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In What Year Did the War of 1812 Start In?

  • Battle of Tippecanoe (2)

    Battle of Tippecanoe (2)
    Once the battle ended and the natives abandoned the town, Harrison and his men burned it down. Harrison returned home with a victory under his belt
  • William Henry Harrison

    William Henry Harrison
    Harrison was involved in the first battle of the war, the Battle of Tippecanoe on November 7, 1811. Harrison defeated and drove out the Native Americans, becoming a national hero. After the victory at the Battle of Lake Erie, Harrison attacked the British on October 5, 1813. He won a key victory at the Battle of the Thames, for this is the battle the Shawnee leader Tecumseh was killed in.
  • Battle of Tippecanoe (1)

    Battle of Tippecanoe (1)
    This battle took place near modern Battle Ground, Indiana. General Harrison marched with an army of about 1,000 men to break up the confederacy of Native Americans' headquarters. The leader of the Shawnee, Tecumseh, wasn't ready to fight the U.S. yet so he wasn't present when Harrison arrived. Warriors from Prophetstown attacked early in the morning and took Harrison's army by surprise. As the native's ammunition ran low, Harrison's army stood their ground for over 2 hours.
  • United States Declares War

    In Washington D.C. President James Madison sent a message to Congress stating American problems with Great Britain on June 1, 1812. The House of Representatives discussed Madison's message for 4 days and voted 61% in favor of war. Also, the Senate voted 59% in favor of war. Madison signed the measure into law on June 18, 1812, thus marking the first
    time the U.S. had ever declared war on another nation.
  • James Madison

    James Madison
    President Madison sent a message to Congress on June 18, 1812 stating the problems with Great Britain. The issues included impressments and embargoes. Madison's accomplishment in the war was that he signed the measure into law, thus starting the war. This was the first time the U.S. had declared war on another nation. Without Madison, the war may have never been started and the British may have never been stopped.
  • Battle of Lake Erie (1)

    Battle of Lake Erie (1)
    A sand bar in the harbor of Presque Isle trapped Commander Parry's fleet of 9 ships. Captain Robert Barclay and his squadron of 6 vessels maintained a blockade off the harbor until they left the harbor to get reinforcements. Perry's ships had been hauled over the sand bar and were ready to attack by the time the British returned. Commander Barclay decided to attack the Americans because they were a danger to British military points on Lake Erie.
  • Battle of Lake Erie (2)

    Battle of Lake Erie (2)
    The Americans possessed greater numbers, better equipment, and better-trained men thus resulting in the entire British squadron including Commander Barclay being taken as prisoners and brought back as prizes. This victory gave American forces complete control of Lake Erie and it also gave Perry respect and a reputation.
  • Oliver Hazard Perry

    Oliver Hazard Perry
    Perry was involved in the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813. In the middle of the fight, Perry's boat Lawrence was destroyed so he moved his command to the Niagara. Perry used Niagara to turn the tides of the battle and succeed in capturing Barclay's entire squadron. Perry was considered a hero and was promoted to a captain.
  • Battle of the Thames (1)

    Battle of the Thames (1)
    This battle took place near the Thames River in Southern Canada. General Harrison took advantage of Perry's victory at Lake Erie and caught up with the British by the Thames River. British forces broke apart when Harrison ordered a cavalry charge into their forces. The American Indian forces kept on fighting but eventually retreated.
  • Battle of the Thames (2)

    Battle of the Thames (2)
    Tecumseh was killed in this battle and his death weakened the Indian - British alliance. The victory broke British power on the Northwest frontier and secured the U.S. border with Canada.
  • Tecumseh

    Tecumseh
    Tecumseh was a Native American leader of the Shawnee who opposed the United States in the war. Tecumseh and his confederacy joined with the British to help defend the Canada's. He was killed in the Battle of Thames and his death resulted in the British ending their alliance with the Indians. Tecumseh's accomplishment in the war was he held the British and Indian alliance together making it difficult for the Americans to fight.
  • Battle of Horseshoe Bend (2)

    Battle of Horseshoe Bend (2)
    The battle resulted in a huge loss of Red Stick warriors and very few Americans. This victory ended the Creek War and forced the Creek Nation to give up millions of acres of land.
  • Andrew Jackson

    Andrew Jackson
    Jackson was a Major General in the war and he was also a general in the Tennessee state militia. Jackson defeated the Creek Indians in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend on Match 27, 1814. He also defeated the British in the last battle of the war, the Battle of New Orleans which took place on January 8, 1815
  • Battle of Horseshoe Bend (1)

    Battle of Horseshoe Bend (1)
    This battle was fought around the Tallapoosa River near the present-day Alexander City, Alabama. Andrew Jackson sent part of his army to surround the Creek village while the other half began to fire cannons at the Red Sticks' main bases for about 2 hours. Causing little damage with the cannons, Jackson ordered a bayonet charge. His men charged the Red Sticks and fought in hand-to-hand combat. The Creek Warriors didn't surrender, so the battle lasted for about 5 hours.
  • Battle of Washington (1)

    Battle of Washington (1)
    This battle took place in Washington D.C when the British wanted to retaliate on the Americans for the burning of the capital buildings in Canada. Also, they wanted to draw attention away from the vulnerable Canada and frighten Americans. The British first attacked American militia and soon broke through. Hearing of the defeat, President Madison fled the city.
  • Battle of Washington (2)

    Battle of Washington (2)
    The town had no army to protect it, so the British burned the Capital, the President's house, the Treasury, the War Office, and the office of the National Intelligencer. The burning of the city lowered the Americans morale but it also united them in their fight against the British.
  • Battle of Baltimore (1)

    Battle of Baltimore (1)
    The battle took place in Baltimore, Maryland. The British sailed to Baltimore with targeting an important commercial center and a base for privateers in mind. When they arrived, they found the Americans were better prepared, had better organization, and fought more efficiently than they had in Washington. British troops defeated an American force 5 miles out of Baltimore but once in the city, they could not get the Americans to leave their positions.
  • Battle of Baltimore (2)

    Battle of Baltimore (2)
    The British the retreated to Fort McHenry but failed at trying to destroy large cannons and weaken American forces. The British retreated from Baltimore on September 14 and abandoned their plans to take control of the city.
  • Treaty of Ghent

    Treaty of Ghent
    The treaty was signed in Belgium before the Battle of New Orleans, the last battle in the war. U.S. and British diplomats finally agreed to end the war after months of negotiating. The nations returned the land they conquered, but diplomats found no solutions to impressments or trade embargoes. Both sides agreed to solve the problems once there was peace. The War of 1812 was a narrow escape from potential disaster. The Americans were proud their young country stood up to the British.
  • Battle of New Orleans

    Battle of New Orleans
    This battle took place in New Orleans, Louisiana. About 5,300 British troops attempted to attack Andrew Jackson and his force of about 4,000 men. The British were exposed to heavy fire after the morning fog they were using as cover cleared. At the end of the battle, the British had more than 2,000 deaths and injuries while the Americans only suffered about 70 casualties.