What were the reasons behind the War of 1812? Which regions in the U.S. supported war and which regions opposed it? Ultimately, what ended the conflict and what did the U.S. accomplish from it?
Answer : The War of 1812 was fought from June 18th June 1812 to 18th February 1815. In the beginning of 19th century, British government restricts the US to trade with France. The Royal Navy also outraged Americans by its practice of impressments, or removing seamen from U.S. merchant vessels and forcing them to serve on behalf of the British. American was not happy with this type of trade restriction. In order to take revenge from the British government, President James Madison blocked all trade with Britain begin to strengthen their economic ties with France. This made the British government angry.
At the same time, some of the congress members of congress under the leadership of Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun begun to agitate for war, based on their indignation over British violations of maritime rights as well as Britain’s encouragement of Native American hostility against American expansion in the West. All there activities from both the sides created an atmosphere of war. Most Western and Southern regions supported the war. On the hand, people of North America and Federalists (especially New Englanders who relied heavily on trade with Britain) opposed the war.
The war ended with the treaty of Treaty of Ghent. Though, US government does not able achieve much from this war, US managed to gain international respect and able to raise morale of US citizens. The end of the war ushered in the so-called “Era of Good Feelings”
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