Professor Hanley
Period 4
18 December 2017
The Second War of Independence
An average American is only vaguely aware of why the most obscure war happened in 1812 and who the enemy was. Even those who know something more only remember a little of the dramatic moments such as the creation of The Star Spangled Banner (National Anthem), the burning of the nation’s capital, and lastly the battle of New Orleans. The war of 1812 has causes that complex and little understood to this day. It is said to be a series of economic sanctions taken by the British and French against the US as part of the Napoleonic Wars and American outrage at the British practice of impressment, especially after the Chesapeake incident of 1807. However, after …show more content…
The war began with the attack on Canada, with two main objectives: to gain land and cut off the British supply line to Techumes Indians confederation, which troubled the United States. The battle against Canada was not as easy as they hoped and because they were inexperienced they were pushed back rapidly. General William Henry Harrison's forces did manage to kill Tecumseh at the Battle of the Thames in 1813, in the midst of a decisive victory against the British General Isaac Brock's smaller force. In 1812 British troops landed the bay area and began marching toward Washington. A US general named William Winder made an attempt to try to stop the British forces but the British troops were badly …show more content…
In fact, the War of 1812 only took place because Great Britain had violated America´s supreme power by refusing to surrender western territory which they had promised to do in the treaty of Paris. One of the main plans was the remove the Indians by buying their land so that he could expand the African American slave system. However, during this time the Indians refused to cooperate and civilize themselves. By the 1800’s, nearly 400,000 Americans lived on the west side of the Appalachian mountains which outnumbered the Indians and lead them to re-think their decisions. Soon the Americans became an influence on the Indians, they started to promote civilization, help with slave-owning farms and also establish businesses. These influences angered the Nativist wished to root out European influences and resist white encroachment on their lands. In order to regain their autonomy without challenging or repudiating the white, the Indians were ordered to farm and attend school. After, James Madison became a war president reports that the British supported Tecumseh efforts also became another reason why the war of 1812 came to