Era of Good Feelings
The years following the War of 1812, also known as the “Era of Good Feelings,” was considered as a time of exceptional growth and development in the United States, but it may be considered a time of evolution in American nationalism. The war of 1812 was a very problematic war. States did not do their duties. The commanders and leaders were also not informed or supplied enough to keep up with the war. But what happened during this time and after is something better then victory. The war wasn’t just about Britain holding land and impressing American sailors into their navy. It was also a second war for independence. It was the first war for America as a united country, and it was a small new nation against a large European empire. For the first time, we were united, not a fight for our homes and freedom, but for ideals.(The Awakening of American Nationalism, AAN).
The war of 1812 began a long time before war was declared. It began right after the war of Independence. The British were not to happy that we broke away from their empire, and they soon figured out that many revolts were because we had fought and won. They taxed our merchants, and attacked our ships, but they messed up when they began to impress our sailors into their navy. They claimed that these people had “deserted” the royal navy and should be taken back. They may have been right a few times, but it has been proven that many innocent people were forced to be in the royal navy.
On June 22, 1807, the English frigate Leopard attacked the United States frigate Chesapeake, and took from her certain of her sailors who, the Leopard’s captain claimed, were British citizens. (John K. Mahon, The War of 1812) This is what made us want to go to war. Many citizens wanted war, but Jefferson, thought that there would be problems going to war with Britain, so he tried to calm the public. Congress began to prepare for war, by authorizing the construction of 20 war ships.
France and Britain, Europe’s two most powerful nations, had battled almost non-stop since 1793, and their war affected American trade. Hostilities began during the French Revolution (1789-1799), when England joined other European nations in an unsuccessful attempt to restore the French monarchy, and then continued as Britain led the efforts to stop French expansion under Napoleon I. American presidents from Washington to Madison tried to keep the United States impartial during these conflicts, but both France and Britain flagrantly disregarded the rights of neutral countries (War of 1812).
For the Americans, the problem was Britain’s impressment, or the seizure of American sailors for service in the British navy. The British government claimed that it only seized subjects sailed with Americans to avoid wartime service in their own navy. the British seized anyone not just their own people, they also impressed a bunch of United States citizens,
The problem of impressment got bigger after an incident between [next page]