Defining the Stakes: Voices

The divisions between political parties in the early 19th century seemed almost insurmountable. Instabilities in politics threatened not only the effectiveness of the government, but its very stability. The War of 1812 was the first American civil war. New England threatened to secede from the union.

Throughout the War of 1812, more than 4,800 slaves fled their bondage, and were evacuated as refugees to Bermuda, and later to Canada, Trinidad, and other British colonies. When Admiral Cochrane began planning his Gulf Coast campaign, he anticipated refugee slaves would swell his ranks, supplement his army, and potentially topple American control of the region.

The War of 1812 was unpopular among many, including Federalist-leaning clergy, who saw any association with France as leading to the downfall of the new country.

Publisher Hezekiah Niles used his Baltimore newspaper to stir up anti-British war sentiment

The idea of waging war against Britain through Canada divided Americans from the start.

The Madison administration struggled over the philosophical contradiction between their hawkish anti-Great Britain policy and traditional doctrine of small budget and limited government.