Was the War of 1812 an unnecessary conflict that solved nothing and
brought no benefit to either side?  Be sure to explain and defend the
answer with specific evidence.
&
Assess the degree to which Jefferson's election can accurately be
called the "Revolution of 1800"

---

Request for Question Clarification by secret901-ga on 31 Oct 2002 21:49 PST

How long does each of the two essays have to be?

---

Clarification of Question by dwdrummer-ga on 31 Oct 2002 21:51 PST

The war of 1812 is most import...please provide a brief history of the
war as well. Thanks!

---

Clarification of Question by dwdrummer-ga on 31 Oct 2002 21:51 PST

They need to be like 2 pages each... is that possible?

---

Clarification of Question by dwdrummer-ga on 31 Oct 2002 21:52 PST

as I said the first question is most important

The War of 1812 was a small war by most standards, greatly
overshadowed by the war between France and Britain in Europe. Though
peaceful conditions existed between the United States and Great
Britain following the American Revolution (1775-1783), there were a
number of Americans who still harboured ill feelings. There was an
underlying belief that British North America should have been
conquered during the Revolution; that the whole continent should be
under control of the United States. These Americans were soon given
added reason for their ill feelings as a result of events taking place
during the European conflict. Fueled by these events between the two
European superpowers of the period, the actions of both the United
States and Great Britain put the two former adversaries on a course
which seemed to breed conflict.

The ball basically got started rolling with the Louisiana Purchase.
After French dictator Napoleon Bonaparte declared war against Britain
in 1803, he persuaded Spain to return to France the North American
territory of Louisiana granted to Spain in 1763. The news that these
lands had again become French property was disturbing to some
Americans. These Americans feared that if the French were defeated,
Louisiana might fall into British hands. But as Napoleon became
discouraged by the success of British sea power, he realized the
chance of holding and developing Louisiana was slim. Napoleon sold the
territory to the United States for fifteen million dollars. The
Americans bought a territory stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to
Canada, from the Mississippi to the Rockies; actually doubling the
size of the United States. This created a logistical nightmare for
British forces in BNA. The British army in North America consisted of
a mere 4,450 men. They were now faced with the staggering problem of
defending a border that stretched for a thousand miles to the south
and west of Montreal.

Then after the Royal Navy had defeated the French in the battle of
Trafalgar in 1805, Britain came to dominate the Atlantic Ocean. No
other nation was strong enough to challenge her maritime rule. Hoping
to cripple the British war effort, Napoleon issued decrees ordering
other European nations to cease trading with Britain. The British Navy
replied with a blockade of European ports, preventing ships from
delivering their cargoes to the continent. This sudden stoppage of
trade affected the United States and other countries engaged in trade.
 
More fuel for war was added when Britain invoked the "The Orders in
Council" measure, justifying the Royal Navy's practice of stopping
American merchant ships at sea in order to search for deserters. Anger
regarding this matter reached a peak when the British frigate
"Leopard" fired upon the American warship "Chesapeake."
 
War might well have developed as a result of this incident had it not
been for the cool and clear thinking of the American president. Thomas
Jefferson knew his nation's organized military power was not prepared
for a full - scale conflict. Therefore instead of resisting with arms,
Jefferson chose to protest using trade as a weapon, invoking "Embargo
Act of 1807." The American government forbade any ship to leave
American ports for any foreign destination, feeling Britain would be
seriously handicapped by the loss of food and supplies. But the
Embargo Act did not have the desired effect and it was repealed in
1809.

When James Madison became president in 1810, the two countries came on
step closer to conflict. Madison believed in taking a stronger
position towards any country that threatened American rights. At the
same time, Americans pushing westward into the Ohio and Mississippi
valleys came into conflict with native tribes who considered this
westward surge an invasion of their lands. Because some of the natives
were equipped with firearms, the frontiersmen complained loudly that
the British were arming and inciting the tribesmen to fight. These
charges were grossly exaggerated as the British forces in North
America were so poorly equipped that they had no surplus guns to give
to American natives. Unfortunately, the noisy charges of the
frontiersmen deceived a large number of American citizens and "War
Hawks" in the United States Congress convinced the government a threat
existed. Congress ordered the creation of a volunteer army of 50,000
men and on June 18, 1812 issued a declaration of war against Great
Britain.

Since the Treaty of Ghent coincided with the end of England's
interference in American affairs, Americans see the conflict as second
successful end of the War of Independence. It as seen as watershed
mark for establishing the nation's maritime rights. The successful
exploits of their privateersmen in a number of American naval
victories helped establish the American Navy. In some ways, it also
served to create a sense of superiority as American vessels proved
themselves better than similarly sized British vessels.

If any one could claim victory in the war, it was Canada. The United
States declared war on Great Britain and set out to make Canada states
in the union. Ten American armies crossed into Canada and all were
driven out. The young provinces of Canada had scarcely established
themselves before there were signs of serious trouble and it is
remembered as one of the most important times in Canadian history.

As a result of the conflict, large sums of British money spent in the
British provinces on war supplies brought a degree of prosperity
previously unknown. The flow of British funds affected the economy of
the whole region. It helped establish Quebec City and Montreal as
prosperous centres of trade and transportation. Nova Scotia saw an
increase in revenue with the sale of captured American ships and
cargoes to Britain. New Brunswick merchants profited by a brisk
business in food and other supplies with the blockaded states of New
England. Shipyard in Upper Canada thrived on orders for new vessels.
And farmers located near military centres sold their produce at high
prices.

The War of 1812 helped to create a new sense of pride among the people
of British North America, instilling in the people a sense of pride
having come from defending their lands with courage and skill. There
was also better understanding between French and English speaking
Canadians as a result of fighting a common foe. And though it was not
realized at the time, the conflict with the United States was the
first step toward the ultimate union of the provinces of British North
America. The war had forced the provinces to co-operate with one
another in the urgent matter of defence.

If nothing else, the War of 1812 established the colour of the White
House. The original building put up at the end of the eighteenth
century was called the Presidential Palace and was made of brownstone.
And it might still be somber looking if the British had not set fire
to it during the War of 1812. Restoring the place involved, among
other things, covering the burn marks. White paint was just fine for
this purpose, leading people to refer to it thereafter as the White
House, a designation that became official under Teddy Roosevelt's
presidency.


The War of 1812 Website
http://www.militaryheritage.com/1812.htm

History Central: The War of 1812
http://www.multied.com/1812/Index.html

Key Event and Causes: The War of 1812
http://home.earthlink.net/~gfeldmeth/chart.1812.html

Tripod: The War of 1812
http://members.tripod.com/~war1812/

Note: I was working on the Jefferson portion of your question but lost
it. I downloaded a music sharing program called Kazaa. Since doing so,
my Internet activity has been acting up quite regularly. Not wanting
to loose the opportunity to provide you with the answer to the 1812
portion of your question, I elected to post this answer to your
question. If you need the added information on Jefferson, just ask for
a clarification and I will provide you with the information on the
Revolution of 1800. I'm terribly sorry for this inconvenience. It is
simply a matter of it being too late and me being a bit frustrated
with the inane arrogance of website programmers. Thanks for your
understanding.

---

Clarification of Answer by mrlathwell-ga on 02 Nov 2002 09:52 PST

"The revolution of 1800... was as real a revolution in the principles
of our government as that of 1776 was in its form; not effected indeed
by the sword, as that, but by the rational and peaceable instrument of
reform, the suffrage of the people." --Thomas Jefferson to Spencer
Roane, 1819. ME 15:212

The greatest and most lasting benefits the United States derived from
Thomas Jefferson's tenure as President were the following:
1. The Louisiana Purchase. 
2. The Lewis and Clark Expedition. 
3. The settlement of the government on sound republican principles and
the establishment of the precedent of limiting the Presidential term
to two years.

Thomas Jefferson was the first to consider his election in 1800 as a
revolutionary assertion delivered by the American voter. Today's
history books evoke little consideration regarding America's
post-revolutionary political atmosphere, but the nation was rapidly
moving towards autocratic rule. The most obvious evidence of this was
the Alien and Sedition Acts, a series of laws which on the surface
were designed to control the activities of foreigners in the United
States during a time of impending war but were really conceived to
destroy Jeffersonian Republicanism. Lesser evidences was the pomp and
ceremony associated with the office of President. Jefferson put an end
to all of that, and in the process turned the country around and set
it on a republican course which it has more or less maintained ever
since.

To fully understand the "Revolution of 1800," one has  to look back to
the ideology which drove the American Revolution. Sometimes referred
as the "American synthesis," it was a unique blend of early
liberalism, republican theory and a British social policy christened
"the rights of Englishmen." The revolution created a loose
confederation of state administrations governed by the doctrines
dictated in the Articles of Independence. And under George Washington
and John Adams, the Federalists had established a strong government.
However, partisans of American mercantilism, along with people
disturbed by such outbreaks as Shay's Rebellion, launched a movement
for a new constitution to create a more powerful federal government.

By 1800 election, the American people were ready for a change. The
Republicans charged that the Federalists had shown contempt for the
liberties of the American people by creating a large standing army,
imposing heavy taxes, and using federal troops and the federal courts
to suppress dissent. They worried that the Federalists' ultimate goal
was to centralize power in the national government. Federalists feared
that the Republicans would return power to the states, dismantle the
army and navy, and overturn Alexander Hamilton's financial system.

Jefferson was convinced that the very future of the republic was at
stake in the election of 1800. He felt the policies enacted by the
Federalists alienated large portions of America's citizenry and failed
to honour the principle that the government must be responsive to the
will of the people. Gathering behind him a great mass of small
farmers, shopkeepers and other workers, Jefferson and the Republicans
asserted themselves in the election of 1800. The change from
Federalist leadership to Republican was consummate as the Federalists
lost control of both the presidency and the Congress in one of the
closest elections in American history; defeating the incumbent John
Adams (Federalist) and his Republican rival, Aaron Burr, by a vote in
the House of Representatives.

Jefferson's eight years as president would be difficult ones. He
struggled to release the United States from debt, tried to convert
moderate Federalist to the Republican party and to defend himself from
countless enemies, including his own Vice-President. He also struggled
against the Federalists policy of expanded militarism which manifested
itself in a substantially larger standing army.

But Jefferson also enjoyed extraordinary favour because of his appeal
to American idealism. In his inaugural address, the first such speech
in the new capital of Washington, D.C., he promised "a wise and frugal
government" to preserve order among the inhabitants, but would "leave
them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry, and
improvement." He also reflected on the need for Americans to be
vigilant in preserving freedom of religious and political expression.

At first, the Republicans fully intended to sweep away every
Federalist institution, their policies and programs, and to replace
nefarious personnel in key positions. To an extent, the Republicans
did carry out their announced program of retrenchment, reduction of
military spending and the repeal of internal taxes. But the
impeachments of corrupt Federalist officials failed and, in the end,
the Federalist institutional fabric largely survived, albeit with new
personnel.

To achieve a fair republic, Jefferson knew limits on power were
essential; that patriots must be vigilant and wary of policies
designed to overturn the constitution. He believed in the notion of
the independent freeman on his own land, able to bear arms in his own
defense and the defense of the republic. Militias made up of these
freemen were the best and safest means of defending a free social
order. After extensive research, he reduced the army to four regiments
of infantry, two regiments of artillerists and engineers, and two
troops of light dragoons or to about three thousand men, considerable
smaller than the 100,00 strong army amassed by the Federalists.

Jefferson was also instrumental in the separation of state and church,
believing America's constitutional experiment was founded on the "We
the people," and not on God's expressed authority. Jefferson
understood that the Constitution must be entrusted with the people and
not just with theologians who might claim to speak on behalf of God,
banning the practice of performing religious tests for those seeking
public office; as expressed in Article VI, section 3, of the
Constitution.

But perhaps the most revolutionary development which resulted from the
1800 elections was the inauguration of the two-party political system.
 Parties were feared as dangerous institutions that represented
corrupting self-interests. The founding generation earnestly hoped
that political parties would not arise in the United States and there
was no clearly formed sense of political parties in America prior to
1800 election. Though not part of the original constitutional scheme,
Jefferson's founding of the Democratic-Republican Party as opposition
to the Federalists in the election of 1800 saw the emergence of an
organized opposition movement. As a result, the United States became
the first nation to truly establish popular parties.

As well, Jefferson's mere presence in The White House encouraged
democratic behavior. He radically altered the function of the nation's
diplomatic corp, setting limitations on the length of terms to be
served in these postings and reducing the number of official
consulates. White House guests were encouraged to shake hands with the
President, rather than bowing as had been the Federalist practice.
Guests at state dinners were seated at round tables, which emphasized
a sense of equality. He taught his subordinates to regard themselves
merely as trustees of the people. In a much broader sense, his actions
also encouraged agriculture and westward expansion, setting in motion
the roots for Manifest Destiny. And Jefferson's belief that America to
be a haven for the oppressed, he urged for a more liberal
naturalization law.

These changes could be viewed as revolutionary in their own right, but
by voluntarily limiting his tenure as president to two terms, he set a
precedent which has only been circumvented by Franklin D. Roosevelt.
But besides his own presidency, he was followed by James Madison and
James Monroe, two of his proteges, who continued the nation on its
republican course and thus caused that course to become firmly
entrenched. If nothing else, the 1800 election proved a constitutional
democracy could work. Too often in the history of the world, political
leaders defeated at the ballot have not honoured the voice of the
people and hand over the reins of power. But America followed a
different course. The Federalists set a valuable precedent by
relinquishing government to the Republicans, an actions which has
guided American politics ever since.

For a more detailed analysis, check out "A Revolution of 1800 After
All:
The Political Culture of the Earlier Early Republic and the Origins of
American Democracy" (
http://pasleybrothers.com/jeff/writings/Pasley1800.htm ) by Jeff L.
Pasley of the University of Missouri-Columbia. For more one Thomas
Jefferson, check out the Internet Public Library's section on the
United States third president. (
http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/tjefferson.html )

References/Sources

U-S-History.com: The Revolution of 1800
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h470.html

Ludwig von Mises Institute: The Election of 1800
http://www.mises.org/fullstory.asp?control=582

Liberty Magazine: The Revolution of 1800 – Jefferson and Puritan
Assault on the Constitution
http://www.libertymagazine.org/article/articleprint/247/-1/30/

Geocities: Jefferson Perspective
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/7970/jefpn003.htm

The Revolution of 1800
http://www.chsbs.cmich.edu/timothy_hall/111/lectures/rev1800/Default.htm

Eric Digests: The Election of 1800
http://www.ed.gov/databases/ERIC_Digests/ed433299.html

Lause's Links: The Constitution of the United States of America
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Quad/6460/doct/constn/con0.html

did not answer all of the question for $20???