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Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality
Washington officially declares the United States to be neutral in the war with Britain and France. This was to prevent any further issues with either side, but this did not stop the war as a whole. Southern Americans even protested this by giving criticisms to the declaration. -
Impression of Sailors
The British would be seizing ships and kidnapping sailors due to them assuming that they were funding the French. This problem was one of the main reasons America dropped neutrality and went to war in 1812 against Britain. It was also a main problem since Washington took office in 1789. -
Jay Treaty
The Jay Treaty was created to avert war with Great Britain. After the Revolutionary War, Britain and America still held major grudges against each other. This caused John Jay to form the treaty to ensure that peace between both nations could be achieved, to which both nations agreed with. -
Washington's Farewell Address
Washington wrote a letter to America as he retired from being president from the last eight years. While this established the two-term limit on presidency, it was also given as a last piece of advice for future generations of presidents and Americans alike. -
Chesapeake-Leopold Affair
The United States' ship Chesapeake was intercepted by Britain's ship Leopold and was actively fired upon by the British. This act violated the neutrality rights of America, causing outrage and an additional grievance to the eventual war. -
Embargo Act 1807
The Embargo Act forced all Americans to close off trade with other countries. This crippled the economy severely to the point where it was later amended to close off trade with only Britain and France due to the war. After seeing that they went to other countries for aid, the act was repealed in 1811. -
Tecumseh (1)
The Battle of Tippecanoe attempted to cause peace with both Americans and Natives, which worked for a short time. Tenskwatawa would suffer a devastating loss after breaking ceasefire, to which Tecumseh would return to Prophetstown in ruins due to the battle. He would then choose to ally with the British forces after the loss of his dream of a Native American confederacy. -
War Hawks
The War Hawks were a group formed by Henry Clay in order to push America to war with Britain. This group was a major supporting power in Congress to the war effort with Britain that also pushed for Madison to sign the declaration of war. -
War of 1812 Begins
America officially declared war on Great Britain, but not France due to lack of votes. Due to Britain's constant provocations by seizing American ships and impressing American people, Congress voted on going to war. The war declaration was passed in both houses, to which James Madison signs it into law. The war would officially begin. -
Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent caused the end of the War of 1812. While it did not resolve the issues of Americans being impressed (kidnapped) by the British or the neutrality of the United States ships, it gave America the right to expand further to the Great Lakes. -
Tecumseh (2)
During the battle of Thames River, Tecumseh was killed in the fight. This loss marked the end of Indian resistance as the British and other Indian tribes were routed in the Ohio River valley region. -
Hartford Convention
The Hartford Convention gathered 26 members from states such as Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont to discuss Madison's war policies and the balance of political powers the Southern states held over the national government. They sought to primarily address the grievances of Madison's war plans and provide resolutions, but also adopted state's rights around the same time as the Treaty of Ghent. -
Battle of New Orleans
This battle was the last battle of the war, with the Americans coming out victorious. While the battle had no effect on the result of the war due to the Treaty of Ghent, this provided a platform for Jackson that would help in the election of 1828.