Non-Intercourse



On this day in eighteen hundred and twelve

America declared war on Britain in order to quell

... The attempt to thwart trade by seizing vessels

Which the Royal Navy had been - causing hassles



After the Embargo Act was enacted prohibiting trade

Two years later, the Non-Intercourse Act replaced ...

Limiting that policy to just France and Great Britain

This time, lasting only a year of this kind of forbidding



Replaced in eighteen ten with Macon's Bill No. 2

Stipulating a threat underlined and followed through

That if one nation repealed its antineutral measures

Then an embargo would be imposed with pressure



Altho Napoleon continued to seize American ships

It was only at French ports, so Madison respected it

But continued harassment of shipping by the Brits

Caused him to summon Congress to make it stick ...



Beginning in November of eighteen hundred eleven

It took till June 18th for Congress to get it together 

Issuing the declaration of war on this date in time

The War of 1812 would last for three years prime



Ending on February sixteenth of eighteen fifteen

With the signing of The Treaty of Ghent - seen

As a way to end all of the hostilities for good ...

Which it really did, altho it was a kind of dead wood



For the last battle fought in the War of 1812

Was on January eighth, near New Orleans, held

When the British landed at the Mississippi's mouth

But were trounced by Andrew Jackson's mounts



- Tristram



Christopher W. Thomas

written Sat. 6/19/99

for the date June 18th, 1999