Sunday, July 1, 2012

Reading about The War Of 1812

Upon finishing reading about The War Of 1812;  this question came to mind, what was the outcome of the war? No european powerwould ever challenge the United States on its home territory again. The Army and the Navy would never again be in such disrepair. The lack of leadership, almost lost America the war. Yet Determined young generals Major General Andrew Jackson and Major General William Henry Harrison, would save the Army. Both men would be elected into office as President. On the naval front, Captain Oliver Hazard Perry volunteered his services to build a fleet on the Great Lakes. He would then gain control of the lakes, from the British.  This seemed impossible, considering the freedom the British enjoyed in the lakes. Captain of the USS Constitution Isaac Hull, was another naval hero. Hull, himself an exprienced sailor, trained his ragg tagg crew. On one such occassion, the Captain outmaneuvred Five British ships, (Four Frigates and one ship of the line) to save his ship. He would later seek revenge  on one these Frigates, the Guerriere. Thus proving, that British warships (then the best navy in the world), could be sunk. Despite this, throughout the war, Americans faught at a great disadvantage. The American Army, on many occassions, would relly on volunteers, to survive. States refussed to hand over their  militias to the Federal government (including the New England States who threatened Secession from the Union); that were then desperately needed. One state in particular would answer the call to arms. Tennessee is nicknamed the "Volunteer state" because of its large enlistment rate during the war. Just hours before the start of the Battle of New Orleans, Major General Andrew Jackson was reinforced by 2,500 Tennessee volunteers. His victory saved the Louisiana Territory from becoming a British territory. At the end of the war, both the Navy and Army were significantly boosted. Congress recognized the need to have a permanent military. In 1815 and 1816, Congress gave funds to increase the standing army to 10,000 (triple the standing army in 1801) and to construct 21 warships. Saddely, this lesson has again and again been ignored. The government of the United States of America has repeatdly slashed its military forces. President Madison(considered the father of the U.S. Constitution) would state upon the conclusion of the war "the character of the times particularly inculcates the lesson, that, whether to prevent or repel danger, we ought not to be unprepared for it."

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