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President Madison takes office
During this time Americans were angry about the British selling arms to the native Americans in the Northwest. Also impressment was still happening. -
Period: to
The War of 1812
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War Hawks take power
Two strong Nationalists Henry Clay of Kentuckey and John C. Calhoun of South Carolina became leaders of the House of Representatives. Their supporters were War Hawks who were eager for war with Britian. People in New England did want war with Britians because they thought it would hurt trade. -
Relations with Great Britian worsen
Relations with Britian worsened steadly in the early months of 1812. During the spring the British told the United States they will continue impressing sailors. At the same time Native Americans in the northwest began new attacks on frontier settlements. -
Congress Declares war on Britain
In June of 1812 war was declared on Britain. The War Hawks were the people who supported the war. New Englanders were the people who did not. -
America is not ready for War
Jefferson's spending cuts had weakened the United States military strength. The time John Adams took to bring the military up then got taken down now when they needed it. When the war started the Navy had only 16 battle ships ready. Also the army only just had under 7000 men. -
Britian Blockades American Ports
In the early days of the war the British set up blockades of the American coast. By 1814 the British had 135 war ships in the Blockade of the coast. After reinforcments the British were able to close off all of the American ports by the end of the war. -
Invasion of Canada (Detroit)
Even before the war the War Hawks wanted to invade Canada. They thought that they would want to break free from British rule. On July 1, 1812 American troops under the command of General Hull invaded Canada from Detroit. Hull thought that he did not have enough soldiers so he retreated. Under Hull's confusion General Brock's army and Native American warriors quickly surrounded Hull's army and forced them to surrender. In this battle the British captured 2,000 men. A great victory! -
USS Constitution scores a victory
The USS Constitution and the British ship Guerriere fought in a battle. According to tradition sailors nicknamed the Constitution Old Ironsides because British artillery fire bounced off the ship. It soon became the most famous battle of the war of 1812 in the sea. -
Invasion of Canada (Lake Erie)
At Lake Erie both sides knew the importance of of having the lake. A battle that lasted three hours took place at Put-In-Bay. In the western part of the battle in 1813 the American flagship was badly hurt. Tthe American commander Oliver Hazard Perry continued to fight untill ithe Battle was won. Perry announced the victory : " We have wet the enemy and they are ours". With the control of the lake the Brithish were forced to leave Detroit. -
Battle of Thames
The British and Native American allies retreated. The Americans under General William Henry Harrison went back into Canada. In the Battle Tecumseh was killed showing to be a great loss. -
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
Andrew Jackson took command of Geogia forces. He defeated the Creeks. The Treaty that ended the fighting made the Creeks give up millions of acres of land. -
Washington, D.C Attacked & Burned
The President with his wife took their important papers and fled. The British set fire to multiple government buldings including the White House. Americans could not believe that we could not defend Washington. -
Hartford Convention
Federalist from New England were at the Convention. hey were talkng about secedeing from the U.S. When word of the treaty came back they quickly went away. -
Treaty of Ghent
By the time of the Treaty Britain was tired of war. Peace talk began in Ghent, Belgium. Both sides signed the Teaty and things went back to the way they were before the war. -
Battle of New Orleans
News of the treaty took time to reach the U.S. In that time there was one more battle fought. Under General Andrew Jackson there was a stuning victory over the British at New Orleans.
