Editing War of 1812 (section)

=== Unpreparedness ===
[[File:Anglo American War 1812 Locations map-en.svg|thumb|upright=1.2|Northern theatre, War of 1812]]

The war had been preceded by years of diplomatic dispute, yet neither side was ready for war when it came. Britain was heavily engaged in the Napoleonic Wars, most of the British Army was deployed in the Peninsular War in Portugal and Spain, and the Royal Navy was blockading most of the coast of Europe.{{sfn|Hannay|1911|p=847}} The number of British regular troops present in Canada in July 1812 was officially 6,034, supported by additional Canadian militia.{{sfn|Hickey|1989|pp=72–75}} Throughout the war, the British [[Secretary of State for War and the Colonies|War Secretary]] was [[Henry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst|Earl Bathurst]], who had few troops to spare for reinforcing North America defences during the first two years of the war. He urged Lieutenant General [[George Prévost]] to maintain a defensive strategy. Prévost, who had the trust of the Canadians, followed these instructions and concentrated on defending Lower Canada at the expense of Upper Canada, which was more vulnerable to American attacks and allowed few offensive actions. Unlike campaigns along the east coast, Prevost had to operate with no support from the Royal Navy.{{sfnm|Hannay|1911|1pp=22–24|Hickey|1989|2p=194}}

The United States was also not prepared for war.<ref>{{Cite web |title=War Of 1812 {{!}} Encyclopedia.com |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/united-states-and-canada/us-history/war-1812 |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=www.encyclopedia.com}}</ref> Madison had assumed that the state militias would easily seize Canada and that negotiations would follow. In 1812, the regular army consisted of fewer than 12,000 men. Congress authorized the expansion of the army to 35,000 men, but the service was voluntary and unpopular; it paid poorly and there were initially few trained and experienced officers.{{sfn|Quimby|1997|pp=2–12}} The militia objected to serving outside their home states, they were undisciplined and performed poorly against British forces when called upon to fight in unfamiliar territory.{{sfn|Hannay|1911|p=847}} Multiple militias refused orders to cross the border and fight on Canadian soil.{{sfn|Dauber|2003|p=301}}

American prosecution of the war suffered from its unpopularity, especially in [[New England]] where anti-war speakers were vocal. Massachusetts Congressmen [[Ebenezer Seaver]] and [[William Widgery]] were "publicly insulted and hissed" in Boston while a mob seized Plymouth's Chief Justice [[Charles Turner Jr.|Charles Turner]] on 3 August 1812 "and kicked [him] through the town".{{sfn|Adams|1918|p=400}} The United States had great difficulty financing its war. It had disbanded its [[First Bank of the United States|national bank]], and private bankers in the Northeast were opposed to the war, but it obtained financing from London-based [[Barings Bank]] to cover overseas [[bond (finance)|bond]] obligations.{{sfn|Hickey|2012n}} New England failed to provide militia units or financial support, which was a serious blow,{{sfn|Hickey|1989|p=80}} and New England states made loud threats to secede as evidenced by the [[Hartford Convention]]. Britain exploited these divisions, opting to not blockade the ports of New England for much of the war and encouraging smuggling.{{sfn|Heidler|Heidler|1997|pp=233–234, 349–350, 478–479}}