Read All Abut War of 1812
* The War of 1812 (1812-1814) was one of the worst-fought wars in American history for all of the following reasons: * disunity was widespread, * the military was unprepared, * only a zealous minority supported the war, * the army was scandalously inadequate, and * the militia was poorly trained. * Canada became an important battleground in the War of 1812 because British forces were weakest there. * America’s campaign against Canada in the War of 1812 was poorly conceived because it split-up the military. * The performance of the United States’ Navy in the War of 1812 could be best described as much better than that of the army. * Perhaps the key battle of the War of 1812, because it protected the United States from full-scale invasion and possible dissolution, was the Battle of Plattsburgh (Lake Champlain in September of 1814). * The British attack on Fort McHenry (Baltimore, MD) inspired the writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” * The most devastating defeat suffered by the British during the War of 1812 took place at the Battle of New Orleans (after the war was over in January of 1815) * The Battle of New Orleans saw British troops defeated by Andrew Jackson’s soldiers (plus Indians and pirates). * One result of the American naval victories during the War of 1812 was a British naval blockade of the American coast. * At the peace conference at Ghent, the British began to withdraw many of its earlier demands for all of the following reasons: * reverses in upper New York, * a loss at Baltimore, * increasing war weariness in Britain, and * concern about the still dangerous France; * But not because of the US victory at New Orleans. * RESULTS * From a global perspective, the War of 1812 was of little importance. * The outcome of the War of 1812 was a stimulus to patriotic nationalism (for many but not all) in the