"Don't Give up the Truth!" - How the War of 1812 really happened

USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere by Michel Felice Corne

   The War of 1812, as many other figures have stated, is one of the most ignored, forgotten or distorted major events in American history. Most Americans know that Washington D.C. was burned and that the war took place in 1812. And that's pretty much it. Yet, the War of 1812, though relatively small in scale and not an outright military victory for the United States or the United Kingdom, goes far beyond that. How many people know that American forces invaded Canada multiple times, and once burned Toronto (then called York), part of the reason that the British torched the White House? How many of us know anything about the naval combat during the war, such as the stories regarding the USS Constitution, the Battle of Lake Erie, the Battle of Lake Champlain, or James Lawrence's defeat by HMS Shannon ("Don't give up the Ship!")? The War of 1812 did not create a Canadian national anthem, yet the war is better known and more revered by Canadians than Americans. The War of 1812 is one of the most important conflicts we've ever waged (for Americans, and for Canadians I suppose), and few in the United States seem to know anything more than basic details about it!

   Go ask one of your friends about the War of 1812, and there's a good chance that they either won't know anything about it (except that it happened in 1812) or have made up their own version of events. Go to any website or source on the war, and it will likely either say that the British won, or the Americans won.

   In reality, neither side won! And neither side lost. Neither side really accomplished their original goals, and the Americans did not surrender land to Britain, nor vice versa. In order to make this judgement, let us first cover the history of the War of 1812. I will do my best to represent both sides of the conflict fairly.

   What caused the war?

   In the early 19th century, the United Kingdom was at war with Napoleonic France. This almost constant state of war would not end until 1815. During this period, both countries tried to weaken each other economically. Napoleon's Continental System led to France and much of Napoleonic-controlled continental Europe refusing to trade with Britain; as a result, France seized American merchant ships that had been trading with Britain. The British tried to stop neutral countries from trading with France, and thus seized neutral ships as well, including American merchant vessels.

   At first the United States tried using trade restrictions and embargoes to solve the problem regarding British and French maritime attacks; these efforts ultimately failed. Later, the US Government tried to play Britain and France off against each other in competition for American trade, saying that if one side ended restrictions on trade, then the US would refuse to trade with the other side. This, too, failed. On top of these issues, the British, needing more manpower at sea, impressed American sailors, forcing them into the Royal Navy. Meanwhile, British agents stirred up trouble between American settlers and native tribes in the "Old Northwest" (now present-day Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan), largely in order to halt American westward expansion and to create a native american buffer state for the protection of British Canada. Eventually, these combined tensions would set off the war; Congress declared war on Britain on June 18, 1812.

   Neither country was prepared for war. The US Army and Navy were both very small, and the government was not ready or in a good position to command a war effort. On the other hand, the British were concentrated on their ongoing fight against Napoleon, which was much larger in scale and closer to home (for the British, not the Canadian colonists) than the War of 1812 would ever be.

   1812

  The fighting on land soon began. The British captured the American fort on Mackinac Island (in Michigan), as the defenders had not received notice of the war. American General William Hull invaded Canada from Michigan, yet he was cautious and easily intimidated by the smaller British force moving towards him under General Isaac Brock. He retreated to Detroit and ended up surrendering the city and his army to the British without a fight (even though the British were outnumbered). Further west, Fort Dearborn (now Chicago) was captured by the Potawatomi. Large parts of the northwest had fallen under British and/or Native American control, and it appeared as though the first year of the war on land went poorly for the United States. American attacks further east against Canada also failed, and British general Isaac Brock gave his life while repelling an American invasion at the Battle of Queenston Heights.

   At sea, things went better for the United States. Though the British would tighten their blockade throughout the war, the Americans won several morale-boosting ship-to-ship victories, notably with the USS Constitution vs. HMS Guerriere and USS United States vs. HMS Macedonian duels. American commanders Isaac Hull and Stephen Decatur became national heroes.

   1813

   In 1813, both sides had mixed success. In the west, the British and their native allies assaulted Fort Meigs, and were repulsed, though many Americans were killed in the River Raisin Massacre. Henry Procter, the new British regional commander, tried to attack small Fort Stephenson on the Sandusky River in Ohio. William Henry Harrison, the American regional commander and future president (for one month) ordered the fort's commander, George Croghan, to abandon the fort. He refused, and with just 160 defenders managed to repel a British/Native American force nearly 10 times larger, thereby saving the American supply depots on the river and making Croghan a hero.

   On the Niagara front, American forces under Winfield Scott launched an amphibious assault against Fort George, capturing it. When the Americans planned to move deeper into the Niagara Peninsula, Laura Secord, a local resident who had been born in Massachusetts, walked 20 miles to warn the British defenders. This enabled the British and their Native American allies to stop the American force at the Battle of Beaver Dams. Further east, an American fleet under Commodore Isaac Chauncey crossed Lake Ontario and landed a force of US troops commanded by explorer and General Zebulon Pike at Toronto, then York, the capital of Upper Canada. The British defenders were outnumbered and in the ensuing battle, the city was captured; however, a magazine exploded, killing Pike. American troops sacked and plundered the city, which in part led to the actions of the British in Washington D.C. the following year. A British attack on Sacket's Harbor (in New York) was repulsed, yet an American advance on Montreal later in the year was beaten back as well.

   Late in 1813, the British made significant advances, occupying Fort Niagara and attacking Buffalo and Black Rock, New York. Perhaps the most notable American victory along the US-Canada border that year was when an American fleet on Lake Erie under Oliver Hazard Perry defeated its British counterpart under Robert Barclay, thus securing control of the lake for the United States and allowing General William Henry Harrison to re-occupy Detroit and enter Ontario, where he defeated General Procter and Tecumseh at the Battle of the Thames. This left part of Ontario in American hands for the rest of the war; Tecumseh's death in the battle broke the power of his pro-British native american confederacy.

   In the meantime, American commander Isaac Chauncey and British commander James Yeo failed to fight a decisive battle for control of Lake Ontario. The British, having been embarrassed by several naval defeats, tightened their blockade of the eastern seaboard, grouped their ships together, and took measures to prevent their frigates from going one-on-one against the biggest American frigates (USS Constitution, USS United States and USS President). The British won a victory when the HMS Shannon under Philip Broke captured the USS Chesapeake, which was commanded by James Lawrence, near Boston. The USS Essex, under the command of David Porter, sailed into the Pacific and attacked Britain's whaling fleet, causing considerable damage until being defeated by the British in the Battle of Valparaiso (1814).

   During the spring and summer of 1813, the British under Rear Admiral George Cockburn raided the Chesapeake Bay region, hitting small towns and fighting with local militia. Beaten at the Battle of Craney Island, the British did some more raiding before withdrawing, in part due to the summer heat. They would be back the following year.

   1814

    In 1814, the war was still largely stalemated, with neither side gaining the upper hand. However, Napoleon's defeat in Europe freed up British forces to be redeployed to North America. In the summer of 1814, the British would launch a multi-pronged invasion of the United States, with the hope of overwhelming the young nation. A British force struck Maine (then part of Massachussets); meeting only weak resistance, they had no trouble occupying the northern parts of the state.

   This was but a small part of Britain's grand offensive, as a force under General Robert Ross and Rear Admiral George Cockburn landed in the Chesapeake. Advancing on a poorly-defended Washington D.C., the veteran British defeated a larger American force of mostly militia at the Battle of Bladensburg. This enabled them to enter the nation's capital, where they torched the White House and Capitol Building, among others. Pushed out by a storm, the British marched on to Baltimore. A smaller American force delayed the British attack at the Battle of North Point (General Ross was killed here), while a British fleet bombarded Fort McHenry. To the joy of the Americans and to the dismay of the British, the fort didn't fall, and the sight of the raised American flag inspired a captive Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner", the American national anthem. The British withdrew from the region, never to return.

   Up north, the British invaded New York, with a force better than 10,000 troops. But on Lake Champlain, an American squadron under Thomas Macdonough overcame their British counterpart, led by George Downey. This forced the Britsh invasion force to retreat back to Canada.

   Until this event, the British had demanded substantial American cessions in exchange for peace, including a creation of a Native American buffer state, territorial gains for Canada and an American surrender of the Louisiana territory. However, the latest American victories, combined with British losses at Fort Erie in Canada and Fort Bowyer in the South, along with heavy economic losses for both sides, convinced the British to withdraw most of their demands in the peace negotiations at Ghent, in present-day Belgium. The resulting Treaty of Ghent was signed in December of 1814. Captured territories were returned to their rightful owners, and the war would end when both countries ratified the treaty. Yet, at that time, communication took much longer; therefore, the combat would continue into 1815.

   Final Battles

   Another British invasion, aimed at New Orleans, had been meant to give Britain an advantage in the peace negotiations. Neither the Americans nor the British in the region had gotten word that the war was over, therefore the British attack commenced as planned. However, General Andrew Jackson "Old Hickory", who had defeated the native Creek allies of the British, was waiting. In the January 1815 Battle of New Orleans, General Jackson's outnumbered and heterogeneously-mixed force crushed the redcoats, inflicting heavy casualties and a devastating defeat on the British and solidifying American control of the region.

   At sea, the USS President, under Stephen Decatur, attempted to break through the blockade. The plan failed, and Decatur was forced to surrender the ship to a British squadron. Finally, in the Indian Ocean, the British Nautilus was captured by USS Peacock.

   Analysis

   By no means have I mentioned all the battles of the War of 1812, on land or at sea. There are many more stories of heroism, courage and suspense from characters on both sides. However, this summary should be enough for us to judge the results.

   It appears as though both sides gained several different points of leverage over the other. For example, on land, the British held parts of Maine and the Old Northwest (such as Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin), yet the Americans held parts of Canada (for example, in southern Ontario) and controlled Lake Erie. The British imposed a blockade on the eastern seaboard which choked the US economy, yet, American raids and privateer attacks, such as those of USS Essex and USS Argus, inflicted heavy damage on British shipping.

   Though the Americans won some of the battles in Canadian territory, they never managed to capture any important cities such as Montreal or Kingston. On the other hand, the British never took any important American cities of the time, such as New Orleans or Baltimore. These facts present the truth: the war was a stalemate. Neither side won, and neither side lost. Both sides had great victories and suffered crushing defeats. Neither side got exactly what they wanted out of the war. Britain kept control of Canada, and America preserved its independence.

   It's sad and regrettable that so many Americans have forgotten about the importance of this war in the foundation of our country. The impact of the War of 1812 ranks up there with the Revolution and the Civil War because it was America's first big test as a nation. Several important questions were asked. Could the states of the United States, not yet fully united, work together? Was the United States strong enough to preserve its independence and repel a foreign invasion? Would the United States be able to muster heroes of courage and determination when they were needed? To sum it all up, could the United States press onward as a nation, with its independence intact, even when challenged by a powerful nation such as the British Empire?

   Imagine for a second that the United States did lose the War of 1812. What if the British had captured Baltimore? What if the British won the Battle of Lake Champlain, marched down through New York, and cut the country to pieces? Even if the United States had remained independent, it would have been forced to accept Britain's terms. The United States might've lost northern New York and Maine, perhaps even the vast territories of the Louisiana Purchase. The pro-British and federalist New England, far from being disgraced, would have been, politically, on the winning side. It would be the United States, the Democratic-Republican Party, and James Madison who would have been ashamed.

   The United States may have fragmented, with New England seceding to start its own country or perhaps even rejoin the British Empire. This would be seen as proof that the United States was a failure. With state sovereignty still a popular idea at the time, it is possible that the union would have dissolved into independent states. Without being united, America would have become an impoverished nation, dominated by rivalry, despotism and war. One of the founding fathers' greatest fears may have come to pass.

   On the other hand, a defeat for the United States in the War of 1812 might have had the same effect that defeat in World War I had on Germany. Defeated, Americans may have been easy converts for some demagogue who would have promised revenge and glory. Perhaps this demagogue would have taken over the government, destroyed our democratic institutions, and transformed the nation into a militant police state. The United States would not have become a land of opportunity, a place for which millions were willing to risk everything to come and start their lives anew. America's abundant resources might have been used instead to build up a powerful military. This demagogue-leader could've then launched a new war with the United Kingdom, a war for revenge and retribution, a war which might have brought devastation and tragedy to everyone involved.

   In conclusion, the War of 1812 was immensely important in creating an American identity. The fact that our national anthem comes from it is only a small part. Rather than accomplishing any of the goals that our leaders at the time sought to (for example, we failed to conquer Canada), the United States preserved its freedom, gained international respect, and was able to expand in its own right. Had the War of 1812 gone differently, our country would not be the same. Therefore, it would be a sincere sign of gratitude if more Americans would take the time to know at least the basic facts about this forgotten war.

Bibliography:

• The War of 1812, still seeking a little respect
• 10 Things You May Not Know About the War of 1812
• War of 1812 - History Channel
• Ships of Oak, Guns of Iron: The War of 1812 and the Forging of the American Navy, by Dr. Ronald Utt
• Wikipedia
• War of 1812 picture

Does the United States Military need to be reinvigorated?

   The United States Military is a constantly changing force: it's had a long road of ups and downs. From the Revolutionary War to the Civil War era, in peacetime, the military was small (10,000 or so active army personnel at most) and very much volunteer-based. During the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War, the size of the army swelled, yet when peace returned, the military would shrink back down to a tiny size. This trend of having a small, volunteer force that would be expanded during wartime would persist all the way until World War II. Before that war, our military started out rather small (even smaller than Romania's), yet by the end of the war, over 16 million Americans had served in all branches of the armed forces. However, this time, our military did not shrink back down. The Cold War had started, and the United States, for the first time in history, had abandoned its isolationist stance. America was now a world superpower, and it would be hard to maintain that role if Romania's army was still larger than ours! Therefore, throughout the Cold War years, the United States Military was a much-bigger and full-time obligation (it was active and large in times of peace and in times of war). At the end of the Vietnam War, conscription ended and the United States has maintained an all-volunteer military ever since. And though the United States has not been involved in a major war since Vietnam (or possibly World War II depending on how you look at it), millions of Americans have proudly served their country, and some have died fighting not only for our security and freedom, but for that of others as well. All Americans owe them, big time.

   Throughout American society, respect for the military and for the flag has fallen. Many people have accepted what they hear in schools and from others - that the United States is an evil, imperialist nation, and that the military is America's way of exercising its power. In other words, some people have decided that our veterans are not honorable American citizens who risk their lives to protect the freedom of their country and that of other countries. Rather, they believe that our soldiers are part of an imperialist organization seeking to dominate the globe, starting with Afghanistan (supposedly because we want to steal their oil). This disrespect towards our country and its veterans is widespread not only throughout society, but also within our government, where some of our politicians are working hard, not to defend the United States, but to offend it.

   Right now, the United States Military is being downsized. If current plans move forward unimpeded, our army's size will fall to pre-World War II levels within the next few years (about 490,000 personnel in the army). Our navy, air force, and nuclear arsenal are also being downsized. Our military is not prepared to fight on a global scale; while we have bases and troops in a large portion of the world's countries, we do not have the manpower and readiness to fight wars in faraway regions. As a nation, we have failed to put sufficient emphasis in maintaining our military strength or in increasing our capabilities in cyber or space warfare. Instead of spending enough of our money on this country's and its citizens' safety and security, we are pouring vast amounts of taxpayers' money into failed government programs that have no satisfactory effect in relieving our nation's economy or the millions of Americans that live in poverty.

   Meanwhile, countries such as Russia and China have vastly improved their military capabilities. China, empowered by its growing economy, is building a very large and increasingly-more modern military. While our nuclear stockpile dwindles, slowly but surely growing outdated, Russia is continually creating newer and more powerful nuclear warheads. If this pattern continues, the Russians might eventually build up the nuclear superiority that will allow them to launch a successful first strike on us. As the United States Navy shrinks, the People's Liberation Army Navy (the PRC's navy) is growing. If nothing changes, then the Chinese will have a larger navy than the United States by 2020. And contrary to popular belief, China's strengths don't lie solely in the large numbers of people that they can put into the field. The Chinese are not building a huge fleet of canoes! They are creating a powerful, modern fleet that will include aircraft carriers. Already, their navy has made them powerful enough to essentially control the East China Sea, and they are aggressively moving to secure disputed islands around them, such as the Senkaku Islands (disputed by China and Japan). Our regional allies (Japan, South Korea, Philippines), which have failed to receive sufficient support and a credible guarantee of protection from the United States, would be wise to negotiate with China in order to try and get the best possible deal that they can. Right now, our allies have no reason to have any confidence in us; we have let them down.

   Here in America, I have been repeatedly assured that the United States is so much stronger than everyone else that we don't need to worry. This reasoning likely comes from the fact that Americans feel so safe and secure. The last time that a foreign power threatened our country's existence was about two centuries ago, during the War of 1812. During World War I, World War II, and the Cold War, the United States was secure not only because of its military might, but also due to the fact that America's enemies were usually on the other side of the world, not right next door. As an American, I feel that it is a blessing to live in a safe and secure place (a blessing which most other people don't have). This is why I believe that America needs a stronger military! We cannot assume that because we currently have the world's most powerful military, we have justification to be able to sleep and relax. The reason is obvious; other countries will catch up to us! Consider this example: let's say you are the coach of a college basketball team. You are in charge of a group of professional, highly-trained and skilled players. In a tournament, your team is unstoppable; you haven't lost a single game. Then, the season ends. You decide that because your team beat every other team, your team is the best and the strongest out there, and that's all there is to it. Your team is so much better than all the others that you don't need to worry. Because of this logic, your team doesn't practice at all in the off-season. You and your players go home, throw a party, and eat donuts. While you are partying and relaxing, your competition, players from the rival teams, spend the off-season training and practicing. As your team's skills and greatness falter, your enemies are working hard and improving. By the time the next season begins, do you think that your team will still be the best?

   After hearing of such a story on the radio, Americans would be likely to laugh about this team's unwise decisions. Yet, by deciding that we don't need to improve our military capabilities in order to maintain our lead, we are doing essentially the same thing (except with far worse consequences). Many of the people that we meet everyday are aware that China has a larger army than we do; yet, too many of these people dismiss this concern. They assume that because we are America, and we have the world's best technology, we would emerge victorious in a conflict. Such logic is ludicrous. Yes, the United States is the world's leader in technology - for now. Yet, China is quickly catching up. They are building a powerful and modern military that, within a few years, might be technologically equal to our own. Their economy is quickly growing, and by some estimates, their economy may surpass ours as soon as 2016! As Dinesh D'Souza notes, economic superiority leads to military and political dominance, which China ultimately wants to grab for itself at our expense. And the fact that the Chinese have four times our population makes their advantage in any future conflict undeniable. China has hundreds of millions of people to fill not only jobs that power the Chinese economy, but also the ranks of the People's Liberation Army. The cost to them of fielding an individual soldier is far less than it is to us. Because of this, China will have not only a huge manpower advantage over us, but they would be fighting us on equal technological terms and with a larger economy, which is key to waging war. Furthermore, an American war effort would be hampered by several facts. First, our likely-outnumbered navy is and would be split between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. By contrast, the Chinese can concentrate all their strength against us in the Pacific Ocean. Second, lots of Americans would be less-than-willing to fight; a draft would not be acceptable to them, whether we were invading China or the Chinese were invading us. Why? For the same reason behind the common belief that America's military does not need to be strengthened. Too many of us have this idea that we shouldn't need to fight, because, as members of this free and comfortable society, we have grown beyond these things. We feel entitled to have our defense provided for us; it's the government's job to protect us, right? On the contrary, most of the Russians and Chinese people don't have this entitlement issue: they are patriotic and proud to serve their country, whether or not the choice is theirs to make. Furthermore, while the mainland United States has been largely undisturbed by foreign attacks for 200 years, Russia has seen invasions by Germany (twice), and China had to fight off colonialism and the massive Japanese invasion during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-45); all of these events happened in this same 200-year period alone. All these wars have ultimately taken tens of millions of Russian and Chinese lives (not to mention, both countries suffered massive economic and infrastructural damage in World War II), while the War of 1812, by contrast, resulted in a few thousand American deaths. As such, it is no wonder that many Americans would be less willing and less prepared to fight than their potential foes (considering how current events are playing out) would be.

   America, though a strong nation, is not invincible. By staying on the same path, our government is going to jeopardize our national security and the aspirations of future generations. History has proven over and over that military disarmament does not work. Our enemies will seize upon our weakness, and we will be in a bad spot to respond. Ultimately, Americans might end up sacrificing their security, future happiness, and possibly even their freedom by doing nothing to stop our government's downsizing of the military. If we sit back, do nothing, and allow current trends to move forward unimpeded, we will lose our military superiority. Our influence around the world will crumble, and no one will be safe. Everyone in the world will be negatively affected by this. Without the assistance of a strong United States, there's a good chance that the citizens of our allies might wake up one morning to find, say, Iranian or North Korean paratroopers landing in their backyard. Even the country/ies that would replace the United States as the world's superpower/s would be worse off, as the citizens of these countries would likely be living under a constant state of war and destruction. In the last few years, while America has been sleeping, we've seen that our current rivals don't make the best babysitters. Our isolationism in recent years has only caused the world's hot spots to burn with fire and become more deadly. This goes to show why strong American leadership is needed. Only in a western-led world will the rights of an ordinary person to carve out an extraordinary life be respected. Such a goal is not a priority for our rivals.

   In conclusion, the United States Military needs re-invigoration. America is the world's only superpower, but we will need a powerful military in order to continue in this function. Other countries are rising, and if we continue to do nothing to stop our own decline, we will fall behind. And if that happens, our future may be destroyed.

Bibliography:

• World War II: The American Draft--Military Conscription
• The Equilibrium of East Asia
• Mitt Romney: The need for a mighty U.S. military
• America: Imagine the world without her, by Dinesh D'Souza