ican militia behind breastworks could repel the attacks of
twice their number of experienced soldiers who had recently helped to
overthrow Napoleon.

[Illustration: CAPTAIN JAMES LAWRENCE

From the painting by Gilbert Stuart]

The greatest result of the War of 1812 was to make the Americans realize
at once their weakness and their strength. Just at the end of the war
Robert Fulton put on the waters of the Hudson a steamship of war,
forerunner of the majestic steam fleets of today. Our forefathers
suffered for want of roads by which they could convey their armies and
their supplies to the frontiers. Therefore they set out to remedy that
condition, and four years after the peace they had the Cumberland Road
completed from the upper Potomac to the Ohio River. Six years later the
Erie Canal was opened to Lake Erie. The people had suffered for want of
a national bank during the war: in 1816 Congress created one. Their
trade had been disturbed for over twenty years: in 1816 they passed a
tariff, designed to establish American manufactures. War, and especially
such a disappointing war as that of 1812, has many bad effects upon a
nation; but it does strengthen the feeling of a common danger and a
common duty.

[Illustration: WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE

Commodore in the United States Navy.

From the portrait by J.W. Jarvis]

The War of 1812 also for the first time gave the United States an
unquestioned place in the sisterhood of modern nations. Though the
population in 1815 was only about eight and a half millions, the success
of the navy inspired a wholesome respect for Yankee ships and Yankee
sailors. In place of the captured ships a new merchant marine was
quickly provided, which developed into the famous clipper ships, the
triumph of American skill and the glory of the seas. From this time
dates the friendship of several European nations, particularly of
Russia, whose Czar Alexander was a friend and correspondent of Thomas
Jefferson.

[Illustration: From "Naval Actions of the War of 1812," by James Barnes.

Copyright, 1896, by Harper & Brothers

THE "CHESAPEAKE" LEAVING THE HARBOR

Captain Lawrence, commanding the "Chesapeake," was mortally wounded, and
his vessel was captured by the "Shannon" off Boston Roads. It was in
this engagement that he uttered his famous words, "Don't give up the
ship." From a painting by Carlton T. Chapman]

Our former enemy, Great Britain, was converted into a respectful friend
who saw the