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President Madison Takes Office
Tensions were high with Britain when Madison took office in 1809. Americans were angry at Britain for arming Native Americans in the Northwest. Americans also resented the continued impressement of American sailors by the British. -
Period: to
The War of 1812
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War Hawks Take Power
Clay, Calhoun, and their supporters were called the 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
In the spring, the British told the United States that they would continue impressing sailors. Meanwhile, Native Americans in the Northwest began new attacks on frontier settlements. In June, Congress declared war on Britain. -
Congress Declares war on Britain
The war did not come at a good time for Britain, who were still at war in Europe. However, Briatin 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. -
America is not ready for war
When the war began, Americans were confident they would win. It soon became apparent the the United States was not prepared for war. Jefferson`s spending cuts had weakened American military strength. The navy had only 16 warships ready for action. The army was so small, with fewer than 7,000 men. -
Britain Blockades American Ports
In the first days of war, the British set up a blockade of the American coast. By 1814, the British Navy had 135 warships blockading American Ports. After reinforcing their troops, the British were able to close off ll American 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 of British rule. In July 1812, American troops under General William Hull invaded Canada from Detroit. The British captured over 2,000 American soldiers -
USS Constition Scores a Victory
A major sea battle was fought at the beginning of the war. In August 1812, the USS Constitution defeated the British warship Guerriere in a firece batlle. According to tradition, American soldiers nicknamed the Constitution "Old Ironsides" because British artillery fire bounced off the ship`s thick wooden hull. -
Battle of Lake Erie
American forces had better luck on Lake Erie. Both sides were aware of the importance of controling the lake. A key 3-hour battle took place at Put-In-Bay in the western part of the lake, in 1813. During the battle, an American flagship was badly damgaged. -
Battle of Horsehoe Bend
Native Americans also suffered defeat in the south. Tn the summer of 1813, Creek warriors attacked several southern American settlements. Andrew Jackson took command of American of American forces in Georgia. In March of 1814, Jackson defeated the Creeks at Horseshoe Bend. -
Wasington D.C. Attacked & Burned
The new British strategy was to attack the nations capital, Washington D.C. In August 1814, a British force marched into the city. The British set fire to several governments buildings, including the White House. Americans were shocked to learn that army could not defend Washington. -
Writing of the Star Spangled Banner
On the back of an old, Francis Scott Key wrote a poem the he called "The Star Spangled Banner." It told the story of his nights 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 of Federalists met in Hartford Connecticut. Some delegates to the Hartford Convention suggested that the New England states secede from the U.S. While the delegates debated news of the peace treaty, the war was over. The Hartford Convention quickly ended. -
Treaty of Ghent
By 1814, Britain had tired from war. Peace talks began in Ghent, Belgium. On Christmas Eve, 1814, the two sides signed the Treaty of Ghent, which lended the war. The treaty returned things to the way they had been before the war -
Battle of New Orleans
News of the peace treay took several weeks to reach the United States. In that time, the two sides fougt 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.
