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The War of 1812
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President Madison Takes Office
When Madison took office tensions with britain were high. Americans were angry with britain for supplying the Native Americans. The British told the U.S. that they would not stop impressing American sailors. American nationalists felt the U.S.A.'s honor was at stake. Clay & Calhoun, leaders in the House of Reps., as well as there supporters were known as war hawks. This meant that they wanted war with Britain. -
War Hawks Take Power
Henery Clay of Kentucky & John C. Calhoun of South Carolina were both nationalists. They were leaders in the House of Representitives. They & their supporters were known as war hawks because they supported war with Britian. Many Americans were becoming nationalists. Nationalists felt like the U.S.'s honor was at stake. -
Relations with Great Britain Worsen
In the spring Britain said they would not stop impressing U.S. sailors. Native Americans began attacking frontier settelers. Britains was still supplying Native Americans. Relations with steadily worsened in the early months of 1812 -
Congress Declares War on Britain
Britain was still at war in Europe. Britain refused to avoid war by meeting American demands. The U.S. was confident we would win the war. Later it bacame apparent that America was not ready for war due to Jeffersons military spending cuts. -
America is not Ready for War
At the beginning of the war the U.S. was confident they would score a victory. The U.S. was extremely underprepared. Jefferson's spending cuts took a large chunk out of military strength. The navy had only 16 warships. The army had less than 7,000 men. -
Britain Blockades American Ports
At the beggining of the war Britain set up a blockade along the U.S. coast line. Blockade is the action of closing off a port or road to control what goes in and out. By 1814 135 British warshipe were closing off American ports. They managed this because they were able to reinforce their troops near the wars end. -
USS Constituition Scores a Victory
The U.S.S. Constituition defeated Britain's Guerriere. The U.S.S Con. had a reinforced hull, causing British cannonballs to bounce harmlessly off the hull. The ship was nicknamed "Old Ironsides" because of the reinforced hull.The hull was made of 3 layers of oak wood, a very strong & durable wood. For almost an hour the two ships battled before the U.S.S. Constitution fired and shot down both of the Guerriere's masts, -
Invasion of Canada
Even before the war war hawks wanted to invade Canada. The war hawks thought Canadians would be happy for a chance to over throw British rule. General William Hull invaded Canada from Detroit. He was unsure of his troops though, he tthought he did not have enough men so he retreated. Britains commander, General Isaac Brock, surrounded & captured Hull's forces. -
Battle of Lake Erie
Control of Lake Erie was critical, and both sides of the war knew it. A 3 hour battle happened at Put-In-Bay toward the West end of Lake Erie. During the battle the U.S. flagship was badly damaged. Oliver Hazard Perry, the American commander, switched to another ship and continued fighting unyil he won, forcing the British into Canada. He announced his win byu saying "We have met the enemy and they are ours." -
Battle of Thames
Britain & their Native American allies retreated after the Battle of Lake Erie. General William Henery Harrison chased the British. He followed them into Canada. Harrisondefeated the British & Native Americans at the Battle of the Thames.An important Native American leader named Tecumseh died in the Battle of the Thames. -
Horseshoe Bend
During the summer of 1813 Creek warriors attacked U.S. settlements in the South. Andrew Jackson took command of U.S. forces in Georgia
. Jackson defeated the Creeks in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. This defeat came almost a year after the the attacks. They treaty ending the fighting made the creeks give up lots of their land. -
Washington, D.C. Attacked and burned
Britians new attack strategy was to attack the capitol. British forces marched into Washington D.C.. The First Lady collected some of Madisons important papers. She then fled to the White House. Britain burned many important government buildings, the White House included. -
Attack on Baltimore
Britain set out to attack the capitol & surrounding areas. The British set fire yo many important government building including the White House. Americans were shoucked that we couldnt defend are capiyol. The British troops moved on to Maryland & attacked Fort McHenry in Baltimore from the Harbor. This time though, Americans beat off the attack. -
Writing of the Star Spangled Banner
During the fighting at Fort McHenry a yaoung American watched the fighting. His name was Francis Scott Key. At dawn Key saw the American flag was still there and knew the U.S. had won. On the back of an old envelope Key wrote a poem entitled "The Star-Spangled Banner". It soon became popular and was set to music. In 1931 Congress made it our National Anthem. -
Treaty of Ghent
Britain became tired of the war. Peace talks started in Ghent, Belgium. Christmas Eve the Treaty of Ghent was signed by both Britain & the U.S., ending war. The treaty returned things to the way they were before the war. -
Hartford Convention
Federalists met in Hartford Conneticut. Some delegates suggested New England states cecede from the U.S. The delegates debated over wether or not they should cecede. While they debated news that the war was over came. With the war over the convention quickly ended. -
Battle of New Orleans
News that the war was over took weeks to get to the U.S. During that time there was one more battle. It occured in January, & was vin New Orleans. General Andrew Jackson won a amazing victory for the U.S.
