“Madison accepted war in 1812 in the confidence that it would be relatively short, inexpensive, and bloodless –more talk than fight– and that the United States could achieve its objectives without great difficulty.  In fact, the War of 1812 lasted two and a half years and cost more than two thousand American lives and $158 billion.  For Britain, the war was a military and diplomatic sideshow to the main performance in Europe; for the United States, it became a struggle for survival.” –George Herring, From Colony to Superpower, p. 127

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War of 1812 map

War of 1812 overview map (Courtesy of World Book)

Discussion Questions

  • How did Jefferson’s attempts to embargo Britain during his second term undermine his presidency and cloud his foreign policy legacy?
  • The War of 1812 is a misnomer in several ways.  Not only was it a nearly three-year conflict, but also the war involved far more than just the US and British.  What was the role of various Indian nations in this pivotal conflict?  How did the outcome of the war reshape US-Native American relations after 1815?

Additional Resources