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President Madison takes office
President Madison took office in March 1809. Americans were mad at Britian for arming the Native Americans (the people they were kicking out of their own land). Americans also resented the continued impressment of American sailors by the British. -
Period: to
The War of 1812
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War Hawks Take Power
War Hawks were those that were eager for war with Britian. Opposition to war was the strongest in Great Britian. Many New Englanders thought thar war with britian would harm American trade. -
Relations with Great Britian Worsen
Americans were angry at Great Britian for arming the Native Americans. The Natives could then attack Americans. In the spring, the British told the Americans that they would continue impressing sailors. The Natives were then attacking the frontier settlements with the weapons Britian gave them. In June,Congress declared war on Britian. -
Congress Declares War on Great Britian
In June, Congress declared war with Great Britian.The war did not come well with Britian. They were still at war with Europe at the time. Britian was not willing to meet Americans demands to stop war. America was then confident they would win the war because Britian was fighting two countries. -
America is not Ready for War
When war began America belived the would easily win. It soon became visible that it was gonna be harder than they thought. Jefferson's spending cuts had weakened Americas army. The navy had only 26 warships prepared for battle. The army was also very small, fewer than 7000 men. -
Britian Blockades American Ports
In the first days of war, the British set up a blockade of the American coast. A blockade is a wall or items stacked to prevent people coming in or out. By 1814 the British navy had 135 warships blockading American ports. British were able to block off all American ports by the end of the war. -
Invasion of Canada
Even before the war began, war hawks wanted to invade Canada. They expected them to throw off Britishg rule. In July 1812, American troops lead by General William Hull invaded Canada. He was unsure about the invasion because he didnt have alot of men so he soon retreated. The British commander took advantage to Hulls confusion and captured over 2000 American soldiers. It was a huge loss for the Americans. -
USS Constitution scores a victory
A major sea battle was fought in the early war. In August 1812 the USS Constitution defeated the British warship in a epic battle. According to tradition, sailors nicknamed the Constitution "Old Ironside". They called it that because when the british fired it bounced of making the Constitution seem like iron. -
Second Battle of Sackets Harbor
The Second Battle of Sacketts Harbor took place on the 29th of May in 1813. A British force was transpoted to try to take over Lake Ontario. They were repulsed by American regulars and militia. -
Battle of Lake Erie
This was a 3 hour battle. Both sides knew the importance of controlling a lake. During the battle the American flagship was badly damaged commander Olvier Hazard Perry switched to another ship. The battle was won by the Americans. -
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 retreaters in to Canada. Defeating them in the Battle of Thames. Tecumseh was killed in battle. -
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
Native Americans also got defeated in the South. In the summer of 1813, Creek warriors attacked several Southern American settlements. Andrew Jackson took command of American forces in Georgia. He also defeated the Creeks at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814. -
Battle of Fort Oswego
During the early months of 1814 while Lake Ontario was frozen, the British and Americans fought over the river. They both made two frigates. The British was alot more likely to win with their army. The had 200 sailors, 400 marines, 550 soldiers, and 8 warships. While the Americans had only 242 regulars, 25 U.S. Navy and 200 militia. -
Washington, D.C Attacked & Burned
Washington, D.C. was attacked and burned in August 1814. A British force was sent in to destroy D.C.. Dolley Madison (the presidents wife) fled the presidents important papers and fled the White House. Americans were shocked to find they could not defend Wahington. -
Attack on Baltimore & the Writing of the Star Spangled Banner
The American National Anthem memorializes one of the key moments in American history which took place in Baltimore during the War of 1812. When Francis Scott Key saw the American flag flying above Fort McHenry amoung the cannon fire during the Battle of Baltimore, he was proud to write the historic poem "Defence of Fort McHenry" that would be put to music to become "The Star-Spangled Banner". It would become the official American National Anthem on March 3, 1931. The Americans beat the British. -
Battle of Plattsburgh
The Battle of Plattsburgh aka. The Battle of Lake Champlain was very successful. America had 1500 regulars, 1900 militia, 1 corvette, 1 brig, 1 schooner, 1 sloop, and 10 gunboats. The British were heavily outnumbered. The British had, 168 Killed, 220 Wounded, 317 Captured, 1 Frigate captured, 1 Brig captured, 2 Sloops captured. -
Hartford Convention
The Hartford Convention was a event during 1814-1815. It discussed the problems on the war they are facing now. The convention discussed removing the Three-fifth Comprise. That was when all the slave states got more power in Congress. -
Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent was signed on December 24th in 1814. It freed all of the war slaves and restored all war lands and boats. Nearly 10,000,000 acres of land was returned to the Americans. The upper lands of Canada were also given back to Britians. This changed the war completely. -
Battle of New Orleans
The Mission seemed hopeless to the British. A large group of men were going to go against the mightiest military in the world. This was also the last battle of the War of 1812. The British only had 11,00 men while Americans 4,000. The Americans also had lots of artillery pieces and water support. The last battle ended up as an American wictory.
