shortly after the war of 1812 the american navy

shipping as a lever to move the country to war and then pursued their war strategies based upon the false assumption that the British would not offer much resistance and that the Canadians would flock to the U.S. American political leaders used the public’s outrage regarding attacks upon U.S. In essence, the United States looked to use the distraction of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, which required the full focus of the British Empire, as an opportunity to seize territory in Canada. efforts at expansionism ongoing conflicts with the Native American populations in the Northwest Territory and beyond and a deep desire to protect American trading prerogatives with all European nations undoubtedly created major pressure for American political leaders to seek a declaration of war upon the British Empire and to pursue the relatively limited war aims with vigor.

history, this concept is certainly accurate although a host of contributing factors quickly emerge upon any examination of the subject. Air Force.Īs the foremost theorist of war, Carl von Clausewitz, once noted, “Everything is very simple in war, but the simplest thing is difficult.” For the historian, the same can be said regarding any effort to determine the primary causes of any major conflict. government, Department of Defense, or U.S.

The views presented in this work belong solely to the author, and do not represent the official positions of the U.S. This essay is based on a presentation at a Butcher History Institute for teachers on “ Why Does America Go To War? ,” March 25-26, 2017, sponsored by the Foreign Policy Research Institute, the First Division Museum at Cantigny, and Carthage College.

USS President fires on and disables the British sloop HMS Little Belt on May 16, 1811.

Shortly after the war of 1812 the american navy