<P> The gloom in New England, which staunchly opposed the war, culminated in December 1814, as delegates from five states met secretly in the Hartford Convention . It demanded constitutional amendments to protect New England's interests against the West and the South . Secession talk was rife and the region might have threatened to secede from the Union, if their demands had been ignored, but the news of peace ended the movement . </P> <P> The United States had faced near - disaster in 1814, but the victories at the Battle of New Orleans and the Battle of Baltimore and what seemed to be a successful fight against the United Kingdom increased to unite the United States into one nation . Meanwhile, the loss of the American flagship USS President was conveniently overlooked by the public . The best - known patriotic legacy of the war was The Star Spangled Banner . The words are by Francis Scott Key, who after the bombardment of Fort McHenry set them to the music of a British drinking song, "To Anacreon in Heaven ." In 1889 the U.S. Navy began using The Star Spangled Banner at flag - raising ceremonies, a practice copied by the Army . In 1931, Congress made it the U.S. National Anthem . </P> <P> Although all of the original objectives of the war had failed, the American people saw the War of 1812 as evidence of the success of the democratic experiment . The war ushered in a period of American history that has frequently been called "the Era of Good Feelings," a time when, at least on the surface, most Americans felt unified behind a common purpose . The War of 1812 convinced the country that it could fend off any foreign threats and that its focus should be on expansion at home . </P> <P> With the collapse of the Hartford Convention and news of the triumph at the Battle of New Orleans, Americans had cause for celebration . In February, President James Madison sent Congress the treaty of peace . He congratulated the nation on the close of a war "waged with the success which is the natural result of the wisdom of the legislative councils, of the patriotism of the people, of the public spirit of the militia, and of the velour of the military and naval forces of the country ." The spirit of nationalism and pride led to the collapse of the nay - sayer Federalist Party and the new Era of Good Feelings . </P>

What was the major benefit to the united states after the war of 1812