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The War of 1812
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President Madison takes Office
In June, Congress declared war on Britain. Tension between Britain and the U.S. was high when James Madison took office. Americans were angry at Britain for arming Native Americans in the Northwest. Americans also resented the contiued impressment of American sailors by British. The British told the U.S. they would continue impressing sailors. -
War Hawks Take Power
Members of Congress from the South and the West called for war with Britain. They were known as the War Hawks. War Hawks had a strong sense of nationalism. War Hawks felt that Britain was treating the United States as if it were still a British Colony. War Hawks were willing to fight a war to defend Amerrican rights. War Hawks felt that winning a war against Britain would bring lasting peace and safety to American settlers on the frontier. -
Relations with Great Britain Worsen
Relations with Great Britain worsened steadily in the early months of 1812. Native Americans in the northwest began new attacks on frontier settlements. To most Americans, the country's honor was at stake. opposition to war was strongest in New England. Englanders believed war with britain would harm American trade. -
Congress Declares War on Britain
In June, Congress declared war on Britain. The war didn't come at a good time for the British, who were still at war in Europe. britain was not willing to meet American demands to avoid war. Providing Native Americans with support was one way of protecting Canada against an American invasion. When the war began Americans were confident that they would win. -
America is not Ready for War
Because Jefferson believed in a small federal government and had reduced spending on defence, the United States was not ready for war. The navy had only 16 ships to fight against the huge British fleet. The army was small and ill equipped. Many of the officers knew little about the military.They were poorly trained and did not know how to be good soldiers. -
Britain Blockades American Ports
In the first days of the war, the British set up a blockade of the American coast. By 1814, the british navy had 135 warships blockading American ports. The British navy blockaded American ports to stop Americans from trading with other countries.The small American navy was unable to break the blockade. -
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. In July 1812, American troops under General William Hull invaded Canada from Detroit. It was serious defeat for the United States. -
USS Constitution Scores a Victory
August 1812, the USS Constitution defeated the British warship Guerriere in a fierce battle. According to tradition, American sailors nicknamed the Constitution "Old Ironside" because British artillery fire bounced off the ship's thick wooden hull. To the Americans, it seemed as if the Constitution were made of iron. -
Battle of lake Erie
American forces had better luck on Lake Erie. Both sides were aware the importance of controlling the lake. With Americans in control of the lake, the British were forced to leave Detroit and retreat back to Canada. -
Battle of Thames
The Americans won a decisive victory at the Battle of Thames. As the British and their Native American allies retreated, the Americans under General William Henery Harrison pursued them. They followed the British into Canada, defeating them in the Battle of Thames. -
Horseshoe Bend
In March 1814, Jackson defeated the Creeks at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. The treaty that ended the fighting forced the Creeks to give up millions of acres of land. In the summer of 1813, Creek warriors attacked many Southern American settlements. Andrew Jackson took command of Ameican forces in Georgia. Native Americans also suffered defeat in the South. -
Washington D.C. Attacked and Burned
In the summer of 1814, British ships sailed into Chesapeake Bay and landed an invasion force about 30 miles from Washington D.C. American troops met the British at Bladensburg, Mayland. The British met little further resistance as they contiued their march to the capital. The British burned the White House and other buildings. -
Attack on Baltimore
The British moved to Baltimore. Their first objective was Fort McHenry, which defended the city's harbor. British warships bombarded the fort throughout the night of September 12, 1814. At dawn, Francis Scott Key saw the American flag still flying over the fort. The Americans had beaten off the attack. -
Writing of the Star Spangled Banner
On the back of an old envelope, Key wrote a poem that he called "The Star-Spangled Banner", It told the story of his night's watch. The poem became popular and was set to music. In 1931, Congress made it the national anthem of the United States. -
Hartford Convention
In December 1814, a group og Federalists met in Hartford, Connecticut. Some delegates to the Hartford Convention that the New England states secede, or withdrawl from the U.S. While the delagates debated, news of the peace treaty arrived. With the war over, the Hartford Convention quickly ended. -
Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent was signed in the city of Ghent, Belgium. "Nothing was adjust, nothing was settled". Teh treaty said nothing about impressment or reutrality. britain and the U.S. agreed to restore prewar conditions. These issues had faded due to the end of the Napoleonic wars in Europe. -
Battle of New Orleans
News of the treaty took several weeks to reach the United States. In that time, the two side fought one more battle. In January 1815, American forces under General Andrew Jackcom won a stunning victory over th British at the Battle of New Orleans.
