The War of 1812 had an essential effect on Frank McWorter's business. As a result of the war, the US government began to place more emphasis on US-based manufacturing and increased tariffs on imports. This meant that Frank's business was able to shift away from relying on imports from abroad and towards domestically made goods. This gave the business a major competitive advantage, allowing them to offer higher quality, more cost-effective products. The war also saw new roads and canals being built, connecting the Midwest with the East Coast, which opened up new markets for the business to tap into, giving them a major boost.