The War of 1812 - The Second American Revolution

The War of 1812,

The Second American Revolution:

Join us at the Baxter Country Library for engaging classes on The War of 1812, The Second American Revolution.

Classes meet every Monday beginning February 3, for 8 lectures, from 1-3 p.m. Professor Jim Carroll will led the class. A $100 donation to the Baxter County Library Foundation is requested & payable at the Library Circulation Desk at the first lecture or before January 2.

This series is produced by Peter Giuliano, a former producer of many motion pictures and television series.

Lecture Synopsis:

The War of 1812, often called "The Second American Revolution," was a crucial conflict between the U.S. and Great Britain from 1812 to 1815 that solidified American independence and identity. Tensions arose from British impressment of American sailors, trade restrictions due to Britain’s war with Napoleon, and British support for Native American resistance to U.S. expansion.

British provocations led the U.S. to declare war on June 18, 1812. Key battles included the burning of Washington, D.C., the failed British assault on Baltimore (inspiring the “Star-Spangled Banner”), and American naval victories on the Great Lakes. The war’s most famous battle, the Battle of New Orleans, occurred from January 8 to January 18, 1815, after the Treaty of Ghent had been signed but before news reached America. 

With a diverse force, General Andrew Jackson decisively defeated a larger British army, preventing their control of the Mississippi River. The British suffered over 2,000 casualties, while American losses were minimal. Jackson’s victory made him a national hero, boosting American morale and solidifying the perception of U.S. triumph.

The war fostered a sense of unity and true American nationalism, as Americans felt they had defended their nation against a major world power. After the war, we began to see the collapse of Native American resistance, which opened vast territories for expansion (like the Ozarks), and the war confirmed the U.S. as a sovereign nation, laying the groundwork for its future growth and development.