-
Period: to
The War of 1812
-
President Masison takes office
As President Madison took Office, Tensions were growing high with Britian. Americans were furious. Britian was arming Native Amricans in the Northwest. Many Americans thought, the country's honor was in danger. -
War Hawks Take Power
Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, and their supporters, called themselfs, War Hawks. They were eager for war with Britian. Many people in New England, were aginst war. They believed that war would affect American trade with Britian. -
Relations with Great Britian Worsen
America's relations with Britian worsened during the beginning of 1812. In the spring, the British informed the United States they would continue impressing sailors. The Native Americans began new attacks on frontier settlements. Congress declared war on Britian in June. -
Congress Declares War on Britian
Congress declared war on Britian in early 1812.The war came at a bad time for Britian. They were already at war in Europe. Britian was not willing to meet American demands to avoid war. One way to save Canada from the invaision of America, was to provide Native Americans for support. -
America is not Ready for War
Americans were very confident they would win the war. They soon realized that the United States were not ready for war. Due to Jefferson's spending cuts, the United States military was weakened. -
Britian Blockades American Ports
During the first days of the war, Britian set up a blockade. The British navy had 135 warships blockading American ports. By the end of the war British was able to close off all American ports. -
Invasion of Canada
In July 1812, American troops under General William Hull invaided Canada from Detroit. Hull was unsure of himself. Thinking that America did not have enough soldiers, he soon retreated. The commander of the British, General Isaac Brock, realized Hull was confused. Brock, and his British soldiers quickly surrounded Hull's army, and forced them to surrender. America lost more than 2,000 soldiers. -
USS Constitution scores a victory
A major sea battle was fought at the beginning of the war. The USS Constitution defeated British warship in a fierce battle. Tradition states, American sailors nicknamed the USS Constitution "Old Ironsides" because British artillery fire bounced off the ship's wodden hull. Americans thought, the Constitution was made of iron. -
Battle of Lake Erie
Americans had great luck at the Battle of Lake Erie. The American flagship was badly damaged. There commander, Oliver Hazard Perry, switched to another ship and continued the fight until it was won. After the three hour battle, Perry announced the American victory message: "We have met the enemy and they are ours." British was forced to retreat back to Canada. -
Battle at Thames
As the British and their Native Americas retreated, the Americans under General William Henry Harrison pursued them. they traced the British back to Canada. Americans defeated them in the Battle of Thames. -
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
Andrew Jackson took command of American forces in Georgia. After being defeated by the Creeks in the summer, Jackson defeated them at the Battle of Horsedhoe Bend. They treaty that ended the fighting forced the Creeks to give up milloins of acres of land. -
Washington, D.C Attacked & Burned
The new British strategy was to attack the nation's capital, Washington, D.C. The British marhed into the city, setting fire to several government buildings, including the White House. Americans were shocked that there army could not defend Washington from the British. -
Attack on Baltimore
The first objective of the British, was to capture Fort McHenry, which defended the city's harbor. British warships bombarded the fort throughout the night. Francis Scott Key, watched the attack. At dawn, Key saw the American flag still in the air. America had beaten off the British. -
Writing of the Star Spangled Banner
The poeam "The Star Spangled Banner" was written by Francis Scott Key. It was based on what he saw while watching Britian attack America in Baltimore. The poem became popular and was turned into a song. In 1931 Congress made it the national anthem of the United States. -
Hartford Convention
A group of Federalists met in Hartford Connecticut. Some delegates of the Hartford Convention suggested that New Orleans should withdraw, from the United States. While the delegates debated, news of the peace treaty arrived. With the war over, the Hartford Convention did not last. -
Treaty of Ghent
Britian was tired of war. Peace talks began in Ghent, Belgium. On Christmas Eve 1814, the Americans and British signed the Treaty of Ghent. The war was ended. -
Battle of New Orleans
News of the treaty took several weeks to reach the United States. During that time, two sides fought one more battle. American forces under General Andrew Jackson won a huge victory over the British at the Battle of New Orleans.
