Fortune columnist compares the War of 1812 to the US-Iran conflict
US publication Fortune published a column whose author draws parallels between the 1812 war between the United States and Great Britain and the current conflict between the United States and Iran. In the author's view, both confrontations were accompanied by trade pressure, economic losses, and optimistic statements by US leaders about the course of the war.
The author calls it a significant difference that the War of 1812 was fought on American territory. According to his account, thousands of servicemen were killed then, and British troops burned the Capitol and the White House in Washington in 1814.
Economic pressure
Before the war, President Thomas Jefferson imposed an embargo against Great Britain and France, prohibiting export shipments from American ports. According to data cited in the column, US exports declined by about 80% over the course of a year, while imports fell by nearly 60%. The author notes that this was a self-inflicted economic blow and led to a depression even before hostilities began.
The article also cites Tax Foundation estimates regarding President Donald Trump's tariffs. According to these calculations, the tariffs increased prices for essential goods by 3.1% and could reduce GDP by 0.4% in the long term and result in the loss of approximately 345,000 full-time jobs. The author links tensions in energy markets to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which the International Energy Agency called the largest oil supply disruption in history.
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The war with Britain and peace in Ghent
The United States declared war on Great Britain on June 18, 1812. The first American invasions of Canada were unsuccessful: in particular, Brigadier General William Hull surrendered Fort Detroit to the British along with his army. At the same time, the US victory in the naval battle on Lake Erie in September 1813 made it possible to retake Detroit and restore control over the Northwest Territory.
In December 1814, American and British representatives signed the Treaty of Ghent, which effectively restored the situation that had existed before the war. The columnist emphasizes that the United States did not achieve two declared war aims: ending the forced recruitment of American sailors into the British navy and conquering Canada.
The author also cites a statement by Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who at the end of July called the US war with Iran a conflict started without a clear plan and consistent strategy.
