For a variety of reasons the United States declared war on Britain in 1812. These
included the impressing of American sailors at sea by the British and British trade restrictions
with France and elsewhere imposed by Britain on the burgeoning republic.(Woods,2008) Most
notably, the key motivator was American expansionist ambitions to acquire new territory. This
is what set the stage for conflict.
venture.(Ronda,1999) However, to the north, British territory, with the exception of Quebec,
had been largely settled by three groups: the British, United Empire Loyalists, and,
significantly, later American settlers. The latter had come for the cheap land and no taxes.
Many of them, who were in the majority, believed it would just be a matter of time until the
United States would take the poorly defended territory. Their surmise would have been correct
but for native tribes, like the Delaware, who proved to be the decisive factor in favor of the
British.(Taylor,2007)
The upshot was that although American ships controlled the Great Lakes and won some
important engagements in Upper Canada, they could not translate this logistical advantage into
a decisive one on the battlefield. The consequences were significant because it is conceivable
that had they won, Manifest Destiny would have had a northern outlet. As for what would have
become of the American west is a moot point.
Could the war have been avoided? From the standpoint of expansionist ambitions it was
inevitable. In 1803 Napoleon sold the Louisiana Purchase, a precedent for dealing with Britain.
But for the Americans the territory to the north was for the taking, for free. Their failure do so
did not whet these ambitions, ones that soon received the sanction of the Monroe Doctrine.
REFERENCES
Ronda, J.P. (1999). We have country: race, geography, and the invention of Indian territory.
Journal of the Early Republic, 19.4, ( Winter ), p.739.
Taylor, A. (2007) The late loyalists: northern reflections of the early American republic.
Journal of the Early Republic, 27.1, ( Fall ), p.1.
Woods, B.F. (2008) 1812: War with America. Canadian Journal of History, 43.2, (Autumn),
p.372.
