10. Hail Jefferson, The American Caesar

The Second Anglo-American War (or War of 1808) initiated with a strong, well-prepared American offensive into British North America. In Upper Canada, General Jacob Brown drove his troops across the Niagara River, hastily capturing St. Catherine’s and proceeding around Lake Ontario towards Mississaugua and Fort York [1] Supporting Harrison on the water was Commodore Oliver Perry, who managed to defeated the British fleet in the First Battle of Lake Eerie.

The first months of the war against Britain coincided with the presidential elections of 1808. Because the war seemed to be going well on during its early stages, the Republicans opted for consistency, and offered Jefferson the opportunity to run for a third term. A move that most Federalist saw as a gross expansion of executive powers, and contrary to Washington’s precedent. Worried about the economic effects of the war, the Federalists campaigned in favor of ending hostilities and finding a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, fully aware that Britain would be hard pressed by the wars in Europe. But despite their solid victory across New England, the Federalists found it hard to fight “the patriotism of youth”. Jefferson replaced James Madison with George Clinton as his VP nominee, in order to appeal to New York, and won an election for the third time. 

But by Jefferson’s second re-inauguration the war had turned into a stalemate. Despite the early victories, General Brown failed to move past Mississagua before winter, severely setting back the American plans. Meanwhile in the east, American forces had prepared and planned for an invasion of Canada since the time of the Revolution. Yet the American forces were unable to capture any of Canada’s major cities above the St. Laurence. By winter, with most of the battlefields frozen, the war moved to the seas where Britain had the clear advantage. 

The Royal Navy managed to successfully blockade all major New England ports and Chesapeake Bay. The United States Navy, an organization still in its cradle, proved unable to prevent the British from laying siege to Boston and New York City in the spring of 1809.  Once again trade in New England plummeted, while a sporadic riots against the war in New England grew in intensity and frequency. 

[1] Toronto