The Hartford Convention; or, New England opposition to the War of 1812

Abstract

The War of 1812 was one of the most astounding and paradoxical wars ever engaged in by any country. The United States not only fought on the side of Napoleon, the greatest despot in modern history; but one of the chief causes of the war---impressment---was not even mentioned in the Treaty of Ghent, The United States was exceedingly fortunate to retain its status quo, considering the fact that we did not win one important victory until after the terms of peace had heen reached! This is difficult to comprehend when we learn that the number of men fighting on the American side during the War of 1812 outnumbered the British thirty-two to one! The War of 1812 was a sectional war with the instigators an ambitious group of Southerners and Westerners desiring to conquer Canada, in order to be able to dictate terms at Quebec or Halifax. But the Americans were prevented from entering Canada by 5000 men. On the other hand, 5000 Americans could not defend their capital city from 1500 British soldiers. Invectives have been heaped upon the British for the plundering of Washington, but the Americans had previously done the exact thing to the capitol building of Canada.