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War of 1812
In 1800, the English-speaking people along the Atlantic Ocean were optimistic about the new century. The British hoped that their empire would advance in both wealth and power. Likewise, the developing United States had a similar view. The immediate causes of the War of 1812 were unclear at the time; but according to Nardo’s history of The War of 1812, the conflict between the U.S. and Great Britain was a resulted from buildup of tensions between two nations that exploded into a war that seemed unnecessary and impractical.
The War that broke out between Britain and France led the U.S. into a series of economic instability. Furthermore, Americans were outraged at the British practice of impressments, especially after the Chesapeake incident of 1807. In response to the 1806 British Orders in Council, which crippled American trade, the US (under Jefferson) first tried various retaliatory embargoes. These embargoes hurt the US far more than they did Britain, angering American citizens and providing support to War Hawks in Congress like Henry Clay. In 1812, with President Madison in office, Congress declared war against the British.
The British navy was far more powerful than the tiny navy of the U.S. and Americans were convinced that there was no chance for victory at sea so U.S. leaders unanimously decided to attack by land. In reality, the U.S. was no more prepared to fight a land war than it was a naval one. The American military had so many weaknesses due to a lack of experience. In an excerpt from his History of the United States Army, military historian Russel Weigley discusses the serious leadership shortcoming that existed in the U.S. military. James Madison had little ability for the role of wartime Commander in Chief and Eustis, secretary of War, also failed to provide effective direction. Eustis ordered General William Hull to hurry to take command at Detroit but neglected to inform him the war had begun. In addition, Hull’s carelessness allowed the British to take a schooner with the roster of Hull’s forces. During 1813-1815, the U.S. military experience many embarrassing defeats especially one led by Gen. Hull; ” The stress of battle was too much for elderly General William Hull, even though he had more soldiers than the attacking British…he ordered them to surrender to the British.”
When the United States declared war on Great Britain in June 1812, American leaders planned to use the vessels of the small U.S. war fleet mainly to defend the Atlantic coast. Challenging British warships for mastery of the Atlantic seemed too ambitious, since the Royal Navy was the world’s greatest and no one on either side believed the U.S. stood a chance on the open seas. Perhaps the only significant advantage the U.S. Navy had was that its senior officers were mostly young, brash, and eager to show the British captains what American sailors were made of. The U.S. victories at the Battle of Lake Erie and the [next page]