War of 1812: The Results Show

....and, we're back!

Treaty of Ghent, signed Dec. 24, 1814.Officially ended the War of 1812. Neither side gained nor lost territory. U.S. and Britain agreed to respect pre-war boundary between U.S. and Canada. Impressment and Indian Aidbecame a non-issue during the war and wasn't mentioned.

Ghent, Belgium on a clear day last year.

The actual end of the war, Jan. 8, 1815Britain sent an army to take New Orleans in late 1814. 10,000 of Britain's best troops, led by General Packenham, one of Britain's best generals, attacked American General Andrew Jackson's thrown-together army of about 5,000. Britain lost....bad.  278 British soldiers were killed and only 13 Americans.  It was a bad day for Redcoats.

Jackson Square, New Orleans, LA

Geographic Results

   Without all of that pesky British interference with the Indians, the U.S. was able to steal more Indian land, evict more Indians, and expand very quickly into the Great Lakes region and the lower Mississippi valley. In the 21 years before the War of 1812, five states (Kentucky, Vermont, Tennessee, Ohio, and Louisiana) were added to the Union.  By comparison, six states (Indiana, Mississippi, Illinois, Alabama, Missouri, Maine) were added in just six years following the War of 1812. 

Political Results

The Federalist Party died after the War of 1812. Many Federalists were involved in a secessionist movement started during the Hartford Convention of 1814.  The party got branded as British collaborators (which was partly true) and died a quick death. The years between the end of the war and the election of 1824 are known as the "Era of Good Feelings" because it lacked any major political conflicts.   Things were so peaceful that President James Monroe had no opposition in the 1820 election.

More Political andGeographic Results:Andrew Jackson emerged as a hero, especially in the South and West. His popularity grew after fighting with the Seminole Indians of Florida, despite the fact that Spain owned Florida at the time. When Spain protested about having U.S. troops on Spanish soil, the U.S. responded with "Give us Florida or put an Army there to stop us." In 1819, Spain gave Florida to the U.S., Jackson, Florida's new military governor, started thinking about national politics.

Jackson memorial at the Plaza Ferdinand VII in Pensacola, FL