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From 1793 to 1812, the British Royal Navy had a practice of stopping and boarding American trade ships. They would come across these ships in travel, board them, and would seize the sailors who were on them, forcing them to join the British Navy. This practice, known as impressment, was essentially kidnapping the sailors. This outraged many Americans and is often cited as one of the causes of the War of 1812.
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Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality was a formal announcement made by George Washington, who was President of the United States at the time. He officially declared the United States to be neutral in the war between Britain and France, meaning that the nation would not support either side. This was to keep the United States safely away from a war that they could not handle.
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Washington’s Farewell Address was a letter written by George Washington to the people of the country. He penned it near to his retirement, after serving as President for two terms, and serving his country for 20 years. This letter warned the people to stay out of foreign conflicts and to not become too divisive with political parties.
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Jay’s Treaty was an agreement between America and Great Britain in order to resolve issues between them. Primarily, it secured the withdrawal of British troops near the Great Lakes and was meant to lessen and eliminate the capturing of American trade ships on their way to France. However, this treaty did not truly solve any issues, and only prevented war.
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The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair was a confrontation between the British ship the HMS-Leopard, and the American ship the USS Chesapeake. The crew of the Leopard attacked and boarded the Chesapeake, claiming to look for deserters of the British Navy. This attack soured the relationship between Great Britain and the United States and began the road of hostilities that would eventually lead to the War of 1812.
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The Embargo Act of 1807 officially banned trade between any country outside of the U.S. This was an attempt to resist the seizing of American trade ships by Britain and France, to keep the United States out of war with these nations. However, this was unsuccessful, as the embargo had significant financial damage on the American economy and people, and the Americans ended up going to war with the British in 1812.
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The War Hawks were a group of Jeffersonian Republicans, primarily from the west and the south. They were unhappy with the economic pressures that were used to try to prevent the United States from going to war. This group wanted to battle Britain, invade Canada, and force the Spanish out of Florida. The War Hawks put pressure on President James Madison and demanded that he go to war with Great Britain.
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Tecumseh was a Shawnee Native American chief, in the early 1800s. In 1811, Tecumseh was recruiting in the South. During this time, Indiana governor William Henry Harrison and his troops were stationed near the home of Tecumseh’s tribe, Prophetstown. Tecumseh’s brother asked to meet Harrison and launched an attack on him and his troops. This was known as the Battle of Tippecanoe. Ultimately, the Americans were successful and burned the town. When Tecumseh returned, he worked to rebuild his home.
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President James Madison signed the declaration of war against Great Britain on June 18, 1812, marking the beginning of the War of 1812. Madison and the rest of the country were frustrated with Britain’s seizing of American ships and soldiers, as well as Britain’s support of the Native Americans’ resistance to westward expansion.
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Tecumseh joined forces with British Major-General Henry Proctor. They led their troops in the Siege of Fort Meigs, which housed William Henry Harrison and his troops. Harrison’s army was successful, and Tecumseh was killed in the battle. After his death, the Native American resistance began to decline in the United States. This began the movement of Native Americans west of the Mississippi River during the following decades.
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The Hartford Convention was a group of secret meetings held by American federalists in Hartford, Connecticut. The meetings expressed dissatisfaction in the leadership of President James Madison, particularly regarding his trade policies and the War of 1812. The Hartford Convention resulted in a declaration that called for the Federal Government to protect the area of New England and provide its merchants with financial support.
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The Treaty of Ghent was signed in Ghent, Belgium by American and British representatives. This treaty officially ended the War of 1812. This treaty agreed that any land that had been conquered would be returned to the country that had held it at the beginning of the war. Additionally, it made plans to mark the boundary between America and Canada.
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The Battle of New Orleans was the final battle of the War of 1812. American leader Major General Andrew Jackson led his troops against British Admiral Alexander Cochrane. This battle prevented the British from seizing New Orleans, which was essential to American trade. The British finally retreated, and many soldiers were recalled to their ships.