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Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality
Washington declared United States Neutrality in order to protect America from getting involved in the war between Britain and France. Even with the proclamation in place Britain and France were harassing Americans sailors, ships, and cargo. America realized that the Proclamation was not being obeyed by the other countries so there needed to be another solution. -
Jay Treaty
Representatives signed Jay's treaty which sought to settle outstanding issues between the two countries that had been left unresolved since American independence. The treaty was unpopular among the Americans, but it did preserve peace and US neutrality. Under Jay's Treaty, the British agreed to remove royal troops from the western frontiers of the United States and to establish a commission to examine the debts owed to the United States. The Jay Treaty seemed to violate French trust. -
Washington's Farewell Address
Washington's Farewell Address influenced the War of 1812 by him discussing how America should focus on expanding and flourishing within the country and not getting involved in foreign affairs. He also believed that if the country took sides then it would lead to war, which with the time before the War of 1812 they didn't take sides but had a recent alliance with France which led to them going to war with Britain. -
War Hawks
The War Hawks were members of congress that were trying persuade James Madison to declare war against Britain in 1812. Their reasoning was that the British were disobeying the rules in the ocean (impressment of sailors and taking cargo) and animosity still carried by them as a result of the Revolutionary War. Some people didn't agree with the War Hawks because of financial problems in the country. Eventually Madison sided with the War Hawks and declared war against Great Britain. -
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Impressment of Sailors
Impressment of Sailors was an act by the British Navy where they would send officers aboard American ships for them to search the crew and seize sailors that were suspected of leaving the British and any others they wanted to take. This practice was common among the British since medieval times, so this practice was nothing new to the British. But it made America feel like the British were going to continue oppressing their country and something needed to be done about it. -
Chesapeake-Leopard Affair
The Chesapeake–Leopard affair was a naval fight that occurred off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia between the British warship HMS Leopard and the American frigate USS Chesapeake. The crew of Leopard pursued, attacked, and boarded the American frigate, looking for deserters from the Royal Navy. Chesapeake was caught unprepared and after a short battle involving broadsides received from Leopard, the commander of Chesapeake, James Barron, surrendered his vessel to the British. -
Embargo Act of 1807
The Embargo Act of 1807 was a law passed by the United States Congress and signed by President Thomas Jefferson on December 22, 1807. It prohibited American ships from trading in all foreign ports. This embargo was a huge failure and it just led to the mass smuggling of goods by the Americans. The American citizens resented this act and were outraged by it, so they did not follow it accordingly and did whatever they need to do to get around it. -
Tecumseh and Battle of Tippecanoe
Tecumseh was a leader of the formation of a pan-Indian tribe that would resist the advancement of American settlers into their native land. He tried to negotiate with the Governor of Indiana, William Henry Harrison, but that didn't work. In retaliation, Harrison gathered 1,000 men to attack Tecumseh's tribes base which was along the Tippecanoe River. Since Tecumseh wasn't prepared, Harrison outnumbered their warriors and defeated them. This lead to Indians fighting for the British in Canada. -
War of 1812 begins
James Madison summoned a congressional meeting to discuss the grievances going on with Britain, and after a very split house and congress, the United States voted in favor of going to war against Great Britain. It was split because traders and New Englanders did not want to go to war with a country they trade with, and the Southerners and Westerners supported the idea of war since they didn't have close ties with Britain. -
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Tecumseh and British Battles
Tecumseh also led his tribe in the Siege of Detroit, which resulted in a British and Indian victory. Because of this victory, the British and Indians now had hold of Fort Detroit allowing them to increase raids of American locations. This damaged the moral of the American army, but they soon recaptured Fort Detroit. Tecumseh was also critical in many other battles with the British. -
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Hartford Convention
The Hartford Convention was a series of meetings in Hartford, Connecticut, United States, in which the New England Federalist Party met to discuss their grievances concerning the ongoing War of 1812 and the political problems arising from the federal government's increasing power. Ultimately, the convention adopted a strong states’ rights position and expressed its grievances in a series of resolutions against military choice and commercial regulations. -
Treaty of Ghent
The treaty of Ghent was the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812 between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. By terms of the treaty, all conquered territory was to be returned, and commissions were planned to settle the boundary of the United States and Canada. This treaty established peace between the United States and Great Britain for a long period of time. -
Battle of New Orleans
Battle of New Orleans was the final battle in the War of 1812. It was led by Andrew Jackson for America and Sir Edward Pakenham for Britain. The reason for the battle was that British forces were trying to take over a critical American port. American merchants and traders relied on New Orleans for trade access with the Mississippi River. Even though American forces were outnumbered, they still won the battle because of "sophisticated earthworks" being mapped out.