The Causes of the War of 1812

Britain and the U.S.A. had fought a war, the American Revolution, only 30 years earlier. But in 1812 they went to war again. Upper and Lower Canada were drawn into the war with them. The War of 1812 was a 32-month military conflict between the United States and the British Empire and their Indian allies The United States declared war in 1812 for several reasons

Long Term Causes of the War of 1812

The Long Term Causes of this war lie in Europe. France suffered a great defeat in the Seven’s Year War when it lost New France to Britain. France had its revenge by assisting the American Colonies to gain their independent from Britain in 1783. The new French ruler, Napoleon, was now trying to challenge Britain’s position as the leading military power in the world. The struggles between France and Britain, called the Napoleonic Wars, lasted until 1815.

France and Britain tried to weaken each other by disrupting trade. These trade wars had a negative effect on the young United States, which had a lot of merchant ships.

Immediate Causes in North America

  1. British Interference with American Merchant Ships
  2. American Expansion into the Northwest
  3. Fur Trade Officials in the First Nations Territories
  4. American Jingoism

War of 1812

  1. Briefly explain each of the immediate causes in North America for the War of 1812.

British Interference with American Merchant Ships

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American Expansion into the Northwest

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Fur Trade Officials in the First Nations Territories

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American Jingoism

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  1. When Historians looks at the casuses of a war, they look at long-term causes – factors that have been at play for a while before the event, and immediate causes – things that happened just before the event, setting it into motion. Imagine that there have been several accidents in front of your school in recent weeks. Brainstorm all the possible causes/reasons. Divide them into long-term and immediate causes.

Causes
(example – road too narrow, kids not looking before they cross the road)
Long – Term Causes / Immediate Causes
- road too narrow / - kids not looking before they cross the road
  1. How were the First Nations Peoples involved in the struggle between the British and the Americans? Which side do you think they wanted to see as the winner? Explain your opinions fully with evidence from the text and connections to your own life.

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