Although today Americans and Canadians view it as a separate war British people often consider the War of 1812 part of a larger conflict the United Kingdom and other European countries fought against France That’s if they think of it at all because in British history the War of 1812 does not hold much importance In North American history the war is important because it confirmed the United States of America’s independence from Great Britain It was a key event in ensuring Canadian freedom as well from the United States Canada was not yet its own country but was made up of separate colonies that were part of the British Empire Some politicians in the United States wanted to expand American territory by capturing parts of Canada The War of 1812 was the first war declared by the new United States America was a baby among powerful countries such as France Great Britain Russia Austria and Prussia later Germany Its very existence was fragile and President James Madison’s declaration of war against Britain was a bold move that only some Americans agreed with But those who wanted war were fed up with Britain’s disregard for America’s freedom to trade with other European countries and its kidnapping called impressment of American sailors from American ships to work on its fleet Britain thought it could push America around And to a degree it could Great Britain’s powerful navy ruled the seas America barely owned a navy The events that played out on the water around Baltimore would have a large impact on American history viii
1 a Sitting DuCk Chapter
Early September 1814 Located along the Patapsco River at the top of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland Baltimore waited With its bustling harbor and famous shipyards America’s third-largest city of fifty thousand inhabitants was a juicy target for the mighty armada of more than fifty British navy ships sailing toward it Earlier that year an English newspaper had called Baltimore a nest of pirates Another paper had written There is not a spot in the whole United States where an infliction infliction of Britain’s vengeance revenge will be more entitled to our applause than Baltimore In August the British military had stormed into America’s young capital city Washington D C forty miles southwest of Baltimore They seized an opportunity to demonstrate their power by burning important government buildings in the weakly guarded city The American troops mostly inexperienced militia called up at the last minute embarrassed themselves with a half hearted attempt to stop them Their fearful run from the enemy was dubbed the Bladensburg Races referring to the town outside Washington where the encounter occurred The British set fire to the Capitol the navy yard and the president’s White House Only the exterior walls of the dwelling survived along with a famous portrait of President George Washington which 1 B BB B BB B B BB B B BB B B BB B B BB B B BB B B BB B B BB B B BB B B BB
