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Tecumseh
Tecumseh, born in 1768, was a war chief and political leader for the Shawnee Indians. He was raised surrounded by the border warfare of the Ohio River Valley. He encouraged the formation of an Indian confederacy to protect against further American encroachment on their lands. In the 1780’s, he participated in raids on Kentucky and Tennessee frontier settlements. He fought on the side of the British in the War of 1812 and died in 1813 in the Battle of the Thames. -
Impressment of Sailors
It occured between 1793 and 1812. Impressment was the British practice of kidnapping American sailors and forcing them to serve in the British navy. They suffered manpower shortages and needed extra men to supplement their own. It was one of the main causes of the War of 1812. By 1811, the British had forced almost 10,000 American sailors into the British navy. -
Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality
A proclamation issued by President George Washington that prohibited American ships from supplying war materials to either side in the war between Britain and France. It also stated that any American who violated the neutrality laws would not have the protection of the United States and would instead be prosecuted. By issuing the proclamation, Washington sided with Hamilton and went against the wishes of Jefferson. -
Jay Treaty
The treaty, negotiated by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Jay, was an attempt to prevent war between Great Britain and the United States due to tensions that had emerged since the Revolutionary War. The main sources of tension were Britain's refusal to leave western military posts and the seizure of American ships. It encountered much opposition because it did not fully address many issues that Congress felt were vital, though it was ratified because preventing war was deemed more important. -
Washington's Farewell Address
Washington’s “Farewell Address” was a public letter that informed the American people that he was stepping down from office at the conclusion of his second term. In the address, Washington warned the American people of the danger of political parties and partisanship, letting state or regional loyalties overwhelm national loyalties, and becoming too involved in foreign affairs. He stressed the idea that it was vital for the United States to remain united. -
Embargo Act of 1807
It was an attempt by President Jefferson to prevent war. The Embargo Act stopped foreign trade in an attempt to coerce Britain and France into respecting the United States’ right to remain neutral. It was the first embargo on foreign trade and was ultimately a failure, harming America far more than Britain or France. Widespread smuggling occured because of the act. It was repealed in the early part of 1809, three days before Thomas Jefferson’s departure from the office of president. -
Chesapeake-Leopard Affair
A British sailor, Jenkin Ratford, and four others left a royal navy vessel and deserted to Norfolk, angering the British. The USS Chesapeake set sail from Norfolk and was attacked by the HMS Leopard. The British asked to search the ship for defectors and the Americans refused. The British responded by firing at the Chesapeake, killing 3 and wounding 18. The British then boarded the ship and took several suspected defectors, including Ratford. America was incensed and many called for war. -
War Hawks
They were a group of politicians, mostly young Republicans from the West and South, who called for war with Great Britain to resolve American grievances. They were led by Speaker of the House Henry Clay. They favored war with Great Britain over war with France and argued that Britain had done far more to offend the United States than France had. The War Hawks were vocal advocates of war, but were also committed to waging it frugally. -
War of 1812 Begins
The war began after the House and Senate voted to declare war on Great Britain and President Madison signed the declaration. Some members of Congress opposed the declaration of war and others, the “War Hawks”, had been advocating for a declaration of war for several years. The declaration of war was issued because of British impressment of American sailors, interference with American trade, encouragement of Indian violence in the Great Lakes region, and refusal to leave western military posts. -
Hartford Convention
A meeting in Hartford, Connecticut of 26 delegates from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Amendments were proposed that prohibited embargoes lasting over 60 days, stopped the president being elected from the same state twice in a row, ended the ⅗ rate of representation for slaves, and left the defense of states to the individual state governments. At the end of the convention they found out a peace agreement had been reached and the convention was the end of their political careers. -
Battle of New Orleans
It occurred after the treaty ending the War of 1812 was signed and was one of the war’s largest and most important battles. Andrew Jackson and his motley forces defeated superior British forces. The American victory helped thwart British plans to invade the American frontier because New Orleans was a vital port and was the main gateway to the Louisiana Territory. If Britain had gained control of the port, they would have controlled the Mississippi River and the fate of America’s southern trade. -
Treaty of Ghent
Signed in Ghent, Belgium, it ended the War of 1812. It provided for the return of conquered territory, said groups would meet to determine the location of the boundary of the United States and Canada, and opened the Great Lakes region to U.S. expansion. It failed to address the impressment of U.S. sailors and the rights of neutral U.S. ships. The Battle of New Orleans took place after the treaty was signed because it took almost two months for news of the treaty to cross the Atlantic Ocean.