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Macon Bill No. 2 Ratified
Macon Bill No. 2 intention was to stop the British and French from continuing to take American naval and merchant vessels by force and to protect the Americans on those ships. The bill also lifted all embargoes on trade with Britain and France. If either country attacked an American vessel, the U.S. would stop all trade with that country. The French and British then continued to take American ships by force which resulted in the War of 1812. -
Battle of Tippecanoe ruins Indian Confederation
Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa were two Shawnees who formed a Native American Confederation to deal with the white settlers continually taking land. The Confederation moved to Prophetstown by the Tippecanoe River in the Indiana Territory. William Henry Harrison led an army to counter the growing number of natives in Prophetstown. Tenskwatawa attacked Harrison’s camp but the natives were defeated. The Battle of Tippecanoe left the natives disillusioned and eventually the Confederation fell apart. -
War Hawks call for War against Britain
A group led by Henry Clay, of pro-war republicans believed that war against Great Britain was the only way to stop them from seizing any more American vessels and changing trade laws. Clay believed if the U.S could gain Canada, America would no longer have the threat Britain to the north. Also if the U.S. could defeat Britain in another war, national honor would be restored. The U.S. would no longer be seen as a small, weak country, but a powerful one. -
America declares War
In early June of 1812, James Madison signed to go to War with Britain. However, this was not preferred by the federalist or anyone north who relied on business. Many things led up to this War but the main issue was Britain's restrictions on US trade. Other causes were the impressment the British Navy performed, the desire of America expanding into Canada, and the Indians beginning to lash back responding to the Western expansion. -
Lord Castlereagh suspended the Orders
The Orders in Council required American ships to doc in Britain, and pay tax before trading with other European nations. This economic warfare enraged America. Lord Castlereagh was the man who formally suspended the orders he sent two letters, with the following information enclosed to Mr. Russel. This occurred prior to the US declaring war. In many mind, the war was pointless since the Orders in Council were suspended. However America did not know this in time. -
Perry destroys the British vessels in a battle near Put-In-Bay
This was the first defeat of the British navy in history, the U.S. Captain Perry lead a fleet of nine American ships over the six British naval ships. Perry used the flagships Lawrence and Niagara and fought the British until they surrendered. “We have met the enemy and they are ours,” Perry reported to U.S. General William Henry Harrison. The Battle of Lake Erie forced the British to abandon Detroit, which led to the U.S. regaining control of Lake Erie and the northwest. -
British capture Fort Niagara and burned the town of Buffalo
America's planned attack on Niagra river never went through due to all boats and oars going missing. The troops decided to march up high on a Fishermans path when majority of the troops were captured by militiamen. Several hundred US men were killed or wounded. After this incident, Britain followed up on October 31st when 1,000 troops of British soldiers and Natives were on their way to torch Buffalo. The 2,000 average American soldiers could not stop them and fleeted.The townspeople evacuated. -
British Burn Washington D.C.
Nearing the end, British forces marched rapidly toward Washington. They swarmed set fire to the White House, the Capitol and every other public building in the entire city. A few days later the British torched what remained of the Washington Navy Yard and Treasury building. This was the sum of British success. After the White House burned, President Madison was unable to live there. The next president to live in the White House was President James Monroe in 1817 while it was being rebuilt. -
The Treaty of Ghent is Signed
The Treaty Of Ghent was signed by British and American representatives in Belgium, ending the War of 1812. They settled for status quo ante bellum, to leave things as they were before the war. The seas were free to all ships, conquered territory was returned, and the boundary of the United States and Canada was to be decided. While the Treaty was being signed, the news wasn't able to cross the Atlantic. If they knew sooner, the British forces would have stopped the attack on New Orleans. -
Battle of New Orleans
In December of 1814, the British planned to invade New Orleans, a vital seaport considered the gateway to the United States newly purchased territory in the West. If the British won they would gain control of the Mississippi river and control trade in the South. General Andrew Jackson or “Old Hickory” had heard the news of the British plans to attack Jackson assembled an army to defend the city. The Americans won on January 8th 1815, ending the war with the British.
