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Position:Home>Arts & Humanities> Explain the Battle of New Orleans was both ironic and significant?


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Explain the Battle of New Orleans was both ironic and significant?


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: The War of 1812 had been going on for years when the Battle of N.O. occurred in December of 1814 through January of 1815. The war was very difficult for the USA and there were several defeats, including the buring of the White House in Washington DC. The war went better for the USA in 1814 and peace negotiations commenced. One British objective was to hold on to Canada, which was threatened by US forces.

The battle was significant for several reasons. One was that it ended British hopes of controlling the Mississippi River, which would have given them a great advantage in further operations against the USA. Another reason was that a "rag-tag" collection of Americans thoroughly defeated a larger force of regular British troops.

It is usually called "ironic" because a peace treaty was signed by the USA and Great Britain on December 24, 1814. However, the treaty was signed in Europe and the news could be communicated to America only by sailing ship - which did not arrive until well after the battle was over.
In any event, treaties are not in effect until ratified by Congress, which didn't happen until February of 1815.

Had the British won and taken New Orleans, would they have returned the city to the USA once word of the treaty was received? Maybe, and maybe not.

Certainly, the War of 1812 was the last war between the USA and Great Britain.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/war_of_1812...

http://hometown.aol.com/ninety3rd/myths....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/battle_of_n...