The fact that the American foreign policy of neutral rights was violated is not the underlying principal as to why the War of 1812 had commenced. Several other incidents also contributed to the war, far more important than impressment. A major cause that found support among the settlers of the West is the fact that the British were supplying and aiding the Indians on the frontier. This cause was found to be true especially after the battle of Tippecanoe (1811).
At this battle, the Indians lost and left their supplies behind them as they ran. The supplies were of British origin and caused uproar in the West.
Another cause of the war is land. Not only did the British go against the U.S. foreign policy of neutral rights, but so did the French. Both nations underwent a violation of this, however the Americans insisted on fighting only Britain. President Madison did not keep up with Jefferson’s ongoing policy of remaining out of war. The War Hawks wanted to obtain more land especially British controlled Canada and Spanish-Florida to add more states to the Union. Popular opinion in the South and West clearly favored the conflict. The reason why America wanted this is because it would deny the British the Indians on the West to incite, hence saving lives. Also, it would control and deny the marauding bands of Indians, thieves, and run away slaves in the Spanish Sanctuary in Florida. John Randolph also expresses, “agrarian cupidity, not maritime right, urges the war,” has much validity to it. Randolph mentions U.S. went to war was because it wanted a farming society, having strong desires for wealth, as opposed to their rights at sea.
The Essay on Federal Indian Policy
When the newly founded United States of America gained its independence from Britain, they were faced with many new challenges. One of their biggest challenges was establishing and building upon their own domain that Britain had transferred at the Peace Treaty of 1783. 1 Of course, this land was still inhabited by Indian peoples. The United States knew that territorial expansion was inevitable and ...
The last cause was to get revenge for the British insults. Britain’s Orders-in-Council blockaded American ports for the purpose of searching and impressing American sailors, and bottled up U.S. trade with France and her allies. In addition, the British then went ahead and captured about a 1000 of American merchant vessels already in Europe when the Orders-in-Council (1806, 1807) were passed. Plus, the British had insulted America’s free navigation of the waters when on two separate incidents they fired into American navel vessels.
The first one is called the “Chesapeake Affair”(1807).
In this incident the American ship, Chesapeake refused to be boarded by the British ship, Leopard. The British then proceeded to open fire on the Chesapeake, killing three. The second incident is the “Little Belt Affair”(1811).
When the HMS Guerriere had impressed a man from Maine, Captain Rogers of the USS President was sent to get his release. The American ship, the President tried hail a ship called the HMS Little Belt, whom Rogers thought was the Guerriere, the Little Belt fired a shot at the President. In the sharp battle that followed the HMS Little Belt was disabled and suffered 32 causalities. Both of these incidents were in sight of American land. This proved anything was liable to come under a British hail or fire and gave strong support for war.
In the late 1700s, the U.S. faced problems. America had an alliance with France, however Washington felt that it was not America’s struggle to be dealt with. This is when he ordered the policy of neutrality. The U.S. had economic troubles with both the British and the French. This was the expanding of America’s merchant fleet. As a result of the English-French War, the British needed more sailors on their ships and practiced impressment. The British ignored the 1783 Peace Treaty and had never left the frontier forts (i.e. Detroit).
The British later agreed to leave the forts, which they had already promised to do, and they agreed to pay for ships already seized, but they did not state their position to future impressment. If much hasn’t been done earlier about this issue, the Americans would not put much focus on it later in history, leading to the War of 1812.
The Essay on Were Blundering Politicians The Main Political Cause Of The American Civil War
Discuss the view that the main political cause of the American civil war was the leadership failings of a blundering generation It is felt by many that the main cause of the American civil war was the failings of politicians such as Stephen Douglas, Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan. They are considered to have made a series of political blunders, such as Douglass handling of the Kansas - ...
In conclusion, America was not provoked into war because of a neutrality issue. War Hawks strongly influenced war. America was still a young nation, and when it saw other countries expand and prove to be strong, the U.S. also wanted the same condition. America needed to show the world that their country wasn’t just a compilation of colonies that recently broke free independent from Britain, but as a country of united states, hence the name.
Source: AMSCO United States History – Preparing for the Advanced Placement Examination by John J. Newman, John M. Schmalbach
