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The War Of 1812
Ben McPherson Period2 -
President Madison Takes Office
President Madison took office in 1809. There was lots of tension between Great Britain and the US around that time. Some people in the US wanted to go to war with Britain. Others opposed such a war. -
War Hawks Take Power
Two war hawks, Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun, became leaders in the House Of Representatives. Clay and Calhoun were rooting for war with Britain. Some people were angry with Britain for arming Native Americans and for making American sailors join the British Navy. (People opposed to war were concerned it would hurt American trade.) -
Relations With Great Britain Worsen
In early 1812, relations with Britain got worse. Britain announced that they would continue impressing sailors into their Navy. Americans were furious. Meanwhile, Native Americans began new attacks on settlers. This caused more tension in the US between those who wanted war and those who didn't. -
Congress Declares War On Britain
On June 18th of 1812, Congress declared war on Britain. The early days of war for Britain did not come at a good time because Britain was also at war with France. However, Britain did not want to meet the US demands to avoid a war. Britain wanted to arm Native Americans to protect their Canadian settlements from US attacks. -
America Is Not Ready For War
When the war with Britain started, Americans were positive they would win the war. But they soon realized the US was not ready for war. Cuts in military spending had shrunk the branches. The US Army was small and the Navy had only sixteen warships ready for war. The outcome of the war was more uncertain than the US had thought. -
Britain Blockades American Ports
At the beginning of the war, the British set up a blockade of the US coast. In the future they would have 135 warships blocking US ports. Then later they would have all the US ports blockaded, seriously harming US trade. -
Invasion Of Canada
In July of 1812, American troops invaded Canada from Michigan. Fearing they were too small in numbers, the US troops soon retreated.
British troops took advantage of the American troop's confusion and quickly surrounded them, forcing them to surrender. The British captured more than 2,000 American soldiers. It was a big loss for the US. -
USS Constitution Scores A Victory
In August 1812, an American warship known as "Old Ironsides" engaged the Brittish frigate Guerriere in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean. For almost an hour the two ships closed in on each other. Then "Old Ironsides" fired a barrage that broke off both of the British ship's masts. British cannonballs seemed to bounce off Old Ironsides wooden hull. It seemed as if the ship was made of iron. In the end, the US ship won (p328 of "America History Of Our Nation"). -
Battle of Lake Erie
One battle was called the "Battle Of Lake Erie". This battle took place in the western part of Lake Erie. During the battle, the US flagship was damaged. The US commander, Oliver Hazard Perry, switched to another ship and continued the fight until it was won( p329 of "America, History Of Our Nation"). -
Battle of Thames
After Oliver Perry's win, the British and their allies began to retreat. Gernal William Henry Harrison followed them into Canada. He defeated the British in the Battle of the Thames. -
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
Andrew Jackson commanded the US forces in Georgia. There they fought agains the Native American tribe the Creeks. Jackson defeated the Creeks in the Battle of Horshoe Bend. This defeat cost the Native Americans millions of acres of land. -
Washington, D.C Attacked & Burned
After Britain defeated Napolean, they sent more troops to attack Washington, DC. Sadly, when the British marched into Washington, they chose to burn government buildings, including the White House. The US was furious to find their capital attacked and destroyed. -
Attack on Baltimore
After burning Washington, the British traveled to Baltimore, Maryland. There they hoped to take control of Fort McHenry. The fort controlled Baltimore's harbor. This would be a huge win for Britain. -
The Writing of The Star Spangled Banner
Francis Scott Key observed the attack on Fort McHenry by the British. The attack lasted all night. The US troops managed to hold back the British. In the morning, Mr. Key saw the American flag still proudly flying over the fort. This sight inspired him to write the famous poem "The Star Spangled Banner." This poem was later set to music and became the American National Anthem. -
Hartford Convention
This convention was held in Hartford, Connecticut. It was a group of Federalists who opposed the war because of the war's negative impact on US trade. The men who attended the convention proposed that the New England States should secede from the US. While they were debating such an action, news of the end of the war arrived. They quickly disbanded. -
Treaty of Ghent
In Ghent, Belgium the US and British met to discuss an end to the War of 1812. A peace agreement was reached on Christmas Eve. The agreement returned the US to the way it had been before the war. -
Battle of New Orleans
Back in the US, news of the treaty was slow to arrive. The US and Britain fought one more battle. General Andrew Jackson controlled the American Forces in New Orleans. He defeated the British there.
