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The Louisiana Purchase is Finalized
Louisiana Purchase is finalized and it introduced about 828 million square miles of territory from France to the United States. The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States and strengthened the country materially and strategically. It provided a westward expansion and confirmed powers of the Federal Constitution. -
HMS Leopard Fires on the USS Chesapeake
The Chesapeake set sail from Norfolk for the Mediterranean. The crew of Leopard attacked and boarded the American frigate looking for deserters from the Royal Navy. The captain of the Leopard barraged of broadsides, killing 3 Americans and wounded 18. British officers proceeded to board the crippled Chesapeake and seized a handful of suspected derserters. -
The Little Belt Affair
Rodgers was sailing up the coast toward New York and saw the Little Belt and thought it was Guerriere, but wasn't. Both captains demanded identification for each other and they both refused. A shot was fired and both ships were fully engaged in a barrage. The Americans had the advantages with a bigger ship and most of the British guns were inactive. Rodgers gave the order to ceasefire. Little Belt took 9 deaths and 23 injuries, with the sloop badly damages. -
Fort Michilimackinac Surrenders to British-Canadian Forces
War descended on Mackinac Island as a combined force of British, Canadian and Native American soldiers captured Fort Mackinac from an American garrison. The fall of Mackinac set off over two years of combat between Great Britain and the United States for control of Michigan and the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes held fur trades and allegiance of Native American tribes. The United States dispatched 7 warships and about 1,000 mean on a two month expedition to recapture the island. -
The USS Constitution Defeats the HMS Guerriere
The USS Constitution sailed from Boston to the southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. After two weeks, Guerriere went within a mile of Constitution, firing. As the Constitution slide alongside it, Hull gave command to fire. The Constitution composed of oak planking and oak frames, resilient to cannonballs. It damaged Guerriere and was forced to surrender, Americans tending to the wounded and death, and ferried the British prisoners and their possession across to Constitution. -
USS Chesapeake Captured by the British HMS Shannon
At Boston, Chesapeake and HMS Shannon were put to sea to meet. Shannon issued a written challenge to Chesapeake, but was sailed before it delivered. The British overwhelmed them, Chesapeake faring poorly. The battle lasted about 15 minutes and 252 men were killed or wounded. Chesapeake and the crew were taken to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where sailors were imprisoned. The ship repaired and taken to the Royal Navy, selling it at Portsmouth, England. -
American Troops Capture Fort Erie
The British commander in the area, hoped that the garrison at Fort Erie could buy him time against the American invasion to consolidate forces. The British had 137 soldiers. The Americans had 4,500 soldiers and crossed the Niagara River at Black Rock south and attacked the British. They demanded the surrender of Fort Erie, giving 2 hours of consideration, with the fort surrendering shortly after. They became prisoners and were transported to America. -
Battle of Bladensburg
British troops marched into Washington D.C. and set fire to much of the city. They torched major rooms in the Capitol, the White House, the navy yard and several American warships, but most private property was spared. The Capitol had severe damage but the building was not completely destroyed as it had fire-proof materials. After Congress members returned to the city and saw the damage, it called a movement for a more established and metropolitan city. -
The Battle of New Orleans
The British hoped to seize New Orleans to expand into territory by the United States. The Americans split into two defensive positions, one on east and west bank of Mississippi. 1,000 troops and 16 cannons on the western bank. 8,000 British troops moved forward through American defensive lines and suffered a decisive loss on the eastern bank. The western bank withdrew, the battle lasting about 2 hours. The Americans wounded about 2,000 British soldiers, with 65 casualties of their own. -
Dartmoor Massacre
During the War of 1812 a prison in Devon, England housed thousands of American sailors with Frenchmen captured by the fight against Napoleon. The Treaty of Ghent ended the war, months later Americans still awaiting repatriation. Conditions were cramped, with no food, and hundreds died by deprivation and diseases. The captain ordered his men to open fire in the prisoners by the discovery of a hole in one of the prison walls. 7 Americans were killed with 50-60 wounded. -
Works Cited