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Period: to
War or 1812
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Battle of Trafalgar
This was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition (August–December 1805) of the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815). -
Chesapeake Affair and Impressments
The Chesapeake Affair was one of the most sensational international incidents that occurred during the American Civil War. The incident briefly threatened to bring Great Britain into the war against the North. -
Treaty of Fort Wayne
is an 1809 treaty that obtained 3,000,000 acres (approximately 12,000 km²) of American Indian land for the white settlers of Illinois and Indiana. The tribes involved were the Delaware, Eel River, Miami tribe, and Potawatomi in the initial negotiations; later Kickapoo and the Wea, who were the primary inhabitants of the region being sold. This lead to the war between the Shawnee tribe and the United States. -
Battle of Tippecanoe
Tecumseh, not yet ready to oppose the United States by force, was away recruiting allies when Harrison's army arrived. Tenskwatawa, a spiritual leader but not a military man, was in charge. Harrison camped near Prophetstown on November 6 and arranged to meet with Tenskwatawa the following day. Early the next morning, warriors from Prophetstown attacked Harrison's army. The Natives were ultimately repulsed when their ammunition ran low. After the battle, the Natives abandoned Prophetstown. -
U.S. Declares war on Britain
There were several reasons such as: Trade with France (The United States contested these restrictions as illegal under international law), Impressment (Impressment actions such as the Leander Affair and the Chesapeake–Leopard Affair outraged Americans, because they infringed on national sovereignty and denied America’s ability to naturalize foreigners), British support for Indian raids (The British saw the Indian nations as valuable allies and a buffer to its Canadian colonies and provided arms) -
Mr. Madison's War
Two days before war was declared, the British government stated that it would repeal the laws which were the chief reason for fighting. If there had been telegraphic communication with Europe, the war might well have been avoided. Speedy communication would also have prevented the greatest battle of the war, which was fought at New Orleans 15 days after a treaty of peace had been signed. -
War Hawks
The War Hawks are the congressmen who pushed James Madison to participaate in and start a war. -
Hull invades Upper Canada
The American government was thinking about declaring war on Britain. They sent General William Hull to take an army north to Detroit, to be ready for an attack on Canada. Hull’s army of 2000 men (mostly militia from Ohio) started towards Detroit in early June. -
Fort Michilimackinac
The British believed that they would need Indian support to defend Upper Canada against an American attack. If the Americans retained control of Mackinac Island then they would be in a good position to deny the British that support. -
Brock attacks Detroit
A British force under Major General Isaac Brock with Native American allies under the Shawnee leader, Tecumseh, used bluff and deception to intimidate the American Brigadier General William Hull into surrendering the fort and town of Detroit, Michigan, and a dispirited army which nevertheless outnumbered the victorious British and Native Americans. -
Battle of Queenston Heights
Early in the morning of October 13, 1812, Van Rensselaer attacks across the Niagara River. Despite heavy British fire and the treacherous river currents, most of the first wave of the American force reach the Canadian shore. But their objective is Queenston Heights - 80 meters straight above them. They manage to find a fisherman's path and half the force heads up the embankment. -
Americans burn York (Toronto)
An American force supported by a naval flotilla landed on the lake shore to the west, defeated the defending British force and captured the town and dockyard. The American forces subsequently carried out several acts of arson and looting in the town before withdrawing. -
Laura Secord
She set out to tell the lieutenant about surprise plans to attack British troops. -
Battle of the Thames
It resulted in the death of the Shawnee chief Tecumseh, and the destruction of the Native American coalition which he led. -
British burn Washington
Led by General Robert Ross, a British force occupied Washington, D.C. and set fire to many public buildings following the American defeat at the Battle of Bladensburg. The facilities of the U.S. government, including the White House and U.S. Capitol, were largely destroyed. The British commander's orders to burn only public buildings and strict British discipline among its troops are credited with preserving the city's private buildings. -
Treaty of Ghent ends war
British and American leaders agreed to meet in the town of Ghent to sign a document that would end the war. This document basically said things would go back to how they were before the war. -
Battle of New Orleans
First major battle of the War of 1812. It is considered the greatest American land victory.
