Causes of the War of 1812

Impressment Also known as the Press or the Press Gang, impressment is the act of forcing men into the navy by force. This often occurred during the 18th and 19th centuries, especially during Jeffersons presidency, by the Royal Navy. Although this act was directly against the British constitution, the British often practiced this in order to recruit more men into their navy. Non-Intercourse Act 1809 This act immediately replaced the Embargo Act of 1807 and only placed a ban on imports between America and Britain and France. Although it was intended to hurt the economy of England and France, it proved to be highly ineffective because it was harder enforce on the people. Macons Bill no. 2 After the Non-Intercourse Act of 1809 proved to be unsuccessful, Congress replaced the act with Macons Bill no. 2, which reopened trade with Britain and France, but also asserted that if either country agreed to respect American shipping, America would discontinue trade with the other. In response, Napoleon falsely promises to stop interfering with American shipping, leading to Madison ending all trade and diplomacy with Britain. Orders in Council The London government issues the Orders in Council in 1806 to close all European ports under French control, and prohibited American ships from entering into the French ports unless they stopped by the British first. In response, France likewise seized all merchant ships that entered Britains ports, leaving America stuck between Britain and Frances feud. War Hawks A new sub-party that emerged in 1811. The extreme group focused primarily on raging war with Britain, and consisted of members primarily from the South and the Western Frontier. These War Hawks were able to quickly dominate Congress, especially with its eloquent leader, Henry Clay. Tecumseh & The Prophet Two Shawnee brothers, named Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa, also known as The Prophet, created a large confederacy of all the Native American tribes east of the Mississippi. This started a united Indian movement and cultural renewal against the American settlers. William Henry Harrison The governor of the Indiana Territory, who gathered an army and advanced on to Tecumsehs headquarters at the junction of Wabasha and Tippecanoe Rivers. Although The Prophet attacked Harrisons army, the Shawnees were entirely defeated by Harrison and his men in the Battle of Tippecanoe. This made Harrison a national hero, and forced Tecumseh into an alliance with the British. Republicanism The Republicans strongly believed that only a vigorous assertion of American rights would demonstrate the capability of the nation, and the democratic government. They wanted to prove to the world that republicanism, a tentative government at the time to foreign countries, actually had the potential to be an effective and successful government. Federalists in New England Federalists, especially in the New England states, openly disapproved the imminent war and argued that Napoleon was the real enemy, the Crosican butcher and the anti-Christ of the age. These Federalists, often agreeing with the British, sympathized with England and ended up taking such extreme actions of treason. They felt no need to fight with the British for freedom in the ocean.