The American Revolution Part Two: The War of 1812

Last week I blogged about Thomas Paine’s Common Sense and its influence on the Declaration of Independence. As I pointed out in my post, complete independence from Britain was not unanimously supported by the American colonists, and it took Common Sense to convince those wary of the idea to jump onboard in the fight for freedom.

Still, even with the persuasion of Common Sense and more significantly, the colonies’ victory over Britain in the Revolutionary War, the newly formed United States of America couldn’t shake British rule. This would lead to another war with Britain, the War of 1812 (1812- 1815).

After the Revolutionary War, Britain agreed to recognize the colonies as independent entities and granted them territory east of the Mississippi River. These official agreements were part of the Treaty of Paris 1783, which ended the war.

The Treaty of Paris 1783 doubled the size of the American colonies

The light green represents the new territory

But Britain found ways to exercise control over the United States regardless of the treaty. Overseas, it began impressing American seamen, meaning British ships would capture American ships, and then forced their sailors to serve in the British Army or Navy. Britain additionally blocked the United States from trading with France while France blocked American trade with Britain. The two European countries were adversaries in the Napoleonic Wars, and like two siblings fighting, they brought the United States into the conflict.

An artistic interpretation of British impressment

So Britain interfered with the freedom of American sailors and American trade at sea. It was only fitting that it interfered with similar freedoms on land.

Back on American soil, British soldiers leftover from the Revolutionary War sold guns to Native Americans living in the Northwest Territory (present day Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin). By doing so, Americans settling the western lands granted by the Treaty of Paris had to fight off fortified Indian raids.

As you can see, Britain enacted policies that purposely got in the way of American life. It pushed the United States enough to go to war, but as with the Revolutionary War, Americans still had their reservations. They would be up against the best navy in the world for a second time and there was no Common Sense to boost national morale.

A map of New York featuring Sackets Harbor

Despite these initial setbacks, Americans still had notable victories against the British in the War of 1812.The First and Second Battle at Sackets Harbor were two of such victories.

Given its strategic location on Lake Erie, Sackets Harbor, New York, was home to lot of U.S. naval and military activity during the war. By 1813, it served as an important naval station that constructed and supplied U.S. ships.

For this reason, Sackets Harbor was a prime target for Britain and was the site of two battles, both of which the Americans claimed victory.

Featured below is a letter written in October 1812 by Samuel Drake, a soldier who contributed to the American efforts at Sackets Harbor. Addressed to his wife Susan, the letter describes Drake's camp at Sackets Harbor and the ships that were built there.

Samuel Drake's letter from October 8, 1812

Featured at the Waterford Museum along with other letters of Drake's

While the War of 1812 ended in a draw between Britain and the United States, battles like Sackets Harbor and the contributions of soldiers like Drake are the reasons why Americans back then considered the war a second American Revolution. 

By going to war with Britain in the War of 1812, Americans made a pledge to protect their freedoms gained in the American Revolution, even if it meant fighting the Royal Navy and possibly failing. It was this dedication that greatly solidified American nationalism.

To learn more about our country's story, and the many events that shaped it, please pay a visit to the Waterford Museum, where local and national history come together and illustrate the impact of local figures and events on the larger historical narrative.

For more at:
http://revolution.mrdonn.org/treatyofparis.html
http://www.history.com/topics/war-of-1812
http://histclo.com/country/us/hist/19/1812/1812-causei.html
http://sacketsharborbattlefield.org/history.htm
http://sacketsharborny.com/war-of-1812-the-war-years-1812-1814/
http://www.warrencountyschools.org/userfiles/2692/Classes/11541/AP%20US%20History%20Notes%20for%20Sept%2021.pdf