![]() ![]() ![]() The start of the 1800s saw the British deeply entrenched in the Napoleonic Wars. So why did the War of 1812 come about in the first place? Perhaps best known for the burning of Washington DC and the White House in 1814, the war also saw the birth of the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ national anthem. It marked a permanent shift in British-American relations, forged a sense of national unity in Canada, changed US politics and ended British support for native American tribes in the Mid-West. Conquering Canada would prevent the British from allying with or otherwise aiding the Indians who prevented settlers from moving west.Almost forgotten in Britain today, the War of 1812 is perhaps one of the most important North American events of the 19th century. This problem was only heightened by the presence of the British in the north. More substantially there was a desire to end Native American aggression along the western frontier. ![]() Others draw attention to the fact that Americans had plenty of land to expand into and did not require or desire expansion into Canada. However, there are those who point out that the rich natural resources of the British colony would be valuable to the United States as a bargaining chip in later negotiations. That is, Americans only desired Canadian land. Some believe that it was an extension of Manifest Destiny. This urge to expand has sometimes been applied to the United States’ attempt to conquer Canada. In 1803, Thomas Jefferson acquired the Louisiana Purchase and lands west of the Mississippi opened up for Americans. The early 1800’s was an important time in American history for expansion. The Western Frontier and Canada territories ![]()
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