[AdamNF]

No i stand by what i said.

[Johnnybgoodaaaaa]

AdamNF AdamNF:

No i stand by what i said.

You didn't really say anything of value, but you can stand by it....

[Short]

Britain stopped the practice of searching American ships, and abducting sailors a day before America declared war on Britain... The abduction of American sailors was a nice little excuse for America to declare war, and expand. The US wanted Canada, Florida, and Native Territories, and the War of 1812 was their excuse.

[yankee]

You are correct about history recording the British reportedly ordered stopping the ship invasions a couple days earlier (if you believe the British Monarchy), and that is why it is often called "the War of Poor Communication". The British didnt tell us before we declared War. We did not know they agreed to stop until after we declared War. But another very real motivation for the US to declare War was the arming of the Indians to fight the settlers. Tecumseh was meeting with the British and the British continued its old tactic of aiding and arming the enemies of your enemies. That in and of itself was a provocation to War.

Another "poor communcation" was when the treaty of Ghent was signed a few days before General Jackson took out the English in the Battle of New Orleans (oops). Hey communication was slow back then and the horseback rider delivering the message was a day late. I dont think either side knew, it was unnecesary battle (although we took New Orleans). It set the stage for further expansion and that is what they wanted back then. We bought Florida easily as they believed we could just take it anyway. So thats where history left us.

No hard feelings though....

[Johnnybgoodaaaaa]

Short Short:

Britain stopped the practice of searching American ships, and abducting sailors a day before America declared war on Britain... The abduction of American sailors was a nice little excuse for America to declare war, and expand. The US wanted Canada, Florida, and Native Territories, and the War of 1812 was their excuse.

I didn't know that information traveled so fast back then. I guess those wooden ships must be pretty fast to get the information to the americans in a day....

[yankee]

The US felt it was justified in expanding since we did buy the land from France in the Lousianna purchase 9 years earlier:

"Let the Land rejoice, for you have bought Louisiana for a Song."
Gen. Horatio Gates to President Thomas Jefferson, July 18, 1803

This included everything west of the Mississippi River, up to Canada and west to the Rockies.

The Loiusianna Purchase was signed by Neopolean Bonepart - pretty cool!

Actually, Jefferson felt it was a bargain but the 15 million was a lot of money back then and others felt ripped at the time (including the later President Jackson).

[polemarch1]

1) British siezure of American ships and sailors. This was connected to the war against Napoleon. Ended before war was declared but the message didn't reach North America until after the war had began.

2) British support for the Natives particularly Tecumseh. Well this was provocative the Natives did have legitamate grievences concerning American expansion onto their land.

3) Manifest Destiny. Belief in the United States that it was the nation's destiny and right to rule over the entire continent.

Also this was a war driven mostly by the South and the West as the Northern part of the country did not want to go to war. Several Northern states considered seceding from the Union because of this.

[Johnnybgoodaaaaa]

Short Short:

It's not that the British didn't tell the Americans, it's that communication was much more difficult. It may have taken more than a day for the US to hear that Britain had stopped raiding American ships, but did it take two and a half years for that information to reach them?

Also, at the time the US was Napolean's allie, and Britain was at war with Napolean at that time.

Once the war started I don't think it mattered if the information got to them...

[Short]

It's not that the British didn't tell the Americans, it's that communication was much more difficult. It may have taken more than a day for the US to hear that Britain had stopped raiding American ships, but did it take two and a half years for that information to reach them?

Also, at the time the US was Napolean's allie, and Britain was at war with Napolean at that time.

[daVinci]

This topic comes up alot on all forums I am on. I find it interesting that the US has a monument to Tecumseh (in the Smithsonian, I believe), while Canada does not.

I believe the massacre of Prophets Town was a huge reason for his involvement.

[QBC]

Ok, my high school history is a little shakey after all these years but didn't the Americans throught their manafest destiny decide the wanted to move the border north to the 59th parallel and their slogan was "59 or fight"?

[TaPpEd_RaGe]

As I Recall the US issued an ultimatum to canada a while before the war of 1812 saying: "Join Us, for we come to liberate you from the British tyranny and oppression. If you choose to decline, so be it, if you choose to retaliate, I have brought with me a large army and there are 7 more on the way, we will show you the horrors of War a thousand times over.... ect." Basically "join us or die" and canada chose to remain neutral and the americans left. But they came back later and attacked, and got their ass whooped. any questions?

[Tman1]

TaPpEd_RaGe TaPpEd_RaGe:

As I Recall the US issued an ultimatum to canada a while before the war of 1812 saying: "Join Us, for we come to liberate you from the British tyranny and oppression. If you choose to decline, so be it, if you choose to retaliate, I have brought with me a large army and there are 7 more on the way, we will show you the horrors of War a thousand times over.... ect." Basically "join us or die" and canada chose to remain neutral and the americans left. But they came back later and attacked, and got their ass whooped. any questions?

Umm yes, first of all, I dont know where you got that muddled crap but its not in any history books in Canada that ive read. No, Canada or "British North America", did not remain neutral. The Americans believed that Canadians actually wanted to be LIBERATED from the British yoke but as history provides, we did not. As indicated ubove, the Manifest Destiny was a part of reason for the invasion but also other factors.

[TaPpEd_RaGe]

ok i have the shortest memory ever but i could go dig up my canadian history textbook and look it up for you if you want..

[dgthe3]

anyone who complains about how the American economy suffered in the 1700's and 1800's should look at the current foreign trade ploicy for the united states and what they want from their trading 'partners'.

also, for a lighter take on the war of 1812, check out the song "The War of 1812" by the Arrogant Worms