-
Period: to
The War of 1812
-
President Madison Takes Office
Tension with Britian was high when President Madison took office. Americans were angry at Britian for arming Native Americans in the Northwest. Most Americans thought their country's honor was at the state and felt a new sence of American nationalism. -
War Hawks Take Power
Henry Clay of Kentucky and John C. Calhoun of South Carolina became leaders in the House of Representatives. Clay, Calhoun, and their supporters were called warhawks for wanting to start a war with Britian. Many New Englanders believed war with Nritian would harm American trade. -
Relations With Great Britian Worsen
The British said that they would continue impressing sailors, and the British armed Native Americans in the Northwest. -
Congress Declares War on Britian
As a result of the impressments and the attacks of Native Americans, Congress declares war and America is at war with Great Britian again. -
America is not Ready for War
Due to Jefferson's spending cuts the navy only had 16 warships ready for battle and the army had fewer than 7,000 men. -
Britian Blockades American Ports
By 1814 the British had 135 warships blocking American Ports. British reinforced their troops and were able to close off all American ports by the end of the war. -
Invasion of Canada
American troops under General William Hull invaded Canada from Detroit. Hull retreated fearing he didn't have enough soldiers. General Isaac Brock (British Commander) surrounded the American army and made them surrender. He captured more than 2,000 American soldiers. -
USS Constitution Scores a Victory
The USS Constitution defeated Guerriere in a fierce battle. The USS Constitution was nicknamed "Old Ironsides" because artillery shot at it bounced off the woden hull. It seemed that the Constitution was made of iron to Americans. -
Battle of Lake Erie
A key three hour battle took place at Put-In-Bay, during the battle an American flagship was badly damaged. Oliver Hazard Perry (American commander) switched ships and continued to fight until it was won. He announced his victory with a dramatic message. -
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
Jackson defeated the creeks at the battle of Horseshoe bend. The treaty that ended the fighting made the Creeks give up milliopns of acres of land. -
Washington D.C. Attacked and Burned
Dolley Madison, the president's wife, gathered up the presidents important papers and fled. The British set several of the government buildings along with the White House on fire. -
Writing of the Star Spangled Banner
A young American named Francis Scott Key watched the attack. At dawn, key saw the American flag still over the Fort. The Americans had won the attack. He wrote a poem of the night's watch called "The Star Spangled Banner" on the back of an old envelope. -
Hartford Convention
A group of federalists met in Hartford, Connecticut. There, some delagates suggested that New England states secede form the United States. While they debated they got news of the treaty and the convention quickly ended. -
Treaty of Ghent
On Christmas Eve of 1814, the two sides signed the Treaty of Ghent which ended the war. It returned things to the way they had been before the war. -
Battle of New Orleans
After the treaty was signed it took several weeks to reach the United States. During that time American forces under General Andrew jackson won a stunning victory over the British at the Battle of New Orleans.
