[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 513 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 513

Recognizing the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, which was fought 
  between the United States of America and Great Britain beginning on 
 June 18, 1812, in response to British violations of neutral rights of 
 the United States, seizure of ships of the United States, restriction 
    of trade between the United States and other countries, and the 
    impressment of sailors of the United States into the Royal Navy.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 28, 2012

Mrs. Gillibrand submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
                   to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, which was fought 
  between the United States of America and Great Britain beginning on 
 June 18, 1812, in response to British violations of neutral rights of 
 the United States, seizure of ships of the United States, restriction 
    of trade between the United States and other countries, and the 
    impressment of sailors of the United States into the Royal Navy.

Whereas in standing up to the British, and fighting the conquerors of Napoleon 
        to a draw, the War of 1812 revived flagging nationalism, cleared the way 
        for expanded overseas trade, and ended an era of introversion by the 
        United States;
Whereas most of the public buildings of Washington, DC, were set alight, 
        including the White House and the Capitol;
Whereas Sackets Harbor, New York, on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario, was the 
        site of more naval construction during the war than anywhere else;
Whereas the war came to the State of New York in late December 1813 when the 
        village of Black Rock, located 2 miles below Buffalo on the front lines 
        of the war, was torched by the British and only 1 house was spared;
Whereas Buffalo, of which it is said that ``no other town in the United States 
        saw more of the war'', came under regular siege from the British and was 
        ultimately burned despite assurances that private property would be 
        spared;
Whereas the British capture of Fort Niagara, in a surprise night offensive on 
        December 18, 1813, provided control over the mouth of the Niagara River 
        to the British as well as the launching pad for its attacks on Buffalo 
        and Black Rock;
Whereas the town of Lewiston, New York, which served as the headquarters for the 
        United States Army during its attack across the river at Queenston, 
        Ontario, was the target of British retaliation in December 1813, 
        resulting in the deaths of many civilians and the destruction of all 
        buildings;
Whereas despite being outnumbered 30 to 1, members of the Tuscarora Nation 
        offered the first resistance the British and Mohawk allies had seen, 
        saving the lives of dozens of Lewiston citizens by allowing them to 
        escape the attack;
Whereas Jacob Brown, a pioneer settler in the Black River country of upstate New 
        York and a general in the New York Militia, led the successful defense 
        of Fort Erie in the late summer of 1814, which lifted the spirits of the 
        people of the United States at an important time and resulted in Brown 
        emerging from the war a national hero;
Whereas the British plan to invade from the North, in a manner similar to that 
        of General John Burgoyne in 1777, was halted at Plattsburgh, New York, 
        in September 1814;
Whereas the victory at Plattsburgh shattered any hopes of British gains in the 
        North, helped maintain national morale after Washington was sacked in 
        that dark summer of 1814, and was described by Winston Churchill as the 
        ``most decisive engagement of the war'';
Whereas from the death and destruction of the War of 1812 there was born a 
        spirit of cooperation and a vision of peace between the United States 
        and Canada;
Whereas the unparalleled cooperation, prosperity, and friendship that developed 
        between the United States and Canada since the War of 1812 find the 
        deepest roots and daily expressions in the border communities across 
        upstate New York, which was the front line of the War of 1812;
Whereas the bicentennial of the War of 1812 offers an exceptional opportunity to 
        acknowledge and celebrate the true and lasting legacy of 200 years of 
        peace between the United States and Canada; and
Whereas through the turmoil of war, a young nation endured and saw its banner 
        continue to wave over a land free and brave: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate recognizes the 200th anniversary of the 
War of 1812.
                                 <all>