Historian Alan Taylor says the peace treaty saved the United States from a “very grim situation.”
“The American government was bankrupt. It had lost its credit, it could not raise enough in taxes for the war effort, and most creditors were refusing to lend any more money to the United States. And so it was very unclear how the Americans would conduct another campaign in 1815, because it looked like it wouldn’t have the money for it.”
The Senate acted quickly to approve the treaty. On February 17, 1815, President Madison declared the war officially ended. It had lasted two years and eight months, and united the American people.
On the Fourth of July in 1815, the nation celebrated its thirty-ninth anniversary of independence. In Washington, the man who wrote the "Star-Spangled Banner,” Francis Scott Key, spoke at the celebrations.
Historian Alan Taylor says many people call the War of 1812 America’s second war for independence. But he calls it America’s first civil war. He says the country had been divided throughout the war. But things changed after Andrew Jackson’s victory at New Orleans.
“And so, Americans concluded the war had really been a glorious occasion that had defended national honor and proved the merit of their republican institutions. And they were so relieved by all of this, they decided to celebrate the war in their memories.”
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2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25