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The War of 1812
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President Madison Takes Office
When James Maddison took office, tension with Great Britain was high. Americans were angry at Britain for arming Native Americans in the Northwest. They didn't like the poor treatment of American sailors by the British. Most Americans felt a new sense of American nationalism due to their country's honor being at stake. -
War Hawks Take Power
Henry Clay and John Calhoun were leaders in the House of Representatives. Clay, Calhoun, and their supporters were called warhawks. Warhawks are people who are eager for war with Britain. Many New Englanders believed war with Britain would harm/hurt American trade. -
Relations with Great Britain Worsen
During Spring, British told the United States they would continue impressing sailors. While in the Northwest, Native Americans began new attacks on frontier settlements. Britain supplied Native Americans with amunition and guns. The British navy had 135 warships blockaiding American ports. The United States and Britain disagreed over trade. -
Congress Declares War on Britain
By June, Congress was declaring war on Britain. Britain was impressing sailors and arming Native Americans in the Northwest. This was not the first time either of these things had happened. -
America is not ready for War
American military strength weakened due to Jefferson's spending cuts. The navy only had 16 warships ready and prepared for war. With fewer than 7,000 men, the American army was small compared to Britain. -
Britain Blockades American Ports
135 Britsh warships blocked American Ports by the year of 1814. Britain strengthened their troops and by war's end closed off all American Ports. Due to the British blockade, American trading was seized. -
Invasion of Canada
Under General William Hull, American troops invaded Canada from Detriot. He soon feared that he didn't have enough soilders so he retreated. General Isaac Brock soon took advantage of Hull's confusion. Native American warriors soon began surrounding Hull's army, forcing them to surrender. British defeated the United States as they captured more than 2,000 of their soldiers. -
USS Constitution Scores a Victory
British warship Guerriere was defeated by the USS Constitution in a fierce battle. "Old Ironsides" is a traditional nickname named by American sailors. It got it's nickname as British gun fire bounces right off the ship's thick and wooden hull. Most Americans actually thought the USS Constitution was made of iron. -
Battle of Lake Erie
Both sides of Lake Erie were aware of the importance of controlling the lake. During the hard fought battle in the Western part of the lake, the American flagship was badly damaged. Oliver Hazard Perry, the American commander, changed ships and returned to the fight until victory was theirs. When the Americans gained control of the lake, Britian was forced to leave Detroit and retreat back to Canada. -
Battle of Horshoe Bend
Southern American settlements were being attacked by Creek warriers in the summer of 1813.Taking command of American forces in Georgia was Andrew Jackson. He was the one that defeated the Creeks at the battle of Horseshoe Bend in March of 1814. The treaty that seized the fighting forced the Creeks to give up millions of acres of land. -
Washington, D.C. Attacked and Burned
British forces had a new strategy which was to attack the nations capital, Washington D.C. They set fire to several government buildings, including the White House. After attacking Washington the British went to Baltimore. Defending the city's harbor, Fort McHenry was their first goal. Throughout the night of September 13th 1814 warships attacked the fort. At dawn the American flag was still flying over the fort. This meant the Americans had survived. -
Writing of the Star Spangled Banner
"The Star-Spangled Banner", was a poem written by Francis Scott Key on the back of an old envelope. It told the story of his night's watch. With this poem being so popular it was written into a song. This song was made the national anthem of the United States by Congress in 1931. -
Hartford Convention
A group of Federalists met in Hartford, Conneticut for a meeting in December 1814. Some federalists thought the New England states should withdraw from the United States. News of the peace treaty finally arrived while the delegates debated. The Hartford Convention quickly ended due to the end of the war. -
Treaty of Ghent
Britain had become tired of the war by 1814. Peace talks soon began to take action in Ghent, Belgium. It didn't take long before the two sides were signing the Treaty. The Treaty is what officially ended the war. The Treaty returned things back to the way they had been before the war. -
Battle of New Orleans
It took several weeks before the news of the Treaty reached the United States. During that time, both sides decided to fight one more battle. General Andrew Jackson and his American forces went home with a stunning victory against the British at the Battle of New Orleans.
