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What Was the Cause of the War of 1812?
There were several causes of the War of 1812: the elevated tensions between America and Great Britain led to several conflicts both political and military, and the American desire for expansion into the Northwest Territory forced Great Britain to develop a more aggressive policy toward the United States. Trade tensions were also a major cause, as the United States wished to continue trading with France, a country with whom Great Britain was at war. The British wanted to prevent such a trade relationship, which led to political strife.
One of the more overt conflicts between the United States and Great Britain was impressment. Great Britain was fighting a war and needed experienced sailors to keep their naval fleets manned. Many British sailors were independent merchants, however, and they went to the United States to participate in booming trade opportunities. Great Britain began intercepting American ships looking for such men, and they would essentially capture them and force them into service on British ships. Americans found this to be insulting and an aggressive act toward their country.
The British also supported the Indian Raids that prevented American expansion into what was known as the Northwest Territory. This area was made up of modern-day Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. The British supported the raids because these lands provided a buffer between the United States and Canada, which was under British control, and they supplied the Indian forces with arms and other means for fighting American settlers. American expansion was slowed to a halt in the region, preventing settlers from taking advantage of valuable farmland in the area.
Americans saw British interference in their expansion pursuits as outwardly aggressive. James Madison was president of the United States at the time, and he called on Congress to act on the grievances the United States had listed against Britain; a declaration of war followed soon after. Many Canadians and British suggested that the United States had gone to war simply to annex parts of Canada, though this point is disputed by scholars. The elevated tensions between America and Great Britain had been building for decades, and one single cause cannot be pinpointed as leading to the war.
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![James Madison asked Congress for a declaration that started the War of 1812.]()
By: Georgios KollidasJames Madison asked Congress for a declaration that started the War of 1812. -
![Great Britain was already fighting one war in 1812.]()
By: lukas555Great Britain was already fighting one war in 1812. -
![Many British sailors were independent merchants, and they went to the United States to participate in booming trade opportunities.]()
By: Tony BaggettMany British sailors were independent merchants, and they went to the United States to participate in booming trade opportunities.
Discussion Comments
@TreeMan - I would probably just go with the basics that it started because the British were trying to limit who we could trade with and that they joined forces with the Native Americans to fight. I'm not sure how much the average 12 year old knows about politics, but you might be able to talk about the land boundaries with Canada, as well.
You could also talk about how the war played out. It technically started in 1812, but most of the action started happening in 1814 after England defeated Napoleon's army in France and then had the extra resources to dedicate in America.
Probably the most famous battle of the war was the Battle of New Orleans that involved Andrew Jackson holding off the British at the end of the conflict. It helped propel him to the national stage and get him elected as president later on.
@Izzy78 - I guess there are a lot of little pieces of trivia from the War of 1812. That is also when Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the Star Spangled Banner while watching Fort McHenry get attacked by the British. Most people always think it was the Revolutionary War, but it wasn't.
I am curious if anyone here has any ideas for explaining the cause of the War of 1812 for kids. My grandson is very interested in history and was asking me about this war the other day. I didn't really know a whole lot about it except it involved the British and conflicts with the Native Americans. I know there are a lot of underlying political ideas, but since he is only 12, so I would need key points that are understandable.
The article mentions that some of the causes for the War of 1812 were to do with trade. What happened at the end of the war? Did America have free rein to trade with whoever they wanted? It doesn't sound like there was any real resolve between America and the Native Americans. I am pretty sure Andrew Jackson got his fame from the War of 1812, and he was the one responsible for the relocation of many Native Americans, so I figure that could be one of the underlying stories of the war.
I am also curious what else was going on in the world at this time. How long did the war last, and did it have any implications for relations with other countries in Europe?
I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned, but the War of 1812 is particularly famous because it is the last war fought in the US with another country (assuming you don't count Pearl Harbor). The British actually made it all the way to Washington D.C. and started trying to burn down the city. Very few people know it, but the White House and Capitol Building were both damaged very badly.
The story I always remember from high school history class is that before the White House was burned, she had the foresight to grab the famous presidential painting of George Washington and save it. I'm not sure if she saved the pictures of Adams and Jefferson or not or if they were even in danger.
@ElizaBennett - I like your description of it as two nations trying to show each other who's the big man on the world stage.
Famously, the War of 1812 in history had little overt effect; no one "won." The British war with the French had ended, so they were no longer impressing sailors or sponsoring Indian raids. I remember learning the phrase "status quo antebellum"; both sides returned to the borders they had had before the war. Apparently the US also gained the right to fish in the Gulf of Lawrence.
I think the bigger effect was on the American morale. Look at us - we can fight a war with the world's great superpower! And win some battles! OK, the war was actually over when we won the Battle of New Orleans, but it made for good storytelling. (And a fun novelty song, if anyone but me has ever heard the Johnny Horton tune.)
Sounds like it was a struggle between a former colonial possession and a former motherland over what their relationship would be now that both were sovereign countries.
How did the 1812 war end? Who "won"?
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