WI:America started preparing for the war of 1812 in 1807

How much more can the US militarize in five years, from these beginnings, and with this administration?

Not enough to inflict any worse than OTL defeats that I can think of.
 
The basis for the USN having a substantial increase in quantity has not been made while the ability of the RN to divert a more substantial force of ships to North America is response is beyond doubt.

OTL the RN had ships and small contingents passing near ports known to hold US warships before the war began...so a few key US combatants being lost from the start seems more likely in this TL.



Free Lancer, since the argument for a much larger USN and that for the US pouring ships out when the US wasn't even able to get a single SOL into service during the war OTL...
 
I'm inclined to side with Grimm, with this late a POD. Earlier, I'd argue it's possible. But not after 1803 has seen the beginning of what might have been a meaningful navy gutted.

If someone wants a useful US navy by 1812, you need to start in the mid 1790s, or the Quasi-War with France at the latest.
 
What would be more interesting is what they could do with the Army, a larger army and better mobilization plans could be a lot more valuable than a better Navy in this case
 
Looking at US line ships
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ships_of_the_line_of_the_United_States_Navy
there clearly was a programme that was cancelled in 1800

Presumably this programme already had congressional approval? A war scare in 1807 may well be enough to resurrect it

Best Regards
Grey Wolf

It's barely advanced from the point of having the plans. You'd pretty much have to start all over again.

Ramscoopraider: Now get that through the part of the government that fervently believes standing armies are an instrument of the worst sort of tyranny and militia soldiers are the best anyway.
 
It's barely advanced from the point of having the plans. You'd pretty much have to start all over again.

Ramscoopraider: Now get that through the part of the government that fervently believes standing armies are an instrument of the worst sort of tyranny and militia soldiers are the best anyway.
Yeah that's the rub right there, maybe more trouble with the Indians or such, truth was I wasn't thinking too much of an increase maybe twice as large (still not large) with better plans for mobilizing the militia in case of war and better equipment/training for them
 
Yeah that's the rub right there, maybe more trouble with the Indians or such, truth was I wasn't thinking too much of an increase maybe twice as large (still not large) with better plans for mobilizing the militia in case of war and better equipment/training for them

Then there's the issue of recruiting. The Army is an extremely undesirable career.

So . . . yeah, this is a near-hopeless mess. F--k you, Jefferson. F--k you.
 
Perhaps if the Federalists were in control of the White House and Congress, the US could develop a standing military.
 
Free Lancer, since the argument for a much larger USN and that for the US pouring ships out when the US wasn't even able to get a single SOL into service during the war OTL...
If the US does build more ships earlier with this POD, they're not going to even try to build SOLs... what they'll do is build a few more of those upgunned frigates that gave the RN a minor headache. But only a few... the USA just doesn't have the funds to do more than that...
 
Starting with a POD around 1800 you could see the US build a fleet of 12 SOL and 24 heavy frigates by 1812. Until Napoleon is dealt with the British wouldn't be capable of sending anymore than they did in OTL as France was rapidly rebuilding her fleet.

Fleet Strengths

I can only imagine what after the first USN victories at sea would do to the shipping rates in Britain had there been 4x as many frigates at sea as in OTL. Not to mention a blockade would have been impossible until the RN achieved a 2-1 ratio in capital ships on the eastern seaboard.
 
Starting with a POD around 1800 you could see the US build a fleet of 12 SOL and 24 heavy frigates by 1812. Until Napoleon is dealt with the British wouldn't be capable of sending anymore than they did in OTL as France was rapidly rebuilding her fleet.

I agree with this to an extent. People assuming Britain could just send plenty of ships with no problem misconstrue, I think, its resources. the USA was always a lesser priority than France, and all a dangerous USA does is encourage Britain to accommodate American demands.
 
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