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President Madison Takes Office
Tension with Britain was high when James Madison took office in 1809. James Madison took office for 4 years. Britain armed Native Americans in the Northwest, the Americans were angry at them. Americans disliked the impressent of American sailors by the British, -
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The War of 1812
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War Hawks Takes Power
War hawks were those who were eager for war with Britain. The war hawks were Clay, Calhoun, and their supporters. In New England the opposition was strongest. New Englanders were scared that Britain would harm American Trade. -
Relations with Great Britain Worsen
The relations would worsen with Britiain in the early months of 1812. The United States was told that Britain was going to keep impressing sailors. Native Americans began new attacks in the Northwest on the frontier settlements, Congress declared war on Britain in June. -
Congress Declares War on Britain
The war didn't come at a good time because the British were still at war in Europe. Britain wasn't willing to meet American demands to avoid war. Native Americans was trying to protect and support Canada against an American Invasion. -
America is not Ready for War
The Americans were sure they would win, but soon after the United States was not ready for war. Since Jefferson was cutting the military, it weakened the militaries strength. There were only 16 warships for the military ready. The army only had 7,000 men. -
Britain Blockades American Ports
The British set up a blockade of the American Post om the first days of war. Which means the action of shutting a port or road to prevent people or supplies from coming into an area or leaving it. The British had 135 warshoips blockading American Ports. The British reinforced their troops and they were able to close off American ports by the war was ended. -
Invasion of Canada
War Hawks were demanding an invasion on Canada before the war even started.The war hawks thought they Canadians would welcome their chance to throw British Rules. General WIlliam Hull invaded them, but he was unsure of himself and soon retreated. Soon came General Isaac Brock and they took advantage of Hull'd confusion, and his army surrounded Hull's and forced them to surrender. -
USS Constitution Scores a Victory
The USS Constitution was against the British warship Guerriere in a fierce battle. The Constitution was nicknamed "Old Ironsides" by American sailors. They called them that because the British artillery fire had bounced off the ship's wooden hull, which is thick. The Americans thought the Constitution was made of iron -
Battle of Lake Erie
The American forces had better luck on Lake Erie. All of them new the importance of controlling the lake. There was a three-hour battle in Put-In-Bay, in the western oart of the lake, in 1813. The British were forced to leave Detroit and retweat back to Canada because the Americans were in control. -
Battle of Thames
When the British and their Native Americans allies retreated, General William Henry Harrison under the Americans pursued them. The Americans followed the British into Canada, defeating them in the Battle of the Thames. In which Tecumseh was among killed in the battle. -
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
The Natives suffered defeat in the South. The Creek warriors attacked several southern American settlements. Andrew Jackson took control of the American forces in Georgia. Jackson defeated the Creeks at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. The treaty ended the fighting which forced the Creeks to give millions of acres of land. -
Washington, D.C Attacked & Burned
Britains new strategy was to attack on Washington D.C; our capital. A British force marched into our city, in August. President Madison's wife, Dolly Madison, gathered all of the important papers. The British lit many buildings on fire. -
Attack on Baltimore
The British now headed onto Baltimore. British warships then attacked.The Americans had been defeated right from the start of the attack, but the flag was still hanging. -
The Writing of the Start Spangled Banner
Scott Key was a young American that had watched the Attack on Baltimore. Key had written a poem on the back of an old envelope that he called "The Star Spangled Banner." The poem tells the story of what Key had seen that night. In 1931 it was made into our countries National Anthem. -
Hartford Convention
In Hartford, Connecticut group of Federalists met. Some suggested that the states of New England secede, or withdrawl from the U.S. The Convention quickly ended after that. -
Treaty of Ghent
In 1814, Britian had tired of war. In Ghent, Belgium peace talks began. Christmas Eve, the two sides signed the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the war. The treaty made everything go back to normal, so it would be like nothing happened after the war. -
Battle of New Orleans
The news of the reaty took several weeks to reach the U.S. The two sides fought one more battle during that time. In January, under General Andrew Jackson won a stunning victory over the British at teh Battle of New Orleans.