answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Leading up to the War of 1812 Great Britain had been contributing to the harassment of American trade. British naval ships were stopping American ships, mostly merchant and not naval, and pressing -- or rather, forcing -- some of the American crew members to join the British Navy on the grounds that American crew members were supposedly "British citizens" who had deserted and become American. America, having declared independence from Great Britain in 1776, had citizens that were English in descent, but who now considered themselves American citizens. You could call the War of 1812 a "Second War for Independence" if you consider the idea that America had to stand up and reinforce that they were their own country with their own citizens and trade.

However, the facts suggest it can't be seen that way. Had Britain started the war, invaded the US, and kept captured American territory, it could be seen as a Second War for Independence...but none of those things is true.

The United States started the war and attacked a neighbour, but was decisively defeated and pushed out of Canada in a series of battles, retreating so quickly that it surrendered Detroit, Buffalo and Fort Dearborn (Chicago).

The British also landed an force that captured Washington. Had they intended to reverse the American Revolution, they would have held on to Washington and NOT burned the White House, but they had no intention of doing so.

In fact, the British had just ended a much, much bigger war against Napoleon, and so hundreds of thousands of battle-hardened British troops were suddenly available to cross the Atlantic. Consider the effect that many troops would have had, given that just 5200 British troops had repelled the American invasion of Canada.

Even with a much, much smaller force, the British now occupied large portions of the US...but Britain was weary of war after the long struggle with Napoleon, and when the Americans asked for peace talks, Britain agreed, AND turned captured American territory back to the US: obviously not something it would do if it had any thoughts of of ending the US rebellion of 37 years before.

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Why the War of 1812 is sometimes called the 'Second War for Independence'?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

Which war the referred to as the '' second war of independence?

no it was not. the war of 1812 is known as the second war for independence.


What is the most important battle in war of 1812?

The Second War of Independence is the War of 1812, smartie.


What was the second war for Independence?

The Second War for American Independence was in 1812. The war was a fight with the British along with their Indian allies.


The war of 1812 was also known as the what?

It's also known as 'The War of 1812' in Britain.


Why is the word 1812 often called the second war independence?

Great Britain did not always respect the rights of the United States after the first war


Why is the War of 1812 often called a 'Second War of Independence'?

Great Britain did not always respect the rights of the United States after the first war.


Why is the war of 1812 often called a a second war of Independence?

Great Britain did not always respect the rights of the United States after the first war.


Why is war of 1812 often called a second war of independence?

Great Britain did not always respect the rights of the United States after the first war.


Why is the War of 1812 often called the 'Second War of Independence'?

England had not entirely recognized the independence of the United States prior to the War of 1812. They considered American sailors to still be subjects of the English crown, who could be seized on the high seas and drafted into the English navy. After the War of 1812, that practice ceased.


What is the name of the war against great Britain?

There were at least two. The first was called either the American Revolutionary War (or just the Revolutionary War in the US), or the American War of Independence. The second is usually called the War of 1812 (sometimes the Anglo-American War of 1812, since there were several other armed conflicts going on at the same time).


What effecet did the war of 1812 have on America?

we got to keep our independence from Britain basically a second revolutionary war to keep independence


Second war for independence?

The Second War of Independence is the name often given to the 1812 war between the US and England. Strictly speaking the name is incorrect, as the independence of the US was no longer at stake.