The war of 1812 Jefferson essay paper

Thomas Jefferson, the third President of theUnited States of America, the main author of the Declaration of Independence also known as a staunch defender of republican ideals in theUnited States of America. Though by the beginning of the War of 1812 he had already retired, he supported it and believed that this war could have helpedCanadato avoid British influence. He saw futureAmericaas an agricultural country of yeoman farmers where there was no place for bureaucracy and corruption. At the same time, he supposed monarchicalBritainto be the country where these phenomena thrived. His views were opposite to those of Alexander Hamilton and John Adams who wantedAmericato be a country of manufacturing, industrialization and commerce.

Nevertheless,Jefferson’s republican ideals and policies were refuted by the War of 1812. The results of the war showed that it contributed much to the development of Canadian nationalism and thus ofCanadaas a country.

Jeffersonian views as for the pernicious influence of British policy ontoAmericaandCanadawere not supported by the reality. It was the War of 1812 that initiated the process that finally led to Canadian Confederation of 1867.

In the course of the war, some other events also contradictedJefferson’s assertions. He rejected the necessity of the Bank of United States and stated “I sincerely believe that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies; and that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale.” (Jefferson, 15) However, during the war it became evident that the shortage of a national bank can be fatal and lead to a financial crisis in the country and as a result the Second Bank of theUSAwas founded.

Thus, we can make a conclusion that Thomas Jefferson’s views were not grounded on facts and the experience of the War of 1812 showed their inconsistence.