Background of the War-- Part 1: The New England Thing

From the June 8, 2014, Finger Lakes Times "Way Back When in Wayne County: Naval decision made all the difference" by Peter Evans.

Some interesting background to the fighting.

Peace discussions began almost the same day the war began.

The Congressional war declaration passed completely along party lines.  The Federalists in New England were completely against the war, even though they were the ones adversely affected by the British trade embargo laws and impressment of American sailors.  New England shipping interests had lost 1,000 ships and almost 10,000 sailors during the years leading up to the war.

They saw these losses just the cost of doing business with war-torn Europe.

As a matter of fact, there was a time when New England appeared ready to secede from the United States, so much was their opposition to the war.

--Brock-Perry