The Strangest War - The War of 1812

Hands down, one of the strangest wars I've studied in American history is the War of 1812. I recently read an excellent book on the subject called The War of 1812: A Forgotten Conflict by Donald R. Hickey. This war is often overshadowed by the much larger American conflict that took place in the 1800's, the Civil War, but it is no less important.

The causes of the war were rather complicated but most historians agree that it had to do with issues lingering from the Revolution. The British viewed the United States as second rate, seizing American sailors from ships and impressing them into the Royal Navy. The war lasted from 1812 to 1815, and included some strange events and coincidences:

• Another Failed Invasion of Canada - The first failed invasion took place during the American Revolution. The War of 1812 provided another reason for the Americans to try to invade, but it ended up as another abysmal failure. The British assault from Canada on U.S. forces was also thwarted.
  
• The burning of Washington D.C. - In 1814, the British launched a major offensive on the East Coast of the U.S. The British landed, routed a ragtag American army, and set fire to the Capitol, the White House, and other government buildings. They then sailed up the bay to lay siege to Baltimore.
  
• The Star Spangled Banner - Francis Scott Key wrote the poem that would become our national anthem after witnessing the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore. He penned those words after seeing the American flag still waving in the fort when the smoke cleared.
  
• The Battle of Baltimore - The ground assault at Baltimore resulted in heavy casualties and the wounding of British general Robert Ross. The British troops were demoralized after his death and soon withdrew from Baltimore, ending their plans for attacking the Chesapeake Bay area.
  
• The Battle of New Orleans - This most famous battle of the war took place after the peace treaty had been signed. The British and Americans signed the Treaty of Ghent in December of 1814, but news traveled slowly in those days. In January of 1815, the British attacked at New Orleans in Jan. 1815 but were repulsed by a much smaller American force commanded by Andrew Jackson and suffered heavy casualties.

In the end, the War of 1812 was a turning point for the young United States. Although the U.S. didn't gain anything in the peace treaty, it was seen as the "second war of independence." The War of 1812 encouraged national self-confidence and the expansionism that would last the rest of the century. I'd encourage anyone interested in American history to learn more about it!

Links to Learn More:

• The War of 1812: A Forgotten Conflict - Google Books
• War of 1812