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The War of 1812
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President Madison Takes Office
The tension with Britain was high when Madison took office. Some of the Americans were angry at Britian for arming Native Americom in the Northwest. The Americans resented the continued impressment of American sailors by the British. Most Amerovcans, thought the country's honor was at sake. They felt a new sense of American nationlism (Pride in one's country) -
War Hawks Take Power
The supports were called war hawks. Opposin to war was the strongest in New England. Two strong nationalists, Henry Clay of Kentucky and JOhn C. Calhoun of South Carolina because leaders in the House of Representatives. Many New Englanders believed war with Britain would harm American trade -
Relations With Great Britain Worsen
In the spring, the Brirish told the United Sates they would continue impressing sailors. Meanwhile, Native Americans in the Northwest began new attacks on frontier settlements. Then in June Congress declared war on Britian. New Englanders believe war with Britain would harm American trade. Oppostion to war was strongest in New England. -
Congress Declares War on Britain
The war didn't come at a good time for the British, who were still at war with Britain. Britain was not willing to meet American demends to aviod the war. Having Native Americans support was one way of protecting Canada against an American invasion. When the war started, Americans were confident that they would win soon after it became apparent that the United States were not prepared for war. -
American is not Ready for War
When the war began, Americans wee confident that they would win. It soon became apparent that the United States was not prepared for war. Jefferson's spending cuts had weakened American military strength. THe navy had only 16 warships rady for action. THe army also was 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. A major sea battle was fought at the begunnung of the war. In August 1812, the USS COnstitution defeated the British warship Guerriere in a fierce battle. -
Invasion of Canada
American troops under General William Hull invaded Canada fromDetroit. Hull was unsure of himself. Fearing he did not have enough soldiers, he soon retreated. The British commander General Isaac Brock, took advantage of Hull's confusion. His army of British soldiers and Native Americans warriors quickly surrounded Hull's army and forced it to surrender. -
USS Constitution Scores a Victory
The USS Constitution defeated the British warship Guerriere in a fierce battle. According to tradition, American sailors nicknamed the Constition "Old Ironsides" because British artillery fire bounced off the ships 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 of the importance of the controlling the lake. A key three-hour battle took plae at Put-In-Bay, in the western part of the lake, in 1813. During that battle, the American flagship was badly damaged. -
Battle of Thames
As the british and their Native American allies retreated, the Americans under General William Henry Harrison pursued them. THey followed the Brisish into Canada, defeating in the Battle of the Thames. Tecumseh was among these killed in the battle. -
Horseshoe Bend
Andrew Jackson defeated the Creeks at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. The treaty that ended the fighting forced the creeks to give up millions of arces of land. Andrew Jackson took command of the American forces in Georgia. -
Washington D.C. Attacked and Burned
A British force marched into the city. Dolley Madison the President's wife, gathered up the President's important papers and fled the White House. The British set fire to sereral government buildings, including the White House Americans were shocked to learn that their army coul not defend Washington -
Attack on Baltimore
The british now moved on to Baltimore. THeir first objective was Fort Mehenry, wich defended the city's harbor. The British warships bombard the fort throughout the night. FRancis Scott Keyy, a young America watched the attack. At dawn, Key saw the American flag still flying over the fort. The americans had beaten 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 nigt;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
A group of Federalists met in Hartfoed, Connectiuct. Some delegates to the Hartford Connvention had suggested that the New England secede, or withdraw from the United Atates. While delegates debated, nwes of the peace treaty arrived. With the war over, the Hartford Convention quickly ended. -
Treaty of Ghent
Pace talks began in Ghent, Belgium. The two sides signed the Treaty of Ghent, which then ended the war. The Ghent treaty returned the things to the way they were before the war. The nwes of the treaty took sererval weeks to reach the United States. In the several weeks the two sides fought one more battle -
Battle of New Orleans
News of the treaty took serveral weeks to reach the United States. In that time, the two sides fough one more battle. In January 1815, American forces uder General Andrew Jackson won a stinning victory over the British at the battle of New Orleans
