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President Madison takes office
Tensions with Britain was high when James took office. Americans were angry at Britain for arming Ntive Americans in the Northwest.They also resented the continued impressment of American sailors by the British. -
War Hawks Take Power
John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay and their supporters were called the war hawks. Opposition to war was strongest in New England. -
Relations with Great Britain Worsen
The relationships with Britain worsened. In the spring, British told the United States they would continue impressing sailors. Native Americans then began new attacks on frontier settlements, congress then declared war on Britain in June. The war did not come at a good time for British, who were still at war in Europe, but Britain was not willing to meet American demands to avoid war. -
Period: to
The War of 1812
Breeanna Race
Period-6 -
Congress Declares War on Britain
When the war began, the Americans were confident that they would win.It was apparent the the United States wasn't ready for war, because Jeffersons spending cuts weakend American military strength. The army was small and had 7,000 men. The navy also only had 16 warships ready for action. -
America is not Ready for War
The US was still a new nation. Other than the Indian Wars, the War of 1812 was the United States first war. They did not have a strong Navy and they were tight on money. -
Britain Blockades American Ports
The British set up a blockade of the American coast. By 1814 the British had 135 warships blockading American ports. After strengthinening there troops, British we able to close or block off all American ports by the emd of war. -
Invasion of Cananda
Before the War began, the war hawks were demanding an invasion of Canada. In July 1812, American troops under General Wiliam Hull invaded Canada from Detroit. Hull feeling he didnt have enough soldiers, retreated. The British commander took advantage of Hull's confusion. His army of British soldiers and Native American warriors surrouded Hull's army, and forced it to surrender. -
USS Constitutional scores a victory
The USS Constition won an amazing sea battle against British ship HMS Guerriere. For almost an hour, the two ships continuely closed in on each other.The USS Constitution fired a barrage that took out both of the opposing ship's masts. -
Battle of Lake Erie
The forces met, and a three hour battle took place in te Western part of the lake. The commander commanding the ship, switched to a different boat and fought until the battle was won. (Oliver Hazzard Perry). ATt the end the commander proudly announced his victory by saying, "we have met the enemy, and they are ours." -
Battle of Thames
British and there Native American allies gave up, and retreated. William Henry Harrison pursued the Americans. Americans fallowed British to Canada to fight. Then the Americans finally won, and it was called the "Battle of Thames." -
Battle of Horeshoe Bend
An Indian nation called the Creeks kept attacking American settlers. An officer Andrew Jackson took action and lead a group of American soilders to Horseshoe Bend. The leader of the creeks came into there camp and surrendered. -
Washington, D.C Attacked & Burned
Britain now had a new plan that included attacking America's capital, Washington D.C. On the 24th. The President's wife, grabbed important papers and fled the White House just in time. The British burned not only the White House, but other government buildings as well. -
Attack on Baltimore
After the destuction of America's capital, the British moved on to Baltimore. There first priority was to defeat fort Mchenry, by defending the habor. Throughout the rest of the night , the British warships were attacking the fort. -
The Writing of the Star Spangled Banner
By the time dawn came, he saw the American flag still above Fort McHenry. The Americans had won the battle. When he dicovered this, Key wrote a poem that he named "The Star-Spangled Banner," on the back of an envelope describing the battle he witnessed that night. -
Hartford Convention
The Hartford Convention took place in Connecticut when American delegates came to discuss the war. Some of the delegates thought that New England states withdrew from the United States. In the middle of the debating, news of the peace treaty arrived and the convention ended shortly after. -
Treaty of Ghent
Britain could no longer continue the war. Both sides of the war signed the Treaty of Ghent. News of the treaty took a few weeks to reach the United States. -
Battle of New Orleans
Unaware that the Treaty of Ghent had been signed, another battle between the two countries was fought. American troops, led by Andrew Jackson, had defeated the British. This was the last battle in the War of 1812.
