The War of 1812 Read Online Free PDF Page A

third, was the British blockade by which, he said, “our commerce has been plundered in every sea.” Fourth came the Orders in Council. The major reasons, it would appear, were maritime rights. Finally, Madison stated, “In reviewing the conduct of Great Britain towards the United States our
attention is necessarily drawn to the warfare just renewed by the savages on one of our extensive frontiers
-” 7 In other words, Madison blamed the British, not the Americans, for starting Indian warfare in the West!
    On June 18 Congress passed a bill approving the President’s call for war and Madison signed it. This officially began the War of 1812, although Britain did not declare war until January 9, 1813, almost seven months later. Meanwhile, as soon as the American decision was taken, messengers rode hastily north to Montreal and Newark.
A SUMMARY
    While there were undoubted weaknesses in British North America’s defences, there were also significant strengths at the outset of war. There was British naval control of the lakes, regulars commanded by good officers, and the western Indians, many led by the valiant Tecumseh. The militia was the weakest part of Canada’s defences, but steps were being taken to improve it.
    Disagreements among Americans over the war were an enormous benefit to Canada. The defence was also helped by the poor leadership of the American army — which was not well trained at the beginning of the conflict — and by the reliance on often-unpredictable state militias. President Madison did not provide firm direction for the political and military leaders who decided how the war was to be fought. As a result, the Americans time after time made the mistake of attacking west of Kingston instead of cutting the St. Lawrence route.
    Upper Canada’s principal weakness was dependence on that route with its disadvantages of rapids, winter freeze-up, and proximity to the American border.

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A SURPRISING WAR, 1812
EUROPE
    From Spain to the Russian border, Napoleon straddled Europe. By spring Europeans could see that he was preparing to attack Russia, for he was gathering troops from the countries he controlled directly as well as from his allies. Napoleon’s Grand Army began the invasion in June and the Russians retreated. Even though the British knew that the Americans were making preparations for war, they were forced to give almost full attention to the spreading conflict on the continent.
    The British commander, the Duke of Wellington, had been fighting the French in the Iberian Peninsula since 1809. In the spring of 1812, he began to win important victories, but it was clear that the French would not be driven out without a great deal more hard fighting. The British government would have to continue sending Wellington many soldiers and large amounts of supplies and money. There would be little to spare for war in North America.
    Sensibly, the British government tried to avoid war with the Americans. Unfortunately, its move to repeal the Orders in Council, the major source of disagreement, was delayed by the assassination in May of Prime Minister Spencer Perceval. A newgovernment could not be formed for some weeks because the major political leaders disagreed so strongly over policies. Eventually, Lord Liverpool formed a government and moved quickly to repeal the orders on June 23.
NORTH AMERICA
    But it was too late in North America. Still, the British avoided acting aggressively and delayed their declaration of war until January 1813, in the hope that the Americans would rescind theirs. Thus, for more than six months, the British struggled with the problem of having to help British North America fight a war they wanted no part of while at the same time trying not to anger the United States so that fighting could soon be ended. President Madison, however, had no intention of changing his mind.

    Napoleon’s empire.
    [Adapted from R.A. Preston, S.F. Wise, and