The War of 1812 for Kids

 

How did the war of 1812 start?

The War of 1812 has often been called the Revolutionary War Part II and sometimes, “The Forgotten War”. It was another war between America and Great Britain, fought in both the United States and Canada.

Great Britain during those days was already fighting in another front, against Napoleon Bonaparte of France. Great Britain was fighting alongside Spain and Portugal against the Army of Bonaparte who were trying to control the Iberian Peninsula which is made up of Spain and Portugal. Although Great Britain has the biggest navy in the world at that time, the pay and living conditions of their sailors were harsh compared to sailors working on vessels of other countries. British sailors would desert their ships and work on American ships.

Britain would capture these ships and take the supplies, and sailors. And this did not make the Americans very happy!

The United States believed that Britain was still not treating it as an independent country, and was actually providing Native Americans with guns to attack American settlers.

The United States also wanted to take Canada from Britain, and Florida from Spain.

These ongoing disputes led to the War of 1812.

The War of 1812 could be called the “war of poor communication.”

Two days before the declaration of war, Great Britain agreed to cancel the naval laws which were responsible for the war. Speedy communication would have also stopped the greatest battle, the Battle of New Orleans, that happened 15 days after a peace treaty had been signed.

The United States believed that Britain were still not treating it as an independent country, and was actually providing Native Americans with guns to attack American settlers.

The United States also wanted to take Canada from Britain, and Florida from Spain.

These ongoing disputes led to the War of 1812.

And that’s it for The War of 1812 for Kids article!