Outbreak of the War of 1812 in New York and New Jersey
Keywords:
New York, New Jersey, War of 1812, New EnglandAbstract
The war of 1812 bitterly divided New Yorkers and split the
Republican Party in New York state. Many Republicans, who
viewed the war as a second struggle for independence necessary
to preserve republicanism, rallied behind the war and the
presidency of James Madison. Prominent party leaders, like De Witt
Clinton, feared the war would produce a Federalist resurgence in New
York similar to the Federalist gains during the embargo of 1807-09. The
concerns turned into reality as the anti-war Federalists won majorities
in the state Assembly in April and twenty-one of twenty-seven
congressional seats in December 1812. New York sent the largest antiwar delegation to Congress of any state, reflecting its discontent with
the decision to go to war. The Empire State became the major
battleground of the war. As historian Richard Barbuto noted, the War of
1812 became New York’s war. Studying New York politics provides an
opportunity to view how national issues of foreign policy and war
became the dominant state issues in 1812 in New York and neighboring
New Jersey. Historians too often concentrate on war in national terms.
They should also look at the impact of war at the state level.