793, according to document 2. “A new nation was developed and it stayed in peace for more than one century” according to document 2. Hamilton, Jefferson, and Washington agreed that the United States shall remain neutral. Hamilton argued that the United States did not need to honor the 1778 treaty because it had been an agreement with the king of France, not with the new French Republic. Hamilton had written “I wish there was a War." Within two years of his 1773 arrival in America, war had indeed broken out (pbs.org). This quote shows that Hamilton wanted a war, he was starting to get bored. Lastly fixing financial policies.

The War of 1812 was started by America due to British encroachment on three fronts, trade restrictions imposed by the British, the increasing alliances of the British with Indian tribes blocking American expansion West, and due to British interference with merchant class ships in the Atlantic. The war was fought in the Great Lakes region between America and Canada, near New Orleans in the Gulf of Mexico, in the Atlantic trade routes, and around Washington DC. The British had always considered the American insurrection in the 1770s to be a temporary event, their continued battles within the European continent as well as the rest of the British empire had proven to be too distracting to keep a solid check on North America. The British also had not anticipated a war in North America in the lead up to the war of 1812 due to the fragility of the American states, leading to the hubris Britain retained in its relations with the young United States of America.

The War of 1812 is often referred to as the United States's second war of independence because, like the Revolutionary War, it was fought against Great Britain. The Conflict resulted from the clash between American nationalism and the war Britain and its allies were waging against the empire of Napoleonic France. Many Americans believed that England sought to humiliate the United States, limit its growth, and perhaps even impose a quasi‐colonial status upon its former colonies.

On July 18, 1812, the United States declared war on Britain which resulted in the beginning of The War of 1812. The War of 1812 was a military conflict between the United States and Great Britain. The war lasted from 1812 to 1814. The War started when the colony of Great Britain and Canada, was invaded by the Americans. The war was fought in Upper Canada, Lower Canada, on the Great Lakes, the Atlantic, and in the United States. The War of 1812 was a big dispute between the United States and the British Empire. The British limited the American trade system because they were afraid it would be damaging to their war with France. They also wanted to arrange for an Indian state in the Midwest. They wanted to do this to maintain their influence in the region. That’s why 10,000 Native Americans fought for the British in the war of 1812. Because Canada was a British colony at this time, Canadians were considered as British allies. Americans just wanted to prove their independence from the British Empire once and for all.

The Embargo Act closed all US export trade. Although the purpose of this act was to deprive Great Britain and France from food and war essentials so that they would finally abide by the neutral rights and stop harassing American ship vessels, it only created an economic depression. This act ruined the Northeast since they mostly

In fact, during the European embargoes, thousands of American sailors were forcibly impressed by the British because Royal Navy life was so awful and unrewarding it caused British men to desert their own country en masse for the better-paying, better quality life of American maritime. In response to the Chesapeake affair, Jefferson, U.S. president at the time, made the Embargo Act which prevented Americans from trading with any ports outside the United States. The act really hurt American economics and trade and created such uproar in people that it was soon replaced with a more sensible act. The Non-Intercourse act forbade American trade with Britain, France and their colonial allies until their own embargoes were dissolved.

Although independence was just won, the country still needed protection from other hostile countries. Besides protecting the country from foreign enemies, the Anti-Federalists wanted to protect the American people from its own government. In fact, the “Anti-Federalists were especially concerned with preserving for ordinary citizens the ability to participate in government” (Amar). After all, the Revolutionary War was fought in order to gain freedom from oppression. However, by giving all of the power to the states, the nation would be divided. A nation divided would not stand forever because it would be limited against foreign enemies. While the Anti-Federalists had the right idea in mind, not all possibilities were thought of.

The British interference with the American trade gave rise to the war of 1812. The European war between France and Britain made United States try to maintain its sovereignty and neutrality. The French and the British were using economic strangulation in defeating each other. In 1803, Britain barricaded the French possessions in Europe. The American ships always sailed by the American ports in evading the British trade prohibition between France and its colonies.2 the trade restrictions made the United States to wage war against the British to remove the trade prohibition.

In opposition to its preference, the United States became engaged in European affairs as the Napoleonic War was fought, interrupting with American shipping and trade. At last, the Untied States went to war with Great Britain to protect its right to “freedom of the seas.” Federalists, who were now out of power in the executive branch and a minority in the

The Americans fought many battles against the British, while winning some and losing others, they eventually defeated the British. The Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783, that was supposed to bring an end to the war and resolve any other conflicts between the United States and Great Britain (176). But there were still a lot of ongoing issues during the post-revolutionary war period which led to the start of the War of 1812. One of the main causes of this war was the violation of American shipping rights. Great Britain and France placed many economic sanctions against the United States, which caused many American industries to plummet (347,348). The embargo act that Thomas Jefferson passed prohibited any Americans goods to be exported and any ships to leave for any foreign ports

Some Americans wanted to go to war with Britain. On the contrary, other Americans opposed the war. The reason for this divide was most likely the geography of the states, also known as, sectionalism. Document 5 shows that the South, Western Frontier, and the Agricultural Mid-Atlantic States favored war with England because they were near the coast and heavily depended on their ports and shipping. These states wanted more trade and shipping rights.

Although the United States wanted to remain a neutral nation and trade with both France and England, it was all brought to a halt because of the selfishness of the British. The only way to stop this impressment of American sailors was to fight back, thus declaring war was a must. Many people were against the war due to the lack of experience in warfare and the lack of ships compared to the British, who had the strongest navy in the world at that time. At one point only 5,000 men agreed to serve when congress allowed an increase of 25,000 men to fight in the