Category
Oral - Textual or Investigative
Description
The War of 1812, as forgotten as it may be, is a unique conflict in early American history. A good question, however, is not how we fought the war, it is how we got into it. The main reason America declared war of Britian is more of a naval perspective. The main grievance against Britian was because of the constant violation of American maritime rights and impressment of American sailors. Something often overlooked, however, is from the army's viewpoint on land. After the American Revolution, the army was heavily debated topic among early American politicians, especially the idea of whether to have a standing professional army or volunteer militia. The early American public tried to use both, but they had the same issue. Britain still violated American autonomy on land by arming Native American tribes, notably the ones in the Northwest territory, to push back against American expansion. Most of these reports were rumors until after the Battle of Tippecanoe, when crates and barrels of guns and ammunitions with the stamp of the British royal crown were found in an Indian settlement. From the army’s perspective, the arming of Native Americans in American territory is how the United States stumbled into the War of 1812.
"Times that try men's souls:" How the U.S. Army stumbled into the War of 1812
Oral - Textual or Investigative
The War of 1812, as forgotten as it may be, is a unique conflict in early American history. A good question, however, is not how we fought the war, it is how we got into it. The main reason America declared war of Britian is more of a naval perspective. The main grievance against Britian was because of the constant violation of American maritime rights and impressment of American sailors. Something often overlooked, however, is from the army's viewpoint on land. After the American Revolution, the army was heavily debated topic among early American politicians, especially the idea of whether to have a standing professional army or volunteer militia. The early American public tried to use both, but they had the same issue. Britain still violated American autonomy on land by arming Native American tribes, notably the ones in the Northwest territory, to push back against American expansion. Most of these reports were rumors until after the Battle of Tippecanoe, when crates and barrels of guns and ammunitions with the stamp of the British royal crown were found in an Indian settlement. From the army’s perspective, the arming of Native Americans in American territory is how the United States stumbled into the War of 1812.
Comments
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