How Did The War Of 1812 Affect America's Identity

The War of 1812 made a huge impact on America 's identity as an independent and powerful nation. Before the war, Britain made no attempts to control America, or even communicate. The two nations lived separately in peace, with a few disturbances, but mostly no contact. However, when the Napoleonic Wars started in Europe, Britain needed more troops to be victorious against France. To solve this problem, Britain took advantage of America as if they were still under control, and captured any American sailors they could find. This atrocity to America was called impressment. Britain would force the captured sailors to serve in their Navy to fight in the Napoleonic Wars. Anyone who refused would be taken prisoner. A similar incident happened to the …show more content…
The commodore of Leopard, Salusbury Pryce Humphreys, along with his ship, Leopard, pursued the American ship, Chesapeake, all the way to off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia. The purpose of this chase was to pursue deserters from the British Royal Navy whom were believed to have escaped to the ship, Chesapeake. When Leopard encountered Chesapeake, Humphreys ordered commodore James Barron of Chesapeake to stand down and to allow his ship to be searched. Barron refused, so Humphreys replied by having Leopard fire broadsides into Chesapeake’s hull. Due to Chesapeake being unprepared for combat, the ship managed to fire only one shot in retaliation for the exchanged dozens. Barron had no choice but to surrender and to allow the search. This attack portrayed unjustness because 4 innocent crew members were killed while 18 injured, just so Humphrey’s could search. The search party also took 4 crew members, while only one, Jenkin Ratford, was a Royal Navy Deserter. Therefore, the attack of the British HMS Leopard on American USS Chesapeake was unjust. This act of unjustness led to increasing tension between America and Britain, further increasing possibility for