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The War of 1812
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President Madison takes office
In the year of 1809, President Madison used an embargo to force Britian and France to respect American neutrality. Many Americans were outraged by the embargo. James Madison appointed Robert Smith for secretary of state during his presidency. When Madison took office in 1809, the federal government had a surplus of $9,500,00. By the year of 1810, the national debt continued to be reduced and taxes had been cut. -
War Hawks Take Power
In 1810, two nationalists, Henry Clay and John Calhoun became leaders in the House of Representatives. Henry Clay and John Calhoun's supporters were war hawks. War hawks were those who were eager for war in Britian. The war hawks were united by outrage that was regarding the British's practice of impressment (abduction). -
Relations with Great Britian worsen
Relations with Britian worsened very steadily in 1812. In the Spring, the British told the U.S. they would continue impressing sailors. However, the Native Americans began attacks on frontier settlements. Congress declared war on Britian in June. -
Congress declared war on Britian
The war did not come at a great time for the Bristish, who were at war with Europe. Britian was not willing to meet the American demands to avoid war. On June 18, 1812, President Madison signed the Declaration of War, which was passed by Congress on June 17, 1812. -
America is not ready for war
Providing Native Americans with support was one of the ways of protecting Canada against an American invasion. When war began the Americans thought they'd win. -
Britian blockades American ports
In the first few days of the war, the British set up a blockade off the American coast. A blockade is a action of shutting a road or port off to prevent a person or supplies to coming to that area. -
Invasion of Canada
Before war began, the war hawks demanded an invasion of Canada. The person who invaded Canada was an American Brigadier General named William Hull. He invaded Canada on July 12,1812 from Detroit, with an army that was composed mainly of millitiamen. -
USS Constitution scores a victory
The U.S.S. Constitution defeated the Bristish warship HMS Guerriere. To Americans it seemed as the Constitution were made out of iron . The U.S.S. Constitution was a ship and it was an action between the U.S.S. constitution and the HMS Guerriere. This took place soon after the war had began. -
Battle of Lake Erie
A three hour battle took place at Put-In-Bay. During the battle, the American flagship was damaged badly. The commander was Oliver Hazard Perry. -
Battle of the Horseshoe Bend
Andrew Jackson defeated Creeks at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in Georgia. The treaty that ended the fighting forced the creeks to give up millions of acres of land. The Battle of the Horseshoe Bend was fought in central Alabama. March 27,1814, the United States forces and the Indian allies under Andrew Jackson defeated the Red Sticks. -
Washington D.C. attacked and burned
The Bristish burned many government buildings, including the White House. Many Americans were shocked to learn their army couldn't defend Washington. The burning of many buildings in Washington D.C. was a attack during the War of 1812. It was between the British forces and of those of the United States. -
The Writing of the Star Spangled Banner
The writing of the star spangled banner was a poem. It told the story of a guy named Francis Scott Key's nights watch. In 1931, it became the national anthem of the U.S. When Francis Key wrote the star spangeled banner it was a poem and then it became the national anthem. -
Hartford Convention
Some delegates to the Hartford Convention suggested that New England states withdraw from the United States. The Hartord Convention was a bunch of meetings from December 15, 1814 to January 5, 1815, in Hartford Connecticut. The Hartford Convention was when New England federalists met to discuss problems concerning the war. -
Treaty of Ghent
On Christmas eve the two sides of Britian and Ghent Belgium, signed the treaty of Ghent which ended war. The treaty of Ghent was headed by John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay and Albert Gallatin. There is a bridge today between New York and Ontario to commemorate a century of peace between the United States and Canada. -
Battle of New Orleans
American forces under Andrew Jackson won a victory over the Bristish in New Orleans. The battle of New Orleans was the final major battle of the War of 1812. The American forces, commanded by Major General Andrew Jackson defeated a British army that was invading under a general named Edward Pakenham.
