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War of 1812
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President Madison Takes Office
When president James Madison took office, tenison with Britian was high. Americans were angry at Britian for arming Native Americans. Americans aslo resented the continued impressment of American sailors bye the British. -
War Hawks Take Power
Most Americans thought that the country's honor was at stake.Clay, Calhoun and their supports were war hawks. The opposition to war was strongest in New England. People believed war would effect American trade. Those two men became leaders in the House of Representatives. -
Realtions With Great Britian Worsen
During spring, Britian told the United States they would continue to impress sailors. Native Americans in the Northwest attacked the frontier settlements. Finally in june, congress declares war on Britian. -
Congress Declares War On Britian
War did not come at a good time for Britian. Americans were confident, but their navy was not very strong. Britian was not willing to meet American demands to avoid war. -
America Is Not Ready For War
Jeffersons spending cuts had weakened American military. Their navy was not strong,it was small and only had 16 warships with fewer than 7,000 men. -
Britian Blockades American Ports
The first few days britian set up a blockade on the American coast. By 1814, the British navy had 135 warships bloackading American posts, By the end of war the British were able to close off all American posts. -
Invasion of Canada
War hawks were demanding on 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. Fearing that he did ot have enough soldiers, he soon retreated. The British commander, General Isaac Brock, took advantage of Hull's confusuon. The British captured mor than 2,00 American soldiers, It was a serious defeat for the United States. -
USS Constitution Scores a victory
A major sea battle was fought at the begining of the war.In august 1812,the USS Constitution defeated the british warships in Guerriere in a fierce battle. According to tradition, American saliors nicknamed the constituion "Old Ironsides" because British artillery fire bounced off the ships thick wooden hull. -
Battle Of Laker Erie
American forces had better luck at Lake Erie. A three hour fight took place. During the battle a American flagship was badly damaged. The American commander, Oliver Hazard Perry, switched to another ship and continued the fight until it was won. Perry announced his victory wit a dramtic message. Americans were control of the laker so the British were forced to leave Detroit and return to Canada. -
Battle Of Horseshoe Bend
Jackson defeated the creeks at the battle of horseshoe bend. The creeks had to give up millions of arches of land. -
Washington D.C Attacked and Burned
The new British strategy was to attack the nation's capital.British forces marched in. Dolley Madison, the President's Wife, gathered up the president's important papers and fled from the White House.The British burned down several buildings,then they moved into Baltimore. Americans were shocked to learn that their army could not defend Washington. -
Writing Of The Star Spangled Banner
Key wrote a poem he called "The Star Spangled Banner" and it told the story of his nights watch. Later, congress made it the National anthem. -
Hartford Convention
In December 1814, a group of Federalists met in Hartford, Connecticut. Some delegates to the Hartford convention suggested that the new England states secede, or withdraw, from the United States. While the delegates debated,news of the peace treaty arrived. With the war being being over, the Hartford Convention soon ended. -
Treaty Of Ghent
Britian was tired of war.On Christmas Eve 1814, the two sides signed the Treaty Of Ghent which ended war. The treaty returned things to the way they had been before the war. -
Battle Of New Orleans
This treaty took several weeks to reach the United States, while waiting they fought in 1 more battle. Andrew Jackson won a stunning victory over the British.
