It was a period of foreign conflict between Great Britain and the United States of America. As the Chesapeake incident of 1807 strengthened American patriotic virtue due to a naval engagement that occurred off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia, on June 22, 1807, between the British warship HMS Leopard and the American frigate USS Chesapeake. Where The crew of Leopard attacked the American ships looking for deserters from the Royal Navy. This British engagement with America had developed a nationalistic frustration towards great britain, as then later it strengthened due to the british impressment of our american soldiers.
Where Great Britain was impressing our american native soldiers in the pacific ocean, and were recruiting them into the British naval army. Which in then led to the war of 1812 where the war spawned a surge of nationalism in the u.s In which transformed the american economy and diplomacy as it also transformed the american politics and culture.So in all the Statement “the war of 1812 spawned a surge of nationalism” is completely valid.
Firstly, the american economy had changed due to the american nationalistic pride. As americans like Henry Clay a nationalistic warhawk developed strong economic statutes to develop our country into becoming more of a nation like other foreign countries. As Henry Clay established the American system where we as a nation could internally improve ourselves, having railroads and canals connecting our american states into becoming and evolving into interstate trade. As Clay also established the second american national bank, following Alexander Hamilton’s footsteps where the national bank can relieve american debts due to the war of 1812 and also provide money to industrialists.
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Not only did he want a national bank and have internal improvements, he also wanted tariffs as it was called the tariff of 1828 where in it would protect the north’s industry, as it was called “a protective tariff”. As a protective tariff protects a domestic industry into raising government revenue. However, as the american system by nationalists was thriving by connecting distant cities with streets and canals the industrial revolution was starting. As nationalistic Inventors like Eli Whitney and Robert Fulton created inventions that in turn connected distant cities together because of canals and roads. Creating an american nation where we don’t have to rely on foreign allies to supply for us Americans.
As Fulton created the Steamboat in 1807 in order to connect such distant sites for trade and transportation, being able to go upstream and down, and Eli Whitney creating a cotton gin in which benefited the south into becoming more faster and efficient in cotton production. Not only was it Whitney and Fulton in which impacted the economy because of the post war of 1812 nationalistic pride, but also Thomas Edison in where were created communication for all American citizens. Being able to connect communicably with one another stirred more patriotic virtue than anticipated.
Secondly, the american diplomacy had changed due to the american nationalistic pride as well. As was enacted by Congress on 1 May 1810, during the period preceding the War of 1812 The Macon’s Bill NO.2 was passed. As it stated that ‘An Act concerning the commercial intercourse between the United States and Great Britain and France and their dependencies, and for other purposes,’ The objective was to get Great Britain and France to stop their restrictions against U.S. shipping. Created as another option for the unsuccessful Nonintercourse Act where it stopped British and French armed vessels from distress. The measure reopened American trade to the entire world.
The act stated that if either France or Britain removed its restrictions on American commerce by 3 March 1811 and the other failed to do so within three months, the president would revive the restrictions of nonintercourse against that other nation. In this is another reason why nationalistic pride strengthened pre-war of 1812 because of how america separated itself from foreign nations, and focusing itself in evolving itself into becoming a nation as big as other european nations. Not only was it the Macon’s bill that was stirred by nationalistic virtue in the time period of the napoleonic wars, it was also the louisiana purchase of 1803. Where President Thomas Jefferson believed in an agricultural society in which everyone farmed.
However, when france took the land of spain in 1800, America wanted it in order to internally improve itself. To become that nation in where we are like France and Great Britain. So we purchased the territory only because all of American southerners wanted that larger territory for making investments in land and or to have large plantations. Making that diplomatic purchase was to enrich our nation into becoming bigger and stronger country. In this created mass quantities of southerners having that patriotic virtue pre-war of 1812.
Which is why Americans entered the war with such nationalistic pride. Especially, in 1844 where the Treaty of Wanghia was signed between the Qing dynasty and the United States of America. In which created a diplomatic tie between us and China concerning trade and transportation. America signed this treaty because of that nationalistic pride due to the war of 1812, because of us internally building ourselves we signed a diplomatic treaty with a nation other than Europe. In which it made us feel good about what our nation was becoming.
Thirdly, the nationalistic pride not only changed the diplomatic mindset of Americans, it also changed the American politics. When the war of 1812 between the U.S and Europe ended in 1815 America made some major changes involving us and foreign Nations and or threats to our expansion. Because America wanted to internally improve itself presidents like James Monroe put their foot down to Eastern Hemisphere settlements. Where in 1823 James Monroe created the Monroe Doctrine In which states that European nations that have settlements in the American territory to not reclaim it and or settle into new land. This was a big move of America to make Partly because America was not as big as other foreign countries at the time.
By American making this nationalistic political Doctrine it showed the eastern hemisphere that we are just as much as they are. The post war of 1812 left America with such pride that it led us to make such vast decisions concerning ourselves and foreign nation aspects, where we didn’t want conflict with anyone other than ourselves. As America was reclaiming itself and internally improving itself due to the nationalistic pride, President Andrew Jackson comprised the Indian removal act in 1830. In which states that the president could authorize Native American tribes to move west of the Mississippi river in exchange for their lands. Andrew Jackson was the president that people of all social classes connect with as he presented himself as a “common man” as he wasn’t afraid to take such risks as it was going to concern the American lifestyle.
Lastly, the final thing that changed due to the American nationalistic pride was the overall American culture. Where in 1814, Francis Scott key, drafted a poem being called the“The Star Spangled banner”. Where it was written during the battle of Fort McHenry where Francis Scott Key was a witness to the bombardment of the british in the Maryland fort. The poem was so patritritoic in its words that it soon became the american national anthem due to what it illustrated to all american minds. As in the poem it stated “Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land, Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation” as this truly displays his overall compassion towards america, being a strong nationalist.
If it were not for Keys nationalistic point of view whilst the british invasion in Maryland, we would not have such an inspiring national anthem for America in today’s generations, to inspire us to go and take extreme measures. For example, Social Reform Movements was a byproduct of this nationalistic pride as well. As former slaves, Women and all social classes were wanting to be heard. Especially the Women of the 19th century due to people like Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Where they fought for women’s rights in voting and for their voices to be heard. They encouraged this sense of reforment in places like the Tolerance movement and Women’s rights movement. Seeking that sense of change for Women all across America borders.
The War of 1812 had long lasting effects due to nationalism which is somewhat fairly similar to the American revolution due to changes in the economy and diplomacy. As due to the treaty of paris signed in 1783 where America and Great Britain settled in alliance for America’s independence, America was free from its chains and ready to begin a nation rid from foreign ties. However, America did form an alliance with france just as they did with the Qing Dynasty post war of 1812. But the American Revolution drew the line to American and Canadian borders.
As it also formed new political parties and also put a new fresh president in charge. Political parties like the Federalists and the Democratic Republicans were constantly disputing the idea of the National bank just was Henry Clay and Andrew Jackson due to one wanting states rights and one in the federalist state of mind. In all the war of 1812 and the American Revolution were similar in a way where we did not involve ourselves much with foreign conflict and where Politics concerning states rights and federal rights stayed the same.
