The War of 1812 (Mr. Madison's War)
It was 200 years ago today (June 18, 1812) that the United States Congress declared war on Great Britain, commencing the War of 1812.
On June 1, 1812, President James Madison sent a message to the Congress setting out American grievances against Great Britain. Madison was not specifically asking Congress for a declaration of war.
Britain was involved in a war with Napoleon at the time, and was using its navy to prevent American ships from trading with France. The United States was a neutral nation in the conflict and considered this act to be against international law. Britain also armed Indian tribes in the Northwest Territory and encouraged them to attack settlers, even though Britain had ceded this territory to the United States by treaties in 1783 and 1794. The Royal Navy boarded American ships on the high seas and "impressed" its seamen (forced them into service against their will), as it needed more sailors than it could recruit. Because of all of these transgressions, some Americans called for a "second war of independence" to restore honor and stature to the new nation. An angry public elected a “war hawk” Congress, led by Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun.
After receiving Madison's message, Congress was called to convene and the House of Representatives deliberated for four days behind closed doors. The House voted 79 to 49 (61% in favor) for the declaration of war, and the Senate agreed by a vote of 19 to 13 (59% in favor). The conflict began formally on June 18, 1812, when Madison signed the measure into law.
This was the first time that the United States had declared war on another nation, and the Congressional vote would prove to be the closest vote to formally declare war in American history. None of the 39 Federalists in Congress voted in favor of the war. Madison's critics in the Federalist party subsequently referred to the war as "Mr. Madison's War."
Madison faced a number of significant obstacles: a divided cabinet, a factious party, a recalcitrant Congress, obstructionist governors, and incompetent generals, together with militia who refused to fight outside their states. Most serious was lack of unified popular support. There were serious threats of disunion from New England, which refused to provide financial support or soldiers. By the time the war began, Madison's military force consisted mostly of poorly trained militia members.
Unbeknownst to Madison, if he had waited, he may have found a more reasonable response from Britain. On May 11th, an assassin killed Prime Minister Spencer Perceval, which resulted in Lord Liverpool coming to power. Liverpool wanted a more practical relationship with the United States. He issued a repeal of the policy of impeding American trade with France, but the United States was unaware of this, as it took three weeks for the news to cross the Atlantic.
On June 1, 1812, President James Madison sent a message to the Congress setting out American grievances against Great Britain. Madison was not specifically asking Congress for a declaration of war.
Britain was involved in a war with Napoleon at the time, and was using its navy to prevent American ships from trading with France. The United States was a neutral nation in the conflict and considered this act to be against international law. Britain also armed Indian tribes in the Northwest Territory and encouraged them to attack settlers, even though Britain had ceded this territory to the United States by treaties in 1783 and 1794. The Royal Navy boarded American ships on the high seas and "impressed" its seamen (forced them into service against their will), as it needed more sailors than it could recruit. Because of all of these transgressions, some Americans called for a "second war of independence" to restore honor and stature to the new nation. An angry public elected a “war hawk” Congress, led by Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun.
After receiving Madison's message, Congress was called to convene and the House of Representatives deliberated for four days behind closed doors. The House voted 79 to 49 (61% in favor) for the declaration of war, and the Senate agreed by a vote of 19 to 13 (59% in favor). The conflict began formally on June 18, 1812, when Madison signed the measure into law.
This was the first time that the United States had declared war on another nation, and the Congressional vote would prove to be the closest vote to formally declare war in American history. None of the 39 Federalists in Congress voted in favor of the war. Madison's critics in the Federalist party subsequently referred to the war as "Mr. Madison's War."
Madison faced a number of significant obstacles: a divided cabinet, a factious party, a recalcitrant Congress, obstructionist governors, and incompetent generals, together with militia who refused to fight outside their states. Most serious was lack of unified popular support. There were serious threats of disunion from New England, which refused to provide financial support or soldiers. By the time the war began, Madison's military force consisted mostly of poorly trained militia members.
Unbeknownst to Madison, if he had waited, he may have found a more reasonable response from Britain. On May 11th, an assassin killed Prime Minister Spencer Perceval, which resulted in Lord Liverpool coming to power. Liverpool wanted a more practical relationship with the United States. He issued a repeal of the policy of impeding American trade with France, but the United States was unaware of this, as it took three weeks for the news to cross the Atlantic.