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Impressment of Sailors
Because of the ongoing war with France, Britain had a great need for soldiers. To help solve this, they would send gangs of soldiers to bars late at night kidnap drunk men and force them to become soldiers. This need for soldiers continued further until the British had to resort to kidnapping American sailors and forcing them to become soldiers for their army. This cause American outcry and eventually led to the U.S. declaring war against Great Britain. -
Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality
In response to the impressment of American sailor's and both Frances and Britain's attempt to gain the American's side in the war, Washington declared a Proclamation of Neutrality, telling France and Britain that they are not getting involved in the war. In addition to this, it was also an attempt to get Britain to stop kidnapping their sailors. -
Jay Treaty
As an extra effort to stop the impressment and kidnapping of sailors, the seizing of trade ships, and to get British soldiers off American owned land, Washington sent Chief Justice John Jay to negotiate a treaty with the British. The British agreed to this proposal, but made sure to include a loop hole within the agreement, saying that they couldn't harass any American ship unless they thought there was any British contraband on the ship, so they didn't actually have to stop seizing the ships. -
Washington's Farewell Adress
After avoiding war declared with the British and French for three years, Washington decided that he had done enough as the President of the United States. His farewell address was published on newspapers across America, spreading his warnings about political parties, foreign relations, and national neutrality with other countries. -
Chesapeake-Leopard Affair
The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair occurred when the British Warship HMS Leopard attacked and boarded the American ship USS Chesapeake which surrendered after only firing a single shot. The sailors aboard the USS Chesapeake were captured and one even hanged. This cause an uproar with the Americans, who were already fed up with British Impressment, which eventually led Jefferson to create the Embargo act. -
Embargo act of 1807
The Embargo act of 1807 was created by Jefferson in reaction to the British's refusal to stop their practice of Impressment. This act demanded that goods could no longer be exported or imported in or out of the country in attempt to hurt British economy. This instead, did the exact opposite and cause the American economy to tank so low that merchants, traders, and farmers to go out of business. -
Tecumseh
In 1811, Tecumseh, a Native American Chief, tried to negotiate with the Americans to stop their expansion to the West into native lands, forming a confederacy of Native tribes to try and do this. After this had eventually failed, they went North and Allied with the British colonists. -
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War of 1812
As a last resort after the passing of the non-intercourse act and an act made in 1810 that stated that if either side, the French or British, showed signs that they were going to lift trade restrictions with America that they would then stop trade with the opposing power to encourage them to trade with America, Britain's continual refusal to stop impressment of sailors, and pressure from "war hawks" in Congress, Jefferson agreed to declare war against the British. -
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War Hawks
The War Hawks were a group of Legislators in Congress from the South and West that would put into place legislation that would always push America into the path of war, hints the nickname "War Hawks". Their critiques of the President and those who opposed their ideals would reach the daily newspaper, which had a great effect on the people, putting pressure on the government to conform to said ideals. Those who were against the War Hawks blamed their leaders for the War of 1812. -
Tecumseh
After having his villages burnt down, and land stolen by the Americans, Tecumseh gathered those who were not killed in the conflict and aided the British in the siege of Detroit, playing a key role in that victory for the British. After that, Tecumseh joined in the invasion of Ohio, and fought against Harrison's army on the battle field. -
Hartford Convention
Many Federalists were opposed to the War of 1812 as they thought that it was being fought to aid Napoleon in his war against Britain. In retaliation to the war, some would refuse to pay taxes, boycott war loans, and refuse to house troops. At one point, delegates from New England gathered with the Federalists and endorsed a series of amendments that would restrict congress's power to wage war, regulate commerce, and allow the creation of new states. -
Treaty of Ghent
This treaty, signed on Christmas eve, 1814 in Ghent, Belgium, ended the War of 1812. This treaty restored pre-war national boundaries, and left the Native Americans vulnerable to American expansion in the West. -
Battle of New Orleans
On January 8th, 1815, before the Treaty of Ghent was finally ratified in February of that year, the British finally launched their attack on New Orleans with a soldier count of over 10,000 men. In order to stop this attack, Jackson got together French Pirates, Choctaw Indians, a western militia, and even freed slaves to defend the city. Even though the Americans were outnumber, they were still able to stop the invasion with 8 dead and 13 wounded, while the British walked away with 2,039 dead.