all these gains, and not many losses, it could be said that America was becoming an empire. But what kind of empire? Was it an empire on a world scale? Not at all, America had very little holdings overseas, and did not want to conquer any established nation. America desired to be an empire for democracy and an empire of wealth. The world has seen empires come and go, fail and succeed. But no one has ever had the merchants make the empire. No one had seen a democracy build such a vast empire of traders and merchants since the time of Rome. Truly, this was an accomplishment to be proud of. (This Sacred Trust: American Nationality.) It is undeniable that the war of 1812 had many impacts upon this nation. The nation grew and changed in a way that most Americans back then did not even think of. Weather they liked it or not, they all were united in one way or another. The United States had evolved into something great; something special that could no longer be denied its goals. Its children had become proud of this infant nation, and that was the most important step in keeping together. If no one believed in a nation, how could it survive? Many questioned weather or not this pride would last, but undoubtedly it did. It evolved into a nation-wide sense of pride. It grew and with it the nation grew and prospered under great leadership and the democratic way. The great democratic experiment had worked, the nation was at peace and was growing, and the tide for the next century had already been set in motion. ...
