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The War Of 1812
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President Madison Takes Office
James Madison was the United States' fourth president. He was nicknanmed "Father of the Constitution." And he was a rebublican. The first lady was Dolley Payne Todd. He was in office March 4, 1809-March 3,1817! -
War Hawks Take Power
It takes place in the House of Representatives, in Congress. Henry Clay of Kentucky, and John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, bacame leaders of the House of Representatives. Clay and Calhoun's supporters were called War Hawks. War Hawks are people who were eager for war with Britain. -
Relations with Great Britain Worsen
Britain told the United States that they would continue impressing sailors. Britain wasn't willing to meet American demands to avoid war. President Madison stopped trade with Britain in the spring of 1811. Britain was trading with Indians and they were giving the Indians guns, knives, and blankets. New Englanders believed war with Britain would harm American trade. -
Congress Declares War on Britain
The War Hawks urged that Congress prepare for a war against Britain. One of the most radical and outspoken of the War Hawks was Felix Grundy, a Congressman form Tennesse. In December 1811, he gave a very emotional speech describing what he saw as the benefits of war. Others in Congress opposed the strong views of the War Hawks. Representatives of New England feared that the British Navy would attack New Englad seaports. -
America isn't Ready for War
The Americans picked a fight with the worlds' greatest military power, which they were unprepared to fight. The United States Army was a shadow of the one that won the Revolutionary War. The US Navy had about 16 ships. But the British had more that 500 ships! There was an early string of US Naval victories. -
Britain Blockades American Ports
The fighting with Native Americans caused relations between the United States and Britain to worsen. The british were supplying guns and ammunition to the Native Americans on the fronier, this angered the Americans. To prevent America from trading with France, Brish warships blocked some American ports. In May, 1811 near New York Harbor, a brief battle broke out between an American frigate and a British warship. The Americans then cripped the British ship and left 32 British dead or wounded. -
Invasion of Canada
American troops under General William Hull invaded Canada from Detroit. Hull was unsure of himself fearing he didn't have enough soldiers, he soon retreated. General Isacc Brock's army of British soldiers and Native Americans quickly surrounded Hulls' army and forced it to surrender. Britain captured more that 2,000 American soldiers. It was serious defeat for the United States! -
USS Constition Scores a Victory
A major sea battle was fought at the beginning of the war. The USS Constitution defeated the British warship Guerriere in a feirce battle. According to tradition, American sailors nicknamed the Constition "Old Ironsides" because British artillery fire bounded off the ships thick wooden hull. To the Americans, it seemed as if the Constition were made of iron. The ship was named by George Washington after the United States Constition. -
Battle of Lake Erie
The Battle of Lake Erie is sometimes called Battle of Put-In-Bay. It took place off the coast of Ohio. Nine vessels of the United States Navy defeated, and captured six vessels of the British Royal Navy. This ensured American control of the lake for the rest of the war. It was one of the biggest Naval battles of the war of 1812. -
Battle of Thames
After losing control of Lake Erie, the British and their allies, the Tecumseh, retreated from Detroit to Canada. The Americans won a decisive victory. Tecumseh, the leader of the Tecumsehs' died in the fighting. Even after Tecumseh died, the Creeks, his allies, in South Carolina, continued to fight their fight against the settlers. Without Tecumsehs' leadership, the Indian group soon fell appart. -
Horseshoe Bend
The Creek warriors attacked seeral southern Americam settlements. Andrew Jackson took charge of American forces in Georiga. Jackson defeated the Creeks. The treaty that ended the fighting, forced the Creeks to give up millions of acres of land. -
Washington, D.C Attacked and Burned
The new British strategy was to attack the nation's capital, Washington, D.C. Dolley Madison, the presidents wife, gathered up the president's important papers and fled the White House! British set fire to several government buildings, including the White House. Americans were shocked to learn that their army couldn't defend Washington. -
Attack on Baltimore
After Washington D.C, the British moved onto Baltimore. Their first objective was Fort McHenry, whicih defended the city's harbor. British warships bombarded the fort throughout the night of September 12, 1814. Francis Scott Key, a young man,watched the attack. At dawn, Key saw the American flag still flying over the fort. The Americans had beaten off the attack! -
Writing The Star Spangled Banner
On the back of an envelope, Francis Scott Key wrote a poem called "The Star Spangled Banner." It told the story of his nights watch. The poem became popular and was set to music. In 1931, Congress made it the national anthem of the United States. And to this day, we still sing The Star Spangled Banner! -
Hartford Convention
A group of federalists met in Hartforn, Connecticut. Some delegates of the Hartforn Convention, suggested that new Englad states withdraw from the United States. The convention also discussed removing the three-fifths compromise. While delegates debated, the news of the peace treaty arrived. With the war over, the Hartford Convention quickly ended. -
Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent was signed in Ghent, Belgium. John Quincy Adams, one of the Americans of Ghent, summed up the treaty in one sentence: "Nothing was adjusted, nothing was settled."Britain and the United States agreed to restore prewar conditions. The treaty said nothing about impressment or neutrality. These issues had faded due to the end of the Napoleonic wars in Europe. -
Battle of New Orleans
The British marched against New Orleans, hoping that capturing the city, could separate Louisiana from the rest of the United States. Piratae Jean Lafitte, warned the Americans of the attack, so they were prepared. 7,500 British soldier under Sir Edward Pakenham, were unable to penetrate the U.S defenses, and General Jackson's 4,500 troops. In half an hour, the British had retreated, and General Pakenham was dead, the Americans had won!
