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President Madison takes office
Tension with Britain was high when James Madison took office in 1809.Americans were angry at Britain for arming Native Americans in the northwest.Americans also resented the continued impressment of American sailors by the British. -
Period: to
The War of 1812
John Liberty
Period 6 -
War Hawks Take Power
Clay,Calhoun, and their supporters were called war hawks.Opposition to war was strongest in New England.Many New Englanders believed war with Britain would harm American trade. -
Relations with Great Britain Worsen
Relations with Britain worsened steadily in the early months of 1812.In the spring, the British told the United States they would continue to impressing soldiers. Meanwhile, Native Americans in the Northwest began new attacks on frontier settlements. -
Congress Declares War on Britain
In June, Congress declred war on Britain.The war did not come at a good time for the British, who were at war with Europe.However, Britain was not willing to meet American demands to avoid war. -
America is not Ready for War
It soon became apparent that the United States was not ready for war. Jefferson's spending cuts had weakened American military strength. The navy only had 16 warships ready for action. The army was also small with less than 7,000 men ready for war. -
Britain Blockades American Ports
In the first days of war, the British set up a blockade of the American coast. By 1814, the British were able to close off all Merican ports by war's end. -
Invasion of Canada
Even before the war began, war hawks were demanding an invasion of Canada. They expected Canadians to welcome the chance to throw off British rule. -
USS Constitution Scores a victory
In August 1812, the USS Constitution defeated the British warship Guerrier in a fierce battle. According to tradition, American sailors nicknamed the Constitution "Old Ironsides" because British artillery fire bounced off of the ships's thick, wooden hull. To the Americans, it seemed as if the Constitution was made of iron. -
Battle of Lake Erie
American forces had better luck on Lake Erie. Both sides knew the importance of controlling the lake. A key three hour battle took place at Put In Bay, in the western part of the lake, in 1813. -
Battle of Thames
As the British and their Native American allies retreated, the Americans under General William Henry Harrison pursued them. They followed the British into Canada, defeating them in the Battle of the Thames. -
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
In March 1814, Jackson defeated the Creeks at the Battle of Horshoe Bend. The treaty that ended the fighting forced Creeks to give up millions of acres of land. -
Washington D.C Attacked and Burned
The British set fire to several government buildings, including the White Houes.Americans were shocked to lear that their army could not defend Washington. -
Attack on Baltimore
The British now moved on to Baltimore. Their first target was Fort McHenry, which protected the city's harbor. British Warships bombarded the fort throughout the night of September 13, 1814. -
The Writing of the Star Spangled Banner
On the back off an old envelope Key wrote a poem called " The Star Spangled Banner." In 1931, Congress made it the national anthem of the United States. -
Hartford Convention
In December 1814, a group of Federalists met in Hartford, Conneticut. Some delegates debated, news of the peace treaty arrived. -
Treaty of Ghent
By 1814, Britain had tired of war. Peace talks began in Ghent Belgium. On Christmas Eve both sides singed the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the war. -
Battle of New Orleans
News of the treaty took several weeks to reach the United States. In that time, the two sides fought one more battle. In january 1815, american forces under General Andrew Jackson won a stunning victory over the British at the Battle of New Orleans.
