The War of 1812

By mguynup
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    The War of 1812

  • President Madison takes office

    President Madison takes office
    • United States went to war with several Native American nations
    • Americans argued that the United States must stand up to Native Americans and foreign countries
    • President Madison hoped to keep the United States out of war
    • Americans were angry at Britain for arming Native Americans in the Northwest
    • Henry Clay of Kentucky and John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, strong nationalists, became leaders in the House of Representatives.
  • War Hawks take power

    War Hawks take power
    • Strong sense of nationalism
    • Felt that Britain was treating the United States as if it were still a British colony
    • War Hawks meant thise who were eager for war with Britain
    • Many New Englanders believed war with Britain would harm American trade
    • British told United States they would continue impressing sailors
  • Relations with Great Britain Worsen

    Relations with Great Britain Worsen
    • The British were supplying guns and ammunition to the Native Americans on the frontier* Britain was encouraging Indians to attack United States settlements* United States and Britain disagreed over trade* The United States made a daring offer that if either the British or French would stop seizing American ships, the United Sates would halt trade with other nations* France would respect the United States' policy of staying nuetral, or uninvolved in the war between Britain and France
  • Congress Declares War on Britain

    Congress Declares War on Britain
    • Madison asked congress to declare war on Britain
    • The House voted 79 to 29 in favor of war but the senete vote was 19 to 13
    • Americans discovered that winning the war would be as easy as declaring it
    • Britain still at war with Europe
    • United States were not prepared for war
    • British set up blockade of the American coast
  • America is not ready for war

    America is not ready for war
    • Jefferson's spending cuts weakened the military's strength
    • Small army with less than 7,000 men
    • Navy had 16 warships ready for battle
    • The U.S. was still considered a new nation the only other war it had been in was the Indian War
    • They had no way to get around the blockades the British set up around the coast
  • Britain Blockades American ports

    Britain Blockades American ports
    • After reinforcing their troops, the Britsh were able to close off all American ports by wars end.
    • A major sea battle was fought at the beginning of the war
    • By 1814 the British navy had 135 warships blockading American ports
    • Blockade means the action of shutting a port or road to prevent people or supplies from coming in or leaving an area
    • American navy could not break the blockade still several sea captains won stunning victories
  • Invasion of Canada

    Invasion of Canada
    • Hull feared he did not have enough soldiers, he soon retreated
    • General Isaac Brock's soldiers and Native American warriors quickly surround Hull's army and forced it to surrender
    • The British captured more than 2,000 American soldiers
    • It was a serious defeat for the United States
    • three-hour battle took place at Put-In-Bay
  • USS Constitution scores a victory

    USS Constitution scores a victory
    • Defeats the British warships Guerriere in a fierce battle
    • Nicknamed " Old Ironsides" because British artellery fire bounced off the ships thick wooden hull
    • Americans seemed as if the constitution were made of iron
    • Hull asked the British captain if he had struck his flag
    • American sea captain won other victories at sea, these victories cheered Americans, but did little to win the war
  • Battle of Lake Erie

    Battle of Lake Erie
    • Both sides knew it was important to control the lake
    • Three-hour battle took place at Put-In-Bay
    • American flagship was badly damaged and camander Perry had to switch to another ship
    • Americans won and forcd the British to go back to Canada
    • This battle lead to the Battle of Thames when the Americans followed the British to Canada after they won the Battle at Lake Erie
  • Battle of Thames

    Battle of Thames
    • The British and Native American allies retreat, the Americans under General William Henry Harrison pursued them, they followed the British into Canada, defeating them
    • Tecumseh died in the battle
    • Without Tecumseh's leadership the Indian confederation soon fell apart
  • Horsehoe Bend

    Horsehoe Bend
    • Native Americans suffered defeat in the south
    • Creek warriors attacked several southern American settlements
    • Jackson defeated the Creeks at the Battle of Horshoe Bend
    • The treaty that ended the fightin forced the Creeks to give up millions of acres of land
  • Washington D.C. Attacked and Burned

    Washington D.C. Attacked and Burned
    • The president's wife, Dolley Madison gathered important papers and fled the white house
    • British set fire to several governmaent buildings
    • United States army could not defend Washington
    • British is the only one to ever burn down the white house
    • American troops met the British at Bledensburg, Maryland
  • Writing the Star-Spangled banner

    Writing the Star-Spangled banner
    • Written by Francis Scott Key
    • British warships bombared the fort through out the night if september 4
    • Key, a young American, watched the attack all night and saw the American flag still flying high over the fort in the morning
    • Key wrote the Star-Spangled banner on the back of an envelope about what he saw that night
    • Congress made it the National Anthem in 1931
  • Attack on Baltimore

    Attack on Baltimore
    • The key to Baltimore's defense was Fort Mchenry
    • From September 13th until dawn on september 14th, British rockets bombared the harbor
    • Early morning the flag still waved over Fort Mchenry
    • Francis Scott Key wrote a poem about the bombaredment, which later "The Star-Spangled banner" was set to music and became the National Anthem
    • Fort Henry defended the city's harbor
  • Hartford Convention

    Hartford Convention
    • Suggested that the New England states withdraw from the United States
    • Peace Treaty arrived while debating
    • War over, Hartford convention quickly ended
    • United States secured it's independence from Britain
    • Europeon countries now have to treat the young republic with respect
  • Treaty of Ghent

    Treaty of Ghent
    • News of the treaty took several weeks to reach the United States
    • The two sides fought one more battle
    • Britain and United Staes agreed to restore prewar conditions
    • Treaty said nothing about impressment or neutrality
    • Americans felt the war of 1812 was a mistake
    • Others argued thet Europe would not treat the young republic with more respect
  • Battle the New Orleans

    Battle the New Orleans
    • Andrew Jackson won the battle
    • Battle was fought after the treaty was signed
    • The last major battle in the war of 1812
    • Battle started January 8th and didnt end until late Febuary
    • The battle is known as the greatest American land victory of the war