(War of 1812)ĭespite initial problems, the U. The British did make some apologies and restitution for the Chesapeake-Leopard incident, but continued to claim the right to seize American ships and inspect them for deserters. After the incident, Jefferson ordered British warships to leave American waters and demanded an end to the practice of impressments. The British then sent a party aboard and dragged four crewmen from the vessel. A number of American sailors were killed or wounded during the attack, and the Chesapeake surrendered. The Chesapeakes commander, James Barron, refused, and the Leopard opened fire. In June 1807 the Leopard approached the Chesapeake only a few miles off the American coast and demanded to search the ship for British deserters. Public outrage over the issue of impressments grew increasingly vocal after an incident between the American naval frigate Chesapeake and a British vessel, the Leopard. In fact, the British seized not only their own deserters, but also impressed a sizeable number of United States citizensestimates suggest 6000 or more (Encyclopedia Encarta). The British government claimed that it only seized subjects of the Crown who sailed under the American flag to avoid wartime service in their own navy. For the Americans, the greatest irritant was Britains practice of impressment, or the seizure of American seamen for service in the British navy. 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). 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. France and Britain, Europes two most powerful nations, had battled almost continuously since 1793, and their warfare directly affected American trade. Congress began to prepare for war, by authorizing the construction of 20 ships of war. Many citizens wanted war, but Jefferson, seeing the problems in war with Britain, calmed the public. Mahon, The War of 1812) This is what broke the straw on the proverbial camels back. On June 22, 1807, the English frigate Leopard attacked the United States frigate Chesapeake, and took from her certain of her sailors who, the Leopards captain claimed, were British citizens. Though they may have been right on a few occasions, it has been proven that many innocent people were forced to be in the royal navy. They claimed that these people had deserted the royal navy and should be given back. They taxed our merchants, and hassled our ships, but they crossed the line when they began to impress our sailors into their navy. The British were not too fond of us breaking away from their empire, and they soon figured out that many revolts were because we had fought and won. It began right after the war of Independence. The war of 1812 began long before war was declared. For the first time, we were united, not for a fight of our homes and freedoms, but for ideals (The Awakening of American Nationalism, AAN). That we survived woke us up, and let us know that we did have a nation. It was the first war as a united country, and it was a small new nation against a large European empire. The war wasnt just about Britain holding land and impressing American sailors into their navy it was a second war of independence. But what awakened during this time and afterwards is something much greater then victory.
States did not fulfill their duties, while commanders and leaders were not informed or supplied enough to keep up the war. The war of 1812 was a very problematic war. By any criteria the years following the War of 1812, otherwise known as the Era of Good Feelings, must be considered a time of exceptional growth and development in the United States, but above all, it may be considered a time of evolution and ripening of American nationalism, unification, and economic prowess.
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