So, what did it all accomplish? Perhaps, most importantly, who-if anyone-won? Considering thar rhe entire conflict was precipitated by misperception, poor documentation, arrogance, ignorance, and a reluctance to compromise, it is no wonder that there was no clear victor to whom might go the spoi ls. I have often characterized the war as the one that none of the combatants losr, bur that really isn't exactly correct either- the Indians lost. Many of them were fighting for both sides, bur the War of 1812 would prove to be the beginning of the end for them. Did it accomplish anything? Well, the Canadians weren't looking for anything except to be left alone-by both the Crown and their neighbor to the south, and the British certainly weren't looking to rake the American states back as a colony. And of course, neither of them started it. Did the Americans get anything out of it? They did. The Americans went to war in the cause of "free trade and sailors' rights." Following the implementation of the Treaty of Ghent, American merchants were rhen able to trade around the wo rld with whomever they wished and do it without fear of
their seamen being pressed at sea into the Royal Navy. America also proved to the world rhat this experiment in a republican form of government could indeed work. I have to agree with my friend, author and historian Joe Callo, who offers that: what the victories and defeats, mistakes on both sides, and the good and bad luck of the War of 1812 all added up to was a phenomenon that is still playing our. That phenomenon was the emergence of the United States as a global-eventually preeminent-naval power. Our security and prosperity, as well as that of much of the world, is, to a significant extent, based on American naval power, a global force that came forth in a brilliant flash of history between 1812 and 1814. Ir was a marriage of democratic political concepts ro sea power. The conjunction of American theories of liberty with global sea power in 1814 is, in my opinion, the single most important outcome of the War of 1812. And it was an enormously important outcome that h as borne heavily on world history. We ignore that message from history at great risk. ,!,
Award winning author, historian William H White specializes in the Age ofFighting Sail. In addition to the many articles he has contributed to Sea History, Mr. White is the author ofseveral nonfiction and navalfiction books, including The 1812 Trilogy: A Press of Canvas; A Fine Tops'! Breeze; and The Evening G un. In 2012, he authored" ... Our Flag Was Still There," The Sea History Press G uide to the War of 1812- Its History and Bicentennial Commemorations, published by NMHS. His most recent efforts have been in creating the Edward Ballantyne Series: When Fortune Frowns and Gun Bay-his next installment in this series will be published later in 2015. Mr. White is a life trustee of the USS Constitution Museum, a fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and a trustee ofLYNX Educational Foundationserving as consultant to the reproduction 1812 p rivateer Lynx. For many years he was a trustee and officer of NMHS; he currently serves as an NMHS overseer and is an active advisor on the Sea History Edito rial Board. For more on the author and his books, see www.seafiction.net. His books are also available at www.seahistory.org.
National Historic Landmark 6 National Memorial to Coast
Guardsmen who lost their lives during WWII through Vietnam. • Awarded two Naval Presidential Unit Citations for her service during Vietnam. • Credited with sinking U-Boat 626 during convoy duty in the North Atlantic. Don't miss the opportunity to tour this ship. learn about its remarkable history, the recently completely underwater re-fit and the current work being done restoring her topside. USCGC ING HAM is located in Key West on the Truman Waterfront.
You Can Visit ...You Can Help The foundation seeks donations to continue restoration of this important vessel. Please send your tax-deductible contributions to:
USCGC INGHAM Memorial Museum P. 0. Box186. Key West. Florida 33041 • Phone: (305)-385-8554 www.uscgcingham.org SEA HISTORY 150, SPRING 2015
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