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The tensions with Great Britain were high when President Madison took office. Americans were angry because the British were arming Native Americans with weapons and ammunition. Also the British continued the impressment of American sailors.
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In 1810, two strong nationalists were elected into the House Of Representatives, John C. Calhoun, and Henry Clay. These two men were War Hawks. They wanted war with Great Britain.
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Relations with Great Britain worsened in the early months of 1812. In the spring the British government said they would continue the impressments of American sailors, and Native Americans continued attacking American settlements.
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On June 18, 1812 Congress declares war on Great Britain. The war came at a bad time for Great Britain. They were still at war in Europe. The Americans weren't ready either, Jefferson's spending cuts made the army small.
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President Jefferson's spending cuts had decrease the the size the army greatly. The navy had 16 warships. The army had fewer than 7,000 men.
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On the first day of the war Great Britain blockaded along the American ports. By the wars end there were 135 British warships blocking American ports, and they completely shut down the ports.
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Even befor the war the war hawks were demanding an invasion of Canada. They expected the Canadiens wanted to throw off British rule. American Genral William Hull tried to invade Canada but, surrendered.
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In the beginning of the war the USS Constitution and the Guerriere clashed in a mojor battle. The Constitution took little damage because of its thick side walls. The British ship took heavy damage and lost both of its masts.
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Controlling Lake Erie was very important to both sides. A three hour battle took place in Put-In-Bay. The American ship was damaged badly, but they still won.
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In March 1813 Native Americans were attacking settlments in the south. At the time Andrew Jackson was taking control of forces in Georgia. In March 1814 Jackson's forces won the battle in Horseshoe Bend.
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The British had a new strategy, it was to capture the capital. In August 1814 the British marched into Washington and burned it. The Americans were shocked that their army couldn't defened the city.
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On the night of September 13, a boy named Francis Scott Key watched the attack. On the back of an old envelope he wrote the Star Spangled Banner. It told the story of the nights watch.
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Some Delegates suggested New England secede from the United States. The delegates didn't know of the treaty that was being established in Ghent. When the delegates found out the convention ended.
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The talks began in Ghent of a peace treaty. On Christmas Eve 1814 the two sides signed the treaty. The treaty said everything returned to normal.
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News of the treaty took several weeks reach the United States. The two sides fought one last battle. On January 15, 1815 Genral Andrew Jackson won a stunning victory in New Orleans.
