Why did the War of 1812 create a need for domestic products?

During the War of 1812, there was an increased need for products made in the United States. A major reason for this had to do with the British strategy in the War of 1812. One of Britain’s biggest strengths was its navy. As part of its strategy for fighting the war, the British used its navy to blockade the American coast facing the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. This made it much more...

During the War of 1812, there was an increased need for products made in the United States. A major reason for this had to do with the British strategy in the War of 1812. One of Britain’s biggest strengths was its navy. As part of its strategy for fighting the war, the British used its navy to blockade the American coast facing the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. This made it much more difficult for us to get products into our country from other countries. Additionally, the attacks on our shipping in international waters also restricted our ability to get products both before and during the war. As a result, we needed to produce more products in our businesses and in our factories.

We did engage the British in some naval battles in the War of 1812. We used frigates and privateers to take on the British navy. However, for the most part, the British were successful in restricting the flow of supplies into the United States. Our trade was significantly impacted by the naval blockade. Thus, we needed our factories to produce more products to try to meet our needs.