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Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality
George Washington issued the Proclamation of Neutrality to establish that the United States would stay neutral throughout the war between France and Great Britain. He also warned Americans to stay out of any trouble having to do with France and Britain. Washington established this because the US was not ready for another war, they were still trying to recover from past battles. The British did not respond very well to this, they seized American ships. -
Jay Treaty
The Jay Treaty was created as an attempt to settle past and present issues Great Britain and the US had. The issues mostly came as a result of the Revolutionary War but it was also because Britain was seizing ships and sailors. This treaty was not very effective because tensions between the British and the Americans did not stop, but it did help to keep the US out of the French and British war. -
Washington's Farewell Address
Washington's Farewell Address promoted peace and unity among the US. He emphasized that the country try and stay out of foreign issues that might sink them more. The trouble he was referring to was not just the French and British war, he was referring to any trouble with foreign countries. He also warned the US of political parties. Washington believed they caused a lot of division in the nation and that it was all a battle for power. -
Impressment of Sailors
Impressment, also known as "press gang," was an issue the US came across with the British during the French and British War. Since Great Britain had trouble recruiting soldiers and they had a high demand for them they were left with no other option but to steal them. This made the US very mad and it was one of the main causes of the War of 1812. -
Chesapeake Leopard Affair
The Chesapeake Leopard Affair was a fight between the British and the Americans. One day, an American ship set out of Chesapeake loaded with weapons and cargo. The ship was seized by a British ship that killed 3 of the sailors and wounded 18. This event made Americans very mad and it caused them to aim towards having a war with Britain. -
Embargo Act of 1807
The Embargo Act took a huge toll on America. It was established by President Thomas Jefferson because he thought it would make the States more self-reliant. This act closed all ports meaning there could be no imports or exports. It made the financial situation worse and Americans mad. The act was successful in the sense that it prevented the US from getting caught up in the war between the French and British. -
Tecumseh
Tecumseh is from the Shawnee village in Piqua, Ohio. He was a well-known warrior. Tecumseh believed that the whites wanted to get rid of all the Native Americans. He was the leader of what was called the "Tecumseh Confederation" which formed alliances with different tribes. -
War Hawks
War hawks were angry young politicians who opted for a more aggressive approach towards Great Britain. These men were angry because Britain had humiliated them in the past. Henry Clay was the leader of the group of 5. These men wanted to attack the British colony of Canada, they believed that if they attacked Canada it would make Great Britain more vulnerable. -
War of 1812 Begins
On the day of June 18, 1812, President James Madison formally declared war with the British. The two main reasons the war began were that the British were kidnapping American sailors and did not respect America's neutrality. They were also providing Native Americans with weapons to attack the Americans. Americans were ready to go to war after Britain continuously insulted the US. -
Tecumseh 2
At the Battle of Thames Tecumseh was killed. The Battles of Thames were fought to defend Native American lands. When Tecumseh died at the battle, the Indians then surrendered leaving the United States as the winner. This battle was significant because the "Tecumseh Confederation" no longer had a leader. -
Hartford Convention
The Hartford Convention was a secret meeting held by federalist delegates to discuss James Madison's performance as the president. These men were upset with the progress of the war that was being made. They discussed what they could do to ease the situation, Some delegates opted for succession but others told them that writing grievances would be a better approach. -
Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812. After America defeated Britain on Lake Champlain the British decided to start talking about peace negotiations. This treaty established that all territory that was conquered during the war had to be returned and it formally created a boundary between the US and Canada. -
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans was initiated by the British as an attempt to gain power over an important port in New Orleans. The attack was a failure for them, the Americans defeated the British, and they continued to hold power of the port.