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America Declares War on Britian
On June 18th, 1812, President President James Madison declared war on Britain for the impressment of American sailors on British ships. This is significant because the war wouldn't have happened without it. -
Battle of Ogdensburg
The Battle of Ogdensburg happened on February 22, 1813, and ended in a definitive victory for the British. They captured the village of Ogdensburg and were able to trade with any unpatriotic Americans. -
Battle at Sackets Harbor
On May 29, 1813, the Americans and British fought with their navies on Lake Ontario. The Americans were expecting an attack for a while, so their preparations, defenses, and troops ensured an American victory. -
Burning of Hampton, Virginia
The Battle of Craney Island led to the burning of Hampton, Virginia on June 25, 1813. When the British were defeated in the battle, they took revenge on the town by sacking, burning, and raping it through. This horrible event greatly damaged Adm. George Cockburn and Gen. Sir Sydney Beck's reputation. -
Battle at Horseshoe Bend
The Battle at Horseshoe Bend was the end of Creek resistance to the American Settlers. The Creek Indians were fighting a civil war amongst themselves for a long time, then on March 27th, 1814, Andrew Jackson launched an attack and decimated their forces. The survivors submitted and signed over their land to become what now is Alabama. -
Battle of Chippawa
While the Americans were trying to conquer Canada, they trained their army well. When the British attacked on July 5th, 1814, they thought that the American troops were simple militiamen and became relaxed in their fighting. This resulted in an American victory near the Chippawa river. -
The Burning of Washington D.C.
The British marched into Washington D.C. on August 24th, 1814. They set fire to the town and major US buildings, including the White House and Capitol Building. The White House was completely burned on the inside, while the outside wall remained and were able to be rebuilt. The Capitol Building was very damaged, but was also able to be rebuilt. -
Battle at Fort McHenry
The British were planning to overtake Baltimore, but the first step in their plan was to bombard Fort McHenry. On September 13th, 1814, the British Navy began shooting at the fort, but after 27 hours, it was still standing. They eventually retreated, and it was a win for the Americans. -
The Treaty of Ghent Ends the War
In Ghent, Belgium, American and British representatives signed the treaty to end the war on December 24th, 1814. The treaty has no real winner of the war, because all conquered territory simply returned to its original owner. -
Battle of New Orleans
On January 5th, the Americans won their greatest battle in the War of 1812. Andrew Jackson's strategic thinking and battle tactics allowed the American army to keep the British at bay across "Line Jackson". His heroics led him into the White House several years later. This battle was fought after the official end of the war, because of slow communication over long distances.
