War of 1812- An Unnatural War

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In 19th century America, shipping was the pillar holding up the states’ economy. When Great Britain began to use impressment of the American sailors and fuel hate against American settlers by providing the Natives with guns, President James Madison along with Congress declared war. June 1st 1812 marked the beginning of the 3-year war that would ultimately be fought for the soul of America itself. The war of 1812, in accordance with Bradford Perkins, was called “the strangest war in history” because the United States waged a war that the nation was not prepared for, and although the Americans suffered major losses, the war ended up uniting the people of the U.S. and prompting manufacturing in the young nation. The War of 1812 is also considered an unnatural war because the Treaty of Ghent ended the war but resolved none of the issues that started it. The Embargo and the Non-Intercourse Act, which had the purpose of establishing self-sufficiency for the U.S. and improving its economy, further weakened America and deepened the conflict with Britain. The British reasons to wage war against America were that it had chosen France as a trading partner. Failing in peaceful efforts and facing an economic depression, some Americans began to argue for a declaration of war to redeem the national honor. The Congress that was elected in 1810 and met in November 1811 included a group known as the War Hawks who demanded war against Great Britain. These men were all Democratic-Republicans and mostly from the West and South. They argued that American honor could be saved and British policies changed by an invasion of Canada. The Federalist Party, representing New England shippers who foresaw the ruination of their trade, opposed war. When Congress adopted Macon’s Bill #2, America was torn between England and France in order to restore non-importation laws against the non-repealing
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