Essay On The War Of 1812 A Just War

The War of 1812, also known as “America’s Forgotten War” and “America’s Worst Fought War,” was fought between the U.S. and Great Britain over violations of the U.S. seafaring rights. The British intrusion with American fur trade and their illegal impressment of seamen off American ships severely strained Anglo-American relations in the years before the war. According to the New Standard Encyclopedia, “There is considerable disagreement as to why this ultimately led to war and what this war represented. (W.30)” The strongest pressure of war came from Congressional leaders known as “the War Hawks” who mainly represented the western frontier and the South. Their main interest was the conquest of Canada and Florida. The British encouraged and supported

However, comparing the facts only with the criteria of a “Just War” the evidence points to an unjust war. The war was led by the President of the United States after three years of failed diplomacy. Though controversial the cause of the war seems to be recorded as the undeniable disrespect from the British military towards the U.S. Navy militia and their trading laws. The war could have easily been avoided if it had not been for the lack of or poor communication. The damage inflicted was not lasting, grave, or certain. The United States was already having financial difficulties and had a very poorly prepared military. Hence the label “America’s Worst Fought War”. The actions carried out by the United States did not carry the intentions to produce good consequences. The bad effects were planned and intended by using the maritime attacks as an excuse to engage into war—the Annex of Canada and Florida. The good of the war does not outweigh the bad done by it. The Ghent Treaty made no changes and had no effect. The Treaty did not deal with impressment of sailors, inclement for seizures, or other maritime disputes. In fairness, the Treaty did provide for the release of U.S. prisoners, the return of all conquered territories, and creation of four commissions to settle the disputed US-Canadian boundary lines. Over all, the bad seems to outweigh the good. Due to these facts and the criteria given—this was an

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Document URL http://ic.galegroup.com.ezproxy.library.clevelandcc.edu/ic/ovic/PrimarySourcesDetailsPage/PrimarySourcesDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&prodId=OVIC&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&mode=view&displayGroupName=PrimarySources&limiter=&currPage=&disableHighlighting=false&displayGroups=&sortBy=&search_within_results=&p=OVIC&action=e&catId=&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CCX2687400040&source=Bookmark&u=shel41774&jsid=fdf3a352282e70e43bfee7fa88118687 -"James Madison: Father of the Constitution." Cato Institute 19 Oct. 2011. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.
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