American ships of the line would reshape the War of 1812

What if the early USS Enterprise had been built as a first-rate ship of the line?

Britain would reinforce the station, while a sufficiently large American battle squadron could challenge the blockade and enable frigate raiding.

The Royal Navy would respond to American first rates by assigning stronger line-of-battle forces to the North America and West Indies Station. Those reinforcements would reflect the actual size of the American threat rather than the prestige of one famous ship. One or two American ships could be locally overwhelmed by several British third rates and a first rate. A squadron of six or eight, however, would demand a major British fleet, could help frigates break the blockade, and might produce a fleet action off the American coast.