On June 18, 1812, the United States declared war on Britain. This declaration was the result of almost thirty years of stormy relations between the two nations subsequent to the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783. This treaty ended the Revolutionary War and established the United States as a nation; however, it did not guarantee that Europe would respect its rights or neutrality. The "second war for independence" is the term that historians have appropriately coined for this war. It provided opportunity for Americans to defend their freedom and honor in the face of European disrespect and mistreatment, and created a more unified and respected nation.Britain was still indirec ...view middle of the document...
The British had made the Americans suffer loss of persons, damage of property, and their liberty was wasting away. They needed to be independent, not only for their dignity, but also because their economy was plummeting.Britain was economically controlling the US by violating American shipping rights. The men that they threw in jail would obviously not produce any revenue and the American income would drop. The seizing of Americans frightened them to trade with other countries in fear that British militia would seize them. The drop in income was not just British imprisonment; there were indirect British influences (such as the Embargo act and the Non-Intercourse Act) that severely affected the economy. These boycotts caused the value of US exports to drop from $108 million to $22 million between 1807 and 1808. This was a major blow in just one year. All these reasons are why the US had a second war for independence; but what really makes it hold true to its name are the results that came out of concurring Canada and ridding our ties with Britain for good.The end of the War of 1812 created a more unified nation than ever before. From the start, the American States were divided on the idea of the United States waging a war against Canada and Great Britain. At one point it even seemed possible that the northeastern States, which didn't want war, would separate from the United States entirely. In the end, the war unified the United States and enabled them to make a stand against Britain. The war also produced a new national symbol, The Star-Spangled Banner, which is a song that celebrates a nightlong survival of bombarding British militia. Congress made this song our national anthem in 1931 and has been the status of our independence, never to be challenged. The efforts put forth to fight the world's strongest empire to a d...
