During the War of 1812, Britain still concentrated major forces in the Mediterranean and Channel. Other vessels supported the movement of South American silver and the trade that connected it with China. Forces off the American coast receive lower priority in this account of Britain's wider wartime allocation. The explanation accepts American naval capability while distinguishing it from the much larger potential threat posed by France. Limited congressional funding for additional ships is given as a reason the United States could not present the same scale of threat.
Notable Point · 5:07:13-5:08:03
Why Britain concentrated its strongest forces against France
The discussion places operations off America within Britain's simultaneous commitments against France and its global trading system.