Existing comment:
1812 The War of 1812:
In the early battles of the War, state governors would not commit militia units to the war effort and mobilization, limiting the effectiveness of U.S. forces. The militia was unable to stem the British advance in the eastern United States and the new capital, Washington, DC, was burned by British troops in 1812. An embarrassing defeat at the Battle of Bladensburg near Washington was offset by a successful defense at Fort McHenry in Baltimore.
Battle of New Orleans:
Andrew Jackson, who began his military career as a militia soldier and later earned the rank of general and was elected president, was victorious against the British in this campaign. As a result of the victory at the Battle of New Orleans, the British decided not to pursue more war in the new U.S., which preserved its independence. |