IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 175 

Expressing the sense of the Congress that a postage stamp should be issued 

to commemorate the War of 1812 and that the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory 

Committee should recommend to the Postmaster General that such a 

stamp be issued. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 31, 2009 

Mr. DINGELL (for himself, Mr. BUYER, Ms. NORTON, Ms. KILPATRICK of 

Michigan, Mr. STUPAK, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. EHLERS, Mr. PETERS, Mr. 

CAMP, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Mrs. MILLER of Michigan, and Mr. ROGERS of 

Michigan) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Congress that a postage stamp 

should be issued to commemorate the War of 1812 and 

that the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee should recommend to the Postmaster General that such a stamp 

be issued. 

Whereas the War of 1812, often referred to as ‘‘America’s 

Second War of Independence’’, was a significant effort 

for the United States in securing territorial boundaries 

and limiting violence on the frontier, clarifying the border 

between the United States and Canada, ensuring safety 

for American mariners from attack in passage to Europe 


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•HCON 175 IH 

and other shores around the world, and securing a lasting and definitive independence from Great Britain; 

Whereas the continental United States was invaded and partly occupied, and public buildings in the Nation’s capital 

were burned, by a foreign power; 

Whereas the major areas of military operations took place 

along the Canadian-American border in the North, the 

Atlantic Seaboard in the East, and the Gulf Coast in the 

South; 

Whereas the infant United States Navy won small but important victories with ships like the USS Constitution, or 

‘‘Old Ironsides’’, against the dominant world naval power 

of the time, and American squadrons on Lake Erie and 

Lake Champlain defeated British squadrons; 

Whereas the War of 1812 was a proving ground for future 

leaders of the United States, including Andrew Jackson, 

William Henry Harrison, James Monroe, Winfield Scott, 

Zachary Taylor, John Quincy Adams, Jacob Brown, and 

others; 

Whereas the War of 1812 produced heroes and heroines that 

entered into American legend, such as Dolley Madison, 

Jean Lafitte, Davy Crockett, and others, including many 

whose names have been lost to history or are buried in 

War Department records; 

Whereas Native American resistance to encroachment on 

their lands was ennobled and personified by The Great 

Shawnee Chief Tecumseh and others; 

Whereas desperate battles and circumstances produced a 

number of inspirational and patriotic sayings, including 

‘‘Don’t give up the ship’’, ‘‘Remember the Raisin’’, and 

‘‘We have met the enemy and they are ours’’; 


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•HCON 175 IH 

Whereas the bombardment of Fort McHenry inspired Francis 

Scott Key to pen the words of what was to become the 

National Anthem; 

Whereas the War of 1812 left the people of the United States 

with a new respect and reverence for their national flag; 

Whereas the iconic figure Uncle Sam made his first appearance in the War of 1812; 

Whereas on December 24, 1814, the Peace Treaty to end the 

War of 1812 was officially signed in Ghent, Belgium; 

Whereas the Treaty of Ghent declared the release of all prisoners of war and returned land seized by both sides; 

Whereas the Treaty of Ghent also formally restored diplomatic relations between the United States and Great 

Britain, resulting in a lasting peace that has endured to 

this day; 

Whereas the War of 1812 was significant in the formation 

of Canada and the Canadian identity; 

Whereas 2012 marks the bicentennial of the War of 1812; 

and 

Whereas the War of 1812 was an important benchmark, not 

only in forging the identity of this Nation, but also in the 

emergence of the United States as a great power: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that— 

3 (1) the United States Postal Service should 

4 issue a postage stamp commemorating the War of 

5 1812; and 


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•HCON 175 IH 

1 (2) the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee 

2 should recommend to the Postmaster General that 

3 such a stamp be issued. 

Æ 


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