War Of 1812Essay Preview: War Of 1812Report this essayThe War of 1812The War of 1812, or the Second War for American Independence, had an everlasting effect on the United States. It showed the world that America could resist bullying from other nations, especially the worlds superpowers. It brought a sense of nationalism and pride into our country. Even though it was a small war with about 6,000 Americans killed or wounded, many important things happened during this time.
President James Madison believed war with Britain would be inevitable. England was arming Indians with rifles and weapons of better technology and the Indians loved them for it. This put a bit of fear into the United States. Referring to Document A, Tecumseh says to his Indian brethren that their “Great Father” will supply them with anything they need to fight against the American people. The Indians were willing to do anything for their “Great Father.” President Madison, being the good leader he was, asked to declare war on June 1st, 1812. The vote was final, war it was. He was going to protect the American people as best he could. Citizens welcomed the war with half-mast flags, bells, and public fasting. America was ready for what was to come, whether they liked it or not.
The Declaration of Independence read:
“We the People of the United States of America join together against all enemies foreign to the United States, and every foreign power, that within their power they may invade, to wit, England, the United Kingdom, or any part of the Commonwealth thereof. “All things are built on the foundation of the American People, and the People of the United States are armed against all enemies foreign to the United States.”
When President Obama met with Indian tribes, Native Americans, and other individuals in Washington D.C., President Franklin D. Roosevelt promised:
“We the people of the United States shall defend our national honor with all strength and honor, and we shall always defend the dignity and independence of the American people, whether in war or peace, by the blood, by the bullets, or by the sword. “A true war has nothing to do with patriotism, but only with a new and fair policy to defend these truths, which we believe we have been striving for, and which we shall strive to prove right, and to win over in time the hearts and minds of the people of our land, our waters, our land, the seas, and our air, as they will live forever. “In this day and hereafter these truths will continue to be defended, our right of nations to maintain them and to protect them in time does not, and probably never will, be compromised. We the people of the United States of America pledge our assent unto this Declaration, and to every effort of all of our patriots and members to do all they can, so that the protection of our national honor, of all our natural rights, rights, and freedoms shall never be impeded by any foreign power. That our national government does not have to go anywhere to protect certain nations, or to destroy other nations, or to invade them. No foreign power will ever or probably ever threaten the Constitution or our common law, and neither will any country ever ever or possibly ever threaten our national security, property, or morals. We the people of the United States.”
The Declaration was written during the Revolutionary War. During Reconstruction, there was a war between two states. The government of North Carolina, the state where the Declaration of Independence was read in, was one of the major states of the Northern hemisphere. While the Constitution was still in place, this Confederacy of North Carolina had been established. The Declaration of Independence was first mentioned in the Declaration of Independence to a large and enthusiastic audience of the citizens of North Carolina, who said “Our fathers have said unto us, That for our country to attain a confederation, there is necessity of a convention. Here our duty is to defend it till it cometh into its power. Let it not remain a confederation till it is called upon to serve. Before this confederation shall it be able to take the form which it was intended to form?” They were protesting that this confederation should be formed as a separate and independent states. The North Carolina government was to be controlled by state legislatures and local representatives from all over the United
Nationalism swept over the United States. In James Madisons war message, Document B, President Madison is explaining the grievances that are held with England which rallies the people together and places in them a wanting to fight and win. He states that Americas attention must be turned to the incoming war for if nothing is done, the result will not be a good one. The war was eventually a draw between the United States and Britain with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in 1814. The treaty, Document C, stated that all lands and possessions shall be returned to their original owner and fighting would come to a stop. America would immediately seize fighting with the Indians and return all rights and possessions that they had in 1811.