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Impressment of Sailors
From 1793 to 1812, the British practiced impressment against American sailors. Britain and France were at war, and they were both attacking America's merchant ships, attempting to stop one another from receiving trade. However, the British were taking our merchant ships and forcing our sailors to join their navy to better equip their fleet, which would help them against France. America became infuriated, and impressment became a reason for their declaration of war against the British in 1812. -
Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality
Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality declared the United States an impartial, neutral position on the war in Europe; we would stay out of it, not picking any side. And if anyone violated this declaration, they would be prosecuted. Hamilton was in full favor of neutrality while Jefferson was against it. Neutrality kept us out of the War in Europe, in which we were not prepared to join, nor did we have any purpose to join; Washington believed that it was safer to stay out. -
Jay's Treaty
The main purpose of Jay's Treaty was to prevent war with Britain. Two major issues we had were that Britain had troops left in American territory, and they were seizing our ships. The treaty settled these issues and served as a way to avoid war with the British; they had to evacuate the forts in American territory, and it negotiated commerce with Britain. However, it failed to negotiate an end to the impressment of American sailors, which angered us and eventually led to the War of 1812. -
Washington's Farewell Address
Washington's Farewell Address' purpose was not just to say that he was stepping down from a third term but to also warn Americans against political parties and long-term treaties with foreign nations. He argued for friendly neutrality and for staying out of international affairs. For instance, the war in Europe between Britain and France. He argued that instead of joining this war, and any other war in the future, we should stay out of international issues altogether. -
Chesapeake-Leopard Affair
In the Summer of 1807, British tailor Jenkin Ratford and four other crewmen deserted a British Navy ship off the coast of Virginia and joined the USS Chesapeake. The USS Chesapeake set sail from Norfolk but was intercepted by a British ship: the HMS Leopard. The British commander asked to search for deserters, but the USS Chesapeake declined. The Leopard fired upon the Chesapeake and captured the deserters. This attack on the USS Chesapeake by the British Leopard infuriated the Americans. -
Embargo Act of 1807
President Thomas Jefferson enacted the embargo of 1807 as a response to increasing harassment of American ships by the British, the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair, and British impressment. The embargo was successful in preventing war, but it had to be repealed because America's economy began to suffer, people began to resist, and smuggling was common. It was repealed and replaced by the Non-Intercourse Act of 1809, which lifted all trade bans except for those put on British and French ships. -
War Hawks
The "War Hawks" was a group of young politicians from the West and South. They were Republicans. Led by Henry Clay of Kentucky, the "War Hawks" argued in support of war against the British; even though both the British and the French were doing harm to America, they believed the British were the most harmful. The "War Hawks" successfully persuaded Congress to declare war on the British, which would be called the War of 1812. -
Tecumseh: Battle of Tippecanoe
Tecumseh was a Shawnee chief who formed a Native American confederacy in order to resist white settlement on Native land. Tecumseh led the confederacy to Prophetstown near the Tippecanoe River in the Indiana Territory to recruit more Natives into the confederacy, but they were confronted by William Henry Harrison and his army. The American army won against the Natives. As a result, Tecumseh was prompted to ally him and his remaining forces with the British during the War of 1812. -
War of 1812 Begins
After both the House and the Senate voted to declare war, President James Madison signed the war declaration. This was now officially the beginning of the War of 1812. -
Tecumseh: Battle of the Thames
After the Battle of Lake Erie, Tecumseh and his confederacy were forced into Canada, being followed by William Harrison and his army. The British-Native American forces were defeated in the Battle of the Thames, which was where Tecumseh was killed in battle. The result was that the United States gained control over the western theater, and Tecumseh's death marked the end of Native resistance east of the Mississippi River, forcing remaining tribes to go west. -
Hartford Convention
The Hartford Convention was a series of secret meetings of Federalist delegates from Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont; all of them meeting at Hartford, Connecticut. They met to discuss their opposition to President James Madison's mercantile policies and the War of 1812. The delegates were Federalists and strongly disapproved of the war with the British. -
Treaty of Ghent
On December 24, 1814, the Treaty of Ghent was signed by United States representatives and British representatives at Ghent, Belgium; which officially ended the War of 1812. The terms were that any conquered territory had to be returned, and commissions were planned to settle the boundary line between the United States and Canada. However, the news didn't reach everywhere in America until later, too late to prevent the Battle of New Orleans. -
Battle of New Orleans
At the Battle of New Orleans, it was a superior British force against an American force led by Andrew Jackson. The winner of this bloody battle was Andrew Jackson, which boosted the nation's pride. Then the news came of the Treaty of Ghent, officially ending the war. Congress ratified the treaty on February 16, 1815. Even when the treaty was signed two months before, many Americans saw the Battle of New Orleans as a major victory in the war.