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President Madison Takes Office
The tension with Britian was high when James Maddsion took office in 1809. The Americans were angry at Britian for arming Native Americans in the NorthWest. The Americans resented the continued impressement of American sailors by the British. -
War Hawlkstake Power
Two strong nationlists Clay of Kentucky, and Calhoun of South Carolina, became the leaders of the House of Representatives. Clay,Calhoun and their supports were all called war hawlks, because they were eager for war with Britian. Oppition to war was the strongest in New England, by most of the Englanders believing that war with Britian would harm American Trade. -
Relationswith Great Britian Worsens
Their relations with Britian had worsened in the early months of 1812. The British had told the United States that they would continue impressing sailors. Meanwhile in the NorthWest the Native Americans began naw attacks on the frotier settlements. -
The Congress Declares War with Britian
In June, the Congress had declared war on Britian. The war did not come at a good time for the British,who were still at war in Europe. Britian was not willing to meet American demandsto avoid war. -
American is not Ready for War
The American'swere confident that they would win. But then it became apparent that the United States was not prepared for war. By the spending cuts jefferson had made, had weakened the strength of the American military. -
Britian Blockades American Ports
In the first days of war, the British set up a blockade of the American Coast.The British took that blockade to shut a port or road to prevent peple or supplies from coming into an area or leaving it. After the American's reinforced their troops, theBritish were able to close off all American ports by war's end. -
USS Constitution Scores a Victory
A major sea battle was fought atthe beginning of war. In August 1812, The USS Constitution defeated the British warship Guerriere in a fierce battle. Aerican sailors nick named the Constitution "Old Ironsides" because the British artillery fire bounced offthe ship's thick wooden Hull. -
Invasion of Canada
Before the war began, the war hawlks were demanding an invasion of Canada. The war hawlkss expected Cadians to welcome themselves for chance to throw off the British rule.The Birtish commander, General Isac Brock, took advantage of Hull's conusion. His army of British soilders and Native American warriors quickly surrounded hull's army and forced it to surrender. -
Battle of Lake Erie
American forces had better luck on Lake Erie. Both sides were aware of the importance of controlling thelake. A key three-hour battle took place at Put-In-Bay, in the western part of thelake, in 1813. During the battle at Lake Erie, the American flag ship was badly damaged. The American commander, Oliver Hazard Perry, switched to another ship and continued to fight until it was won. -
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
Andrew Jackson took command ofthe American forces in Georgia. In March 1814, Jackson defeated thecreeks at the Horseshoe Bend.The treaty that ended the fighting forced the creeks to give up millions of acres of land. -
Washington D.C. Attacked and Burned
The new British strategy was to attack the nation's capital, Washington D.C. In August 1814, the British force marched into the city, and the British set fire to several government buildings, including the one and only White House. Americans were shocked to learn that their army could not defend Washington. -
Writing of The Star Spangled Banner
The British warships bombared the fort throughout the night of september13,1814. Francis Scott Key, youg American, watched the attack. At dawn,Key still saw the American Flag flying over the fort. Soon after the Americans had beaten of the attacked. key had written a poem called "The Star Spangled Banner." -
Hartford Convention
In December 1814, a group of Federalists met in Hartford, Connecticut.Some of the delegates to theHartford Convention suggested that the New England states secede, or with draw from the United States. The delegates debated, news of the peace treaty arrived, and soon after the Hartford Convention quickly ended. -
Treaty of Ghent
Britian had tired of war. Peace talks began in Ghent, Belgium. On christmas eve 1814, the two sided singed the Treaty of Ghent which had ended the war. -
Battle of New Orleans
the treaty took several weeks to reach the United States. In that time, the two sides fought one more battle. In January 1815,American forces under GeneralAndrew Jackson won a stunning victory over theBritish at the battle of New Orleans.