Far from Fort Dearborn, Britain and France were locked in a life-or-death struggle. Napoleon and France controlled mainland Europe. Britain continued to rule the seas. Frustrated, both sides resorted to economic warfare, each imposing a blockade on the other. As a neutral country, the U.S. claimed a right to continue trading with France which England opposed. They began stopping American ships and taking off any British-born sailors in what they cal;led impressment.
The United States declared war and invaded Canada which had remained loyal to England, even after American independence. Lacking forces to fight the Americans in the interior of the country, the British enlisted Indian allies who were fighting the onslaught of settlers flooding into their lands.
In the spring of 1812, the famous chief Black Hawk put the Indian view in the spotlight, "Why did the Great Spirit ever send the whites to this island, to drive us from our homes, and introduce among us poisonous liqours, disease and death?"
More to Come. --Brock-Perry
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
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