war of 1812

The war of 1812 and its effects underlined fierce political and regional divisions that had been building for a long period of time. In June of 1812, when the U.S. declared war on Britain, these divisions were already clear before the war even began. The close votes for either side showed how different regions supported opposite goals--representatives from the middle Atlantic states and commercial areas strongly opposed the war whereas the West and southwest supported the war. Because compromise could not be made, the regional tensions increased. Also, the political parties differed in their views on the war. Federalists opposed the war and feared the acquisition of Canada, which would add fertile land and strenghten support for the Democratic -Republicans, who supported the war. These political and regional divisions, which stemmed largely from each side having opposing views on what would benefit them the most, were evident even before the war of 1812. However, by the time the war came around, the divisions were prominent in many aspects of American life--political, geographic, economical, and were foreboding signs of eventual conflict.