The War of 1812, or so-called “Second War of Independence”, was the result of bilateral contradictions between the United States and the United Kingdom in the field of trade and economy, during the era of the Napoleonic Wars. At that time, Americans had an extremely negative attitude to the United Kingdom, and the British did not take seriously the new state and scorned their former citizens that betrayed their king. The American people believed that the war of 1812 was a continuation of the revolutionary war 1776-1783 and that the main purpose of the conflict was to protect the country from the attempts of the English invasion and defend its territorial integrity. From a military point of view, the end of the war did not look like one hundred percent victory of one side; however, on the political stage, it signified the triumph of the Republicans (“The War of 1812”). After the war, the United States began to develop the national industry. Federalist Party lost their supporters, and the political atmosphere in the country has significantly changed. The victory in the negotiations in Ghent and the conclusion of peace in the restoration of the situation that existed before the war gave US diplomats a lot of self-confidence. Moreover, Washington has received compensation for the escaped black slaves.
This armed conflict has led to the fact that different groups of the US population have become a united nation. The United States became a young country that was not afraid to start a war with the British Empire. During the war, the last powerful unions of Indian tribes were destroyed, and nothing could stop the expansion of the United States to the West (“A Second War of Independence”). After the war of 1812, the US began to be engaged in strengthening the navy and the strengthening of the army. A number of the American leaders, who glorified themselves during the war, subsequently headed the United States. During the war, the US maintained their political independence, and the Americans have put an end to the European attempts at expansion in the Western Hemisphere.
References
A Second War of Independence. Digital History, University of Houston. Retrieved from:
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=2987
The War of 1812: American Independence Confirmed. The National Park Service American
Revolution. Retrieved from: https://www.nps.gov/revwar/unfinished_revolution/war_of_1812.html
