Britain And France example essay topic

Introduction With the ongoing battles between England and France in the early 19th century, the newly formed United States found itself thrust in the middle of this struggle. In the early part of the century Napoleon was on a mission to once again establish a mighty French empire of early years. But with the build up of the royal British Navy the English were trying fiercely to hold Napoleon in check. The United States was determined to stay neutral and continue its trading with both nations.

However several mandates passed by both France and England made this very difficult. With England's naval blockade and the repeated search and seizure of American trade vessels, the United States, led by an aggressive group of leaders in congress known as the Young War Hawks, took a very aggressive approach to Britain and its royal navy. However, the War Hawks and President Madison also had plans of expansion in mind, to extend its boarders to the North Pole, home to royal colonies of the now hated Great Britain. With this plan and the negative feeling toward Britain, the war was just around the corner. And in June of 1812, a full-fledged war was upon them. The war, which lasted approximately two years, was a very bloody and costly battle to both the United States and Britain.

Systematic Analysis To begin to look at this war we must take a look at the system the world was in at the time. The world was dominated by a bi-polar system, with France and England being the two poles. However you also had another player in the system, Russia. Although not quite as powerful as either of the top two, but if thrown in the mix could tip the scales toward one side or the other. The United States at this time preferred to practice a policy of isolationism, and stay out of the turbulent affairs of Europe.

The constant struggle between the French and the British dominated the world scene. The French who were led by Napoleon were trying to establish an empire and dominate all of Europe. This struggle had been raging since the turn of the century. The British as in any bi-polar system were dead set on preventing this from happening. With the United States only a minor player in the international system at the time there was nothing the United States could do in this affair except continue its policy of neutrality, and isolationism. With a bi-polar international system, you are always in a position of war breaking out at anytime, especially in the days before nuclear warheads.

With each pole trying to expand its power and sphere of influence, they were constantly at each other's throat. With Britain still establishing colonies in the west and gaining dominance over the seas with their naval abilities, France was looking for ways to stop Britain. France began forming alliances with the third player in the game, Russia. With the addition of the Russians France had Britain reeling and worried about a possible invasion and defeat.

France, by adding Russia had tipped the scales in its favor, and forced Britain to use its navy that it had begun to build up. Britain began to employ a naval blockade of the European mainland, to stop all incoming and outgoing trade. With this tactic employed France employed the same tactic and this is where the American claim of neutrality was violated. With both Britain and France mandating that any trade ship must first pass through their ports or be subject acts of hostility, America was forced into a no win situation.

The United States who continued to try to remain neutral and continue trade with both countries, found itself thrown right in the middle of this age long battle. The United States and the British Royal Navy had several encounters, and after several ships being stopped for search and some even eventually seized, America began to develop an even stronger feeling of distrust and hatred for the British government. These actions lead eventually to the United States allying with, it's friend from the Revolution, the French. With James Madison becoming president in 1809, and with the War Hawks in Congress, America began to develop a very bitter attitude toward anyone who violated American rights on the homeland or on the high seas.

The United States at the time was a newly formed country, with really no place in the current international system. Nevertheless, with the alignment with France, the United States became a major player in trying to stop the British in their continued push to have colonies on the North American continent. With the United States also having a plan to expand it borders to the north, you have a repeat of the scene in Europe. Britain is forced to fight a two front war against a very strong and dominant Napoleonic Army, and a less prepared both economically and in tactical skills, but determined United States force.

So in one fact the international system turned lopsided against Britain, with France forming important alliances with both, Russia in Europe, and The United States in the west. In fact this was Britain's first scare of an invasion and possible defeat on its homeland, and then on it's Western front for the second time. This could have resulted in a shift in the international system to more of a uni-polar system, and Napoleon gaining the empire he craved. The United States could have possibly stretched from ocean to ocean and gulf to pole.

State Analysis After examining the system, what did each state hope to gain from this war, well let's begin with France. Napoleon more than anything wanted to rule all of Europe and develop a French Empire that in some ways mirrored the early French Empires. France has always had a strong distrust and basic dislike of the British people, which in any case would lead to a very cautious approach, and an attitude of do unto before done unto. Napoleon had developed a basic dictatorship of the French government and all its branches of government. The French people we very trustful of their strong pretentious leader. The French people would also follow any order that would lead to the defeat of their arch enemy.

If France were victorious in their quest, they would have had a continent full of resources as well as access to key ports on both the Atlantic Ocean as well as control of the English mainland. However, the English were successful in heading off the attack and stopping the advancement of Napoleon and his empire. The British were under the rule of the crown still and equally despised their counterparts. The English however did not set out to start a war with The United States; they were more worried about stopping Napoleon's advancement and would do whatever it took to stop it. The naval blockade was set up to cut off supplies and goods to the French mainland in hopes of wearing Napoleon down. The blockade and embargo required that all trade ships first dock at British docks and pass inspection before moving on to their final destinations.

With these requirements Britain risked ruining the still shaky relationship it had with the United States, however any ship that was found to be in violation of the embargo was subject to search and seizure of its contents and drew which enraged the American government. The British government was also focused on its colonies on the North American continent. The British were still reeling from the defeat in the American Revolution and the loss of its colonies in America. Britain needed to reestablish itself as one of the major poles after the stunning defeat a little over 30 years before. The British government though was in no way going to allow for a Napoleon victory, and a possible invasion of their homeland, no matter what the cost were. With their main focus on Europe and their mistreatment of American vessels, they left themselves open and vulnerable to a North American invasion by the United States, which eventually the United States did try to do.

The United States was at this time no position to wage a war and tried to stay on the sidelines for as long as they could. The United States, since the inception of the republic wanted remain isolated to allow for the development of American business, and industry. The United States relied on both countries for trade and had a strong economic dependency. The embargo and seizures of American vessels crippled the country in this period of growth. The United States led by President Madison and The War Hawks developed a very strong feeling against Britain for its recent actions. With the American population starting the migration west into the Louisiana-purchase region of the country, law makers so a possible expansion to the North.

With the British occupying the north, the president and congress saw this as a way to kill two birds with one stone. In an address to congress President Madison gave these reasons for asking for a deceleration of war: ' First was the impressment of American citizens into the British Navy. Second he complained of the British ships off the coast stopping and searching American vessel. Third was the British blockade by which, he said, 'our commerce has been plundered in every sea. ' Fourth came the Orders in Council. The major reasons, it would appear, were maritime rights.

' The United States led by the War Hawks had little fear in invading the northern British colonies and also declaring was on the British. People looked at this as the second Independence War and looked for The United States to break the grip that Britain still had over them. The United States was trying to find its identity and its place in the international system, as a whole. Individual Analysis After looking at the system and state, I would like to analyze what the individual thinks during the war effort. I will start with my old friend Napoleon, and what he was trying to do. As with almost any human has the drive to be in power.

Napoleon just wanted to run Europe. After nearly 10 years of a constant battle with Britain, Napoleon went to end it all and gain total control. Napoleon tried to develop several key alliances, including the United States, and Russia, this allowed Napoleon to pull from a greater resource in both trade and goods. The French people rallied behind Napoleon and his drive for dominance of Western Europe and reestablish the French Empire of yesteryear. With popular support and basically all of Western Europe at his whim, Napoleon went for the kill and lost bitterly to the British Armed Forces. The British on the other hand had several motives for their involvement in the war.

The first motive being to protect your homeland and the health of your citizens, Britain did just this. Britain tried to limit France's trade import as well as output to the United States. This was the first time that Britain was in any immanent danger of being invaded and possibly suffering defeat to Napoleon and the French troops. With Britain's superior Naval defense they effectively wore down and defeated France. However, Britain still had a problem over in America. When the residents of the royal British colonies, rallied to stop the American invasion and stop any plans of extending United States territory north.

This is a basic human nature trait to protect your home and stop any further plans of invasion. British colonials rallied in support of Britain, and so Britain survived a two front war with public support of their homeland as well as their colonies. United States on the other hand wanted no part in the early battle, but when pushed around too much any human, or in this case, any country will rally to prevent any further bulling by a stronger country. The United States was only looking out for it own interest, in trying to continue it's economic growth, and continue the foundation for its republic. Although when presented a plan that looks to good to be true and expand your national boundaries, or homeland, most people will act and that's exactly what the United States did in this case.

In the case of both the United States and France, both got a little greedy, and both ended up losing their campaign. So the United States at the beginning was looking to stand up for itself but when given a little taste of victory, got greedy and was ever so harshly put back in it's place, by the British government. So human nature in this war was a huge factor when it comes to making decisions on the future of each individual state. Conclusion After analyzing The War of 1812, I have come to the conclusion that all three levels of analysis are important in determining why this war was fought and how this war was fought. In my opinion each level of analysis become interlocked and you really can't have one level without the other. When looking at the system as a whole you provide ample proof that the bi-polar system is very unstable and susceptible to conflict at anytime, especially when the two powers are countries that have been at each other since their creation.

Each country is trying to gain dominance over the other. Napoleon would not stop his process until he accomplished his goal or was defeated. The state level also ties into the system, as the states goal was dominance or defeat. The United States tried to invade modern day Canada to increase it national territory and fought many bloody, deadly battles in order to accomplish this goal. Which they eventually failed and did not gain any territory but did not lose any either, the British also attempted to capture key cities and failed as well.

Individual level you see how countrymen will rally in support of their country and this is plain and simply human nature. That is why when you look at the three levels they all are interlocked and must have one, in this war, to have the other. So in a war that was a defeat for France and a draw for the United States and Britain, each level was very prominent and a necessity in The War of 1812.