Americans had suffered a lot in the hands of their colonialists, the Great Britain. They had lost their first war of independence and invasion to Canada. However, Great Britain forced the Americans into the war of 1812 by placing devastating trade sanctions, the practice of impressments to her sailors and the encouragement of Native American hostility (Hickey, 2017). These reasons eventually led to the war of 1812 which was the second and last war against the Great Britain.
Why the war of 1812 is, in fact, a significant moment in U.S. history
The war of 1812 was mostly oriented to the future of the United States. This is because it was the second and last war against the Great Britain. It was the final war to end the supremacy of Great Britain which had persisted for a long while. This war reflected the real issues and ideologies of the American Revolution. To a larger extent, the war of 1812 was a significant moment for the Americans as they would never be underdogs again in any war and they also conquered Canada (Hickey, 2013). The Indians would never determine the future of North America as they had previously with major influence. As a result, the war was very important as it revealed the triumph of American values and ideologies.
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Americans will live to remember the war of 1812 as it ushered in a young republic. It was the end of troublesome diplomacy with the colonial masters and paved the way for a new era for the Americans to rule themselves. The war promoted national togetherness and self-confidence as a young nation was born. This resulted in the formation of symbols, saying, quotes and even the national anthem that would define the Americans and their future (Hickey, 2017).
Causes and events that led to the turning point
One of the major causes of the war of 1812 was trade sanctions undertaken by the Great Britain and France against the US. Great Britain had a hard time dealing with France’s Napoleon Bonaparte (Feldmeth, 1998). Therefore, to cut supplies between the two, they both blocked any trading activity with the United States. This hurt a lot of Americans thus sparking a lot of protests nationwide. The second reason was initiated by the Great Britain’s practice of impressments among the US sailors (Lambert, 2012). It took American sailors to work for them after capturing her ships. Finally, Britain’s encouragement of the Native Americans hostility made certain Congress leaders such as Henry Clay and John Calhoun advocate for war against Great Britain (Long, 2015).
The battle of Lake Erie was very immense in the war of 1812. The Americans won this war against Great Britain despite their poor naval systems (Toll, 2006). This instilled a sense of confidence and morale among the soldiers that they would save their nation from the colonial masters. Another turning point was the battle of Baltimore. American troops fought the British naval forces at Fort McHenry which lasted for an entire day (Feldmeth, 1998). This was the turning point that the made the Americans believe that they could win their independence war. This victory led to the formation of the American flag and National Anthem.
How the turning point changed the course of history in the U.S.
The triumph of the Americans at the battle of Lake Erie proved to be so monumental to the American Revolution as well as their naval force (McCranie, 2011). Before this, the Americans had lost a string of wars and battles to the British and Native troops. However, this victory boosted the confidence and hope for the American citizens. It instilled the belief and hope that their nation would be free from the colonialists. Lake Erie was a vantage point to the United States as it controlled trade between American states and other nations. The victory at Lake Erie caused the British to stay away from Detroit, among other Northwest regions (Carter-Edwards, 1987). This lake was strategic if the British had won the battle. It would have given them an entry point to the entire nation which would have made the Americans lose their independence war.
The victory at Fort McHenry in Baltimore was also crucial as it led to a widespread national confidence as the Americans have a new flag and national anthem. This victory also strengthened the American naval power which overpowered the British troops during the entire war thus limiting their chances of winning the war of 1812 (Lambert, 2012).
Evaluate the impact of the turning point on today’s society
The turning point has been very crucial to the today’s society in the United States. The control of Lake Erie has made America become of one the most active nations in trading (Long, 2015). This is reflected in the nation’s economic capacity. It also has made America have one of the strongest naval power forces in the world (Toll, 2006).
The battle of Baltimore continues to instill a sense of national pride and confidence among the American citizens. This battle marked a new era of a young republic as she defined herself through the flag and the national anthem (Soley, 2012). This has a significant impact to the increasing pride of the United States.
Since this turning point, the US has forged a serious and special relationship with Great Britain. They have become globally united in approaching issues affecting the world such as global warming, invasion in Afghanistan, among many others (Soley, 2012).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the war of 1812 was one of the most important wars of the United States. Even though it is rarely remembered, this war paved the way for the independence of America from the troublesome Great Britain. The war resulted into a young republic that defined itself through national anthem and a flag. It was an end to the tyrannical British rule in America and the dominion of the native Indians. To date, this was plays s significant roles in American lives through the national anthem and their flag.
References
Carter-Edwards, D. (1987). The war of 1812 along the Detroit frontier: a Canadian perspective . Michigan Historical Review, 13(2), 2-23.
Feldmeth, G.D. (1998). U.S. History Resources . Retrieved Online, October 20, 2017, www.home.earthlink.net/~gfeldmeth/USHistory.html
Hickey, D.R. (2013). The war of 1812: writings from American’s second war of independence . New York: Library of America.
Hickey, D.R. (2017). An American perspective on the war of 1812 . Retrieved Online, October 20, 2017, www.pbs.org/wned/war-of-1812/essays/american-perspective/
Lambert, A. (2012). The challenge: Britain against America in the naval war of 1812 . Faber and Faber.
Long, K. (2015). The importance of the battle of Lake Erie victory . Retrieved Online, October 20, 2017, www.sites.mtu.edu/mhugl/2015/10/11/the-importance-of-the-battle-of-lake-erie-victory/
McCranie, K. (2011). Utmost gallantry: U.S. and Royal Navies at sea in the war of 1812 . Naval Institute Press.
Soley, J. (2012). Why the war of 1812 still matters. Retrieved Online, October 20, 2017, www.bbc.com/news/magazine-18481542
Toll, I. (2006). Six frigates: the epic history of the founding of the US navy . New York: W.W. Norton.
