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The Beginning of the War of 1812
Only a day after the Senate and the House of Representatives voted to declare war against Great Britain, President James Madison signed the declaration into law, which signaled the beginning of the war. -
Failed American Invasion of Canada
In July of 1812, President James Madison targeted British colony Canada, under speculation that the British were arming the Native Americans that would halt America's westward expansion. The Americans launched an invasion, which turned out a massive failure, with ill-trained and ill-equipped soldiers having to retreat from Canada. -
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U.S. and British navy battles
The U.S. battled British naval ships throughout the year. The U.S. claimed many victories at sea, despite being outnumbered by British ships by twenty to one. The U.S. privateers also captured thousands of British ships. The U.S. also claimed defeats, such as the capture of the American warship Chesapeake. -
The Battle of Lake Erie
In the summer of 1813, American Master Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry defeated a British fleet on Lake Erie, effectively allowing the U.S. to seize control of Lake Erie and keep an important stretch of the Northern border protected. -
Battle of the Thames
The Battle of the Thames, or the Battle of Moraviantown was a battle between U.S. forces and British and Indian forces in Ontario, Canada in October of 1813. The battle concluded with a U.S. victory, allowing the U.S. to consolidate its control over the Northwest. -
The Battle of Horseshoe Bend
On the night of March 26, 1814, Major General Andrew Jackson along with a contingent of 3,300 regulars, militiamen and Cherokees camped six miles north of Horseshoe Bend. The next morning, Jackson launched an attack on Tehopeka, a village of Red Sticks led by Chief Menawa. The battle concluded with a U.S. victory, crushing the Red Sticks. -
British troops burn down Washington D.C.
The British ended their war with Napoleon Bonaparte, turning their attention towards the United States. Around 14,000 British troops attempted to invade the United States through Canada. Although having the larger fighting force, they were pushed back into Canada. On August 24, President James Madison was warned of the approaching British and left the capital, leaving the place unsupervised as the British began to light fires, engulfing the Capitol and the White House. -
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The Hartford Convention
An obscure meeting between delegates from Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont was held in Hartford, Connecticut. The delegates were less than satisfied with President James Madison's mercantile policies and the progress of the war, and wanted to increase the political power of New England. -
The Treaty of Ghent
On December 24, 1814, American and British representatives met in Belgium and signed the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the war. The treaty didn't fix any issues regarding for which the United States declared war. The old boundaries between American and British territory in North America were restored. -
The Battle of New Orleans
The battle of New Orleans began only two weeks after the treaty of Ghent was signed. The United States had no knowledge of the treaty until February. On January 8, the British send troops towards the Americans' well-protected positions, growing cocky due to their previous victories. The battle ended as one of the greatest victories for the United States.