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President Madison takes office
Tension with Britain was high when he took office. The Americans were very angry at Britain for arming the Native Americans. They also resented with the impressment of American sailors. -
Period: to
The War of 1812
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War Hawks Take Power
Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun became leaders in the House of Representatives. Both and their supporters wanted to have war with Britain. New England did not want a war because they believed war with Britain would harm American trade. -
Relations with Great Britain Worsen
Relations with Britain worsened in the early months of 1812. The British told the U.S. they would continue impressment with the American sailors. Native Americans in the Northwest also attacked on frontier settlements. -
Congress Declares War on Britain
In June, Congress declared war on Britain. It wasn't a good time for a war with British because the British were still at war with Europe. Britain was not willing to avoid war. Providing for the Native Americans with support Canada. -
America is not Ready for War
Americans were very confident that they were going to win the war, instead they became unprepared. Jefferson's spending cuts weakened the American military strength. The army has fewer than 7,000 men. -
Britain Blockades American Ports
The British set up a blockade of the American coasts. In 1814, the British had 135 warships blockading the American ports. The British was able to close off all American ports by the time the war was ended. -
Invasion of Canada
Before the war even began, the war hawks wanted to invade Canada. They were expecting the Canadians to throw off British rule. General William Hull and his American troops invaded Canada from Detroit. When the Americans took control of Lake Erie, it forced the British to leave Detroit and retreat back to Canada. -
USS Constitution scores a victory
In the beginning of the war there was a major sea battle. The USS Constitution defeated the British warship Guerriere in a tense and fierce battle. It was nicknamed "Old Ironsides" because the British artillery fire bounced off the ship's thick wooden hull. The Americans thought that the Constitution was made of iron. -
Second Battle of Sacketts Harbor
A British force was transported to Lake Ontario and was attempted to capture the town. In the early weeks of the war, the British seized control of the Great Lakes. 35 Americans were killed out of 115 men. After being captured only seven American troops were able to escape and go to Sackets Harbor. -
Battle of Lake Erie
The Americans and the British both wanted to control Lake Erie. A three-hour battle took place in Put-In-Bay, the western part of the lake. The American flagship was damaged in battle. Oliver Hazard Perry switched to another ship and continued to fight until they won. -
Battle of Thames
When the British and their allies, the Native Americans retreated, the Americans under General Wiliam Henry Harrison pursued them.Then they followed the British into Canada, finally defeating them in the Battle of Thames. Tecumseh was killed in the battle. -
Battle of Horeshoe Bend
In the summer of 1813, the Creek warriors attacked several southern American settlements. Andrew Jackson who was the commander of the American forces defeated the Creeks at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. The Creeks were forced to give up millions of acres of land. -
Battle of Fort Oswego
In the early months of 1814, Lake Ontario was frozen and the British and the American naval squadrons had been building two frigates each. Drummond and Yeo were planning to capture Oswego. A Canadian militia under General Montcalm occupied the British fortifications at Fort Oswego. Montcalm's force also seized Fort Oswego's 121 cannon. -
Washington, D.C. Attacked and Burned
The British strategy was to attack the Washington D.C. The British set fire to the government buildings. They even set the White House on fire. The army could not defend Washinton and the Americans were very shocked. -
Attack on Baltimore
The battle was a sea and land battle fought between the Americans and the British. It was a turning point for the war because the American forces invaded Baltimore and killed the commander of the British forces. The British planned a combined operation, which was the point defensive installation in Baltimore Harbor. -
The Writing of the Star Spangled Banner
During the war Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the Star Spangled Banner, a poem that would set the tune of "To Anacreon in Heaven". It would become the national anthem of the United States. The poem was first called Defense of Fort Henry. -
Battle of Plattsburgh
This battle was also known as Battle of Lake Champlain. This was the end of the invasion of the northern states. British troops converged on Plattsburgh, which was defended by American troops. On the dawn of September 11, the British was defeated. their captain was killed also. -
Hartford Convention
Many Federalists spoke strongly about President Madison about the war and how they disliked it. Many of them went to Hartford, Connecticut to debate. Delegates from the Hartford Convention said that New England states secede from the U.S. News of the peace treaty arrived, so with the war ending the Hartford Convention ended too. -
Treaty of Ghent
Britain was very tired of war. In Ghent, Belgium they started to talk about peace. So on Christmas Eve they both signed a treaty that ended the war. -
Battle of New Orleans
News of the Treaty took a very ling time to come to the U.S. So both sides were at war one more time. The American forces under General Andrew Jackson won over the British at the Battle of New Orleans.
