The
Causes of the War of 1812
Thesis: From 1789 to 1812, the United States tried to implement a variety
of policies towards Britain and France in order to avoid war with either
country. After this long period of
attempting diplomacy with Britain, James Madison is ultimately pushed into the
War of 1812 because of Britain’s inability to recognize American neutrality
rights, the aggressive British impressment system, and a wave of sectional
nationalism that put a new group of Republicans in Congress.
a. From 1803-1808, the US wanted to maintain
trade relations with Britain and France, as well as maintain neutrality towards
the renewed Napoleonic wars.
b. Britain and France blockade each other
i.
Essex
decision: (1805) Declared broken
voyages illegal. Attempt to blockade
Europe. Kept US from transporting goods
from French colonies to France.
ii.
Continental
System (Berlin and Milan Decrees):
Napoleon’s response was to deny Britain access to the European
market. Seized all British goods and
excluded every ship which had stopped at a British port.
iii.
British
Orders in Council: Extended British blockade. Declared any ship an enemy of Britain that
tried to enter a French port without first stopping at a British port to pay a
fee and get a license.
iv.
Virtually
outlawed all American trade. Made it
impossible for US to maintain neutrality.
c. Impressment & the Chesapeake Incident
i.
While both
sides abused American sailors/ships, the Americans were more humiliated by the
stronger Royal Navy
ii.
Impressment –
Allowed Britain to search US ships for deserters (and seize them.)
iii.
June
1807: USS Chesapeake (gov’t
ship) was attacked by the Royal Navy.
II.
The Embargo Act and its Repeal and its
Repeal…
a. Embargo Act (1807): forbade the departure of American merchant
ships for foreign ports. Embargo Act
repealed (1809)
b. Nonintercourse Act (1809): reopened trade with all nations except for
France and Britain. Failed because of
widespread smuggling.
c. Macon’s Bill No. 2 (1809): Repealed the Nonintercourse Act; reopened
trade with France and Britain; if either nation ceased its violations of
American neutrality, non-intercourse woul be revived against the other.
d. Nonintercourse Act of 1811: when Napoleon promised to repeal the Berlin
and Milan Decrees, Madison announced he was establishing
non-intercourse with Britain unless it did the same.
a. After months of debate, Madison yielded to
pressure from the “War Hawks” in Congress
b. After a close vote in favor of war by
Congress, Madison signed the war declaration on June 18, 1812.
c. Two days later, after realizing the British
economy was suffering from the lack of American food and markets,
repealed the Orders in Council Too
little, too late. Diplomacy (which had
lasted since 1789) had failed.
a. British violations of neutral rights
i.
Britain felt
that in the case of two world powers warring, there could be NO neutral
countries
ii.
US felt they
were on a moral high ground, even with a very weak military. European wars were not of concern to them.
b. Impressment
c. British Recruitment of Native Americans (Mr.
McHale)
d. Recession (1808) in the South and West. Recognition that British policy was
affecting the U.S. economy.
e. War Hawks:
Land Hunger and Expansionism (Mr. McHale)
f.
Ultimately
Madison was swayed into believing Britain was truly out to strangle the
American economy (Jefferson had disagreed.)