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United States Declares War on Britain
United States House of Representatives passes war bill declaring war on Britain. More on the Causes of the War of 1812 -
Fort Detroit Captured
British forces under the command of General Isaac Brock capture Fort Detroit. -
Battle of Queenston Heights
American forces attempt to invade Upper Canada at Queenston, but are repelled by British forces under General Isaac Brock. Brock is killed during the battle. To see a reenactment of the battle visit Battle of Queenston Heights -
Capital of Upper Canada Burned
York (present day Toronto), capital of Upper Canada, is attacked and burned by American forces. -
Battle of Fort George
American troops capture Fort George forcing British forces to retreat back to Burlington. -
Battle of Stoney Creek
British forces defeat American forces at Stoney Creek, which prevents the Americans from further advancing into Upper Canada. -
Battle of Beaverdams
An American column from Fort George attempts to surprise a British outpost at Beaverdams, but are ambushed and captured by Native allies to the British. Through intelligence provided by Laura Secord and Native scouts, the British were aware of the American column. -
British Defeat on Lake Erie
Nine American naval vessels under the command of Oliver Hazard Perry attack and capture six Britsh naval vessels off the coast of Ohio effectively allowing for American control of Lake Erie for the rest of the war. -
Battle of Crysler's Farm
American forces are defeated by British forces at Crysler's Farm, which prevents American forces from capturing Montreal. -
Burning of Newark
American forces abandon Fort George and burn the town of Newark (present day Niagara-on-the-Lake). -
Battle of Chippewa
As an attack on Fort George is not possible, American forces advance north from Fort Erie, but are met by British defences. A battle ensues resulting in the British falling back on Fort George. -
Battle of Lundy's Lane
Following the Battle of Chippewa, American and British forces clash again a few kilometres north of Chippewa at Lundy's Lane. What ensues is the bloodiest battle of the entire war. It is strategically an American victory, but has an extremely heavy cost in casualties for both the British and Americans. -
Siege of Fort Erie
British forces begin to lay siege to the American-occupied Fort Erie. A month long siege ensues during which time the American forces successfully defend the Fort from the British. However, the Americans eventually abandon the Fort because of supply shortages. -
British Burn Washington
The British army occupies Washington D.C. and sets fire to many of its public buildings, including the Whitehouse and the Capitol. -
Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent is signed by the British and the Americans, which ends the war officially. -
Battle of New Orleans
Unaware that a peace treaty had been signed, a British army attempts to land and seize New Orleans. However, they are defeated by American forces under General Andrew Jackson. -
Credits
Axle, Marching II, 6 August 2007, Attribution, http://www.flickr.com/photos/axle81401/1034766942/sizes/l/in/photostream/ Norman BPL, Map of the provinces of upper & lower Canada with the adjacent parts of the United States of America, &c., 30 December 2009, Attribution, http://www.flickr.com/photos/normanbleventhalmapcenter/4232067220/sizes/o/in/photostream/ -
Credits II
Muckapedia, Isaac_Brock_Portrait_1, 15 April 2010, Public Domain,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Isaac_Brock_portrait_1,_from_The_Story_of_Isaac_Brock_(1908)-2.png James B. Dennis, Battle of Queenston Heights, Library and Archives Canada, acc. no. R13133-309, Copyright Expired, http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/Battle_of_Queenston_Heights.jpg -
Credits III
Elizabeth Francis Hale, Front Street, York, Upper Canada, 1804, Library and Archives Canada, Acc. No. 1970-188-2092 W.H. Coverdale Collection of Canadiana, Copyright Expired, http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/pam_archives/index.php?fuseaction=genitem.displayEcopies&lang=eng&rec_nbr=2836413&title=York%2C+Upper+Canada.+&ecopy=c040137k&back_url=() Some Photos by J. Baines -
Credits IV
Meeting Between Laura Secord and Lieut. Fitzgibbon, June 1813, Library and Archives Canada, Acc. No. 1997-229-2, Copyright Expired, http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/pam_archives/index.php?fuseaction=genitem.displayEcopies&lang=eng&rec_nbr=2837234&title=Meeting+Between+Laura+Secord+and+Lieut.+Fitzgibbon%2C+June+1813.+&ecopy=c011053k&back_url=() -
Credits V
William Henry Powell, Battle of Lake Erie, United States Senate Collection Cat. no. 33.00008.000, Copyright Expired, http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/resources/graphic/xlarge/33_00008.jpg D. Gordon E. Robertson, Memorial to Battle of Crysler's Farm, engraving, erected 1895, near Upper Canada Village, Ontario, Canada, 30 July 2010, Attribution Share Alike, http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Memorial%2C_Battle_of_Crysler%27s_Farm%2C_engraving.jpg -
Credits VI
Joseph Légaré, Incendie Parlement Montreal, Copyright Expired, http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Incendie_Parlement_Montreal.jpg H. Charles McBarron, Jr., U.S. Army Center of Military History, Battle of Chippewa, 20 April 2008, Public Domain, http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Chippewa.jpg New York State Military Museum, Battle of Lundy’s Lane, 15 February 2006, Copyright Expired, http://dmna.state.ny.us/historic/pictures/gfx_pictures/lundy1.jpg -
Credits VII
Archives of Ontario, Siege and Defence of Fort Erie, Reference Code: 971 .034 LOS, page 839, 2009, Copyright Expired, http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/on-line-exhibits/1812/big/big_044_erie_battle.aspx G. Thompson, Engraving depicting capture of Washington, D.C., by the British during the War of 1812, Copyright Expired, http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/Warof1812.jpg -
Credits VIII
A. Forestier, Signing of the Treaty of Ghent, Copyright Expired, http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Signing_of_Treaty_of_Ghent_(1812).jpg H.B. Hall, National Archives and Records Administration, The Battle of New Orleans. January 1815, Copyright Expired, http://arcweb.archives.gov/arc/action/ExternalIdSearch?id=531091&jScript=true
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