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US declared war on Great Britain
President James Madison signed into law the American declaration of war after heavy pressure from the War Hawks in Congress. Citizens were pressing for war because they were suffering from an agricultural depression and they blamed the British. Western expansion also played a role in the war fever. The Americans wanted to gain land, and since Britain owned Canada and Spain (who was allied with Britain) owned Florida, they believed that war with Britain could help them gain the land they wanted. -
The Orders of Council Repealed
On June 23rd 1812 the Orders of Council we're repealed. The orders of Council allowed the British to control trade by making it illegal to trade with France as a result of the Berlin Decree and then after the Orders, the Milan Decree. All of these orders America hurt economy since traders either payed duties for Britain and then have goods stolen by the French, or be attacked for trading with France. This caused political strain and was one of the reasons for war but it was repealed too late. -
First arm of the American Attack on Canada
General William Hull marched towards Canada from Detroit with 2,200 men. Hull wrongly thought that the Canadian militia would run from a battle, so he delayed his attack. During this delay, hostile Indians led by Tecumseh threatened Hull's communications. To escape the Indians Hull retreated and was then pursued by General Isaac Brock, who surprised Hull so much that he ended up surrendering without firing a shot. -
The Battle of Lake Erie
The Battle of Lake Erie originally started because the British were in control of Lake Erie and they were making communications difficult for the Americans that were trying to invade Canada. Oliver Hazard Perry was sent with a fleet to take Lake Erie. Perry lead a bloody battle that resulted in an American victory at the Lake. The outcome of the battle was the most extreme. Tecumseh was one of the dead, and because of his death the Indians lost heart and drive for the war. -
Napoleon abdicates, Britain turns its focus to America
With the abdication of Napoleon in April 1814, the British were able to devote more of their resources to the war with the United States. The end of the war in Europe, moreover, made some of US President James Madison’s demands, such as the return of neutral shipping rights and the immediate cessation of impressment, irrelevant. With the British no longer at war with France, these practices were abandoned before the end of the war with the United States. -
Burning of Washington DC
When the British troops marched into Washington they came across the American army which was twice their size commanded by General William H. Winder. However when the British charged, Winder's army retreated almost without firing a shot. The British proceeded to set fire to most public buildings including the White House. -
Fort Mchenry & Star Spangled Banner
Fort Mchenry was a key point in defending the Chesapeake bay and Baltimore from the British Navy in 1814. The battle waged for 25 hours and was a crucial turning point for the Americans. The battle inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner. Francis Scott Key was in the area to negotiate the release of American civilians from the British Navy in the area. Scott was detained and then he witnessed the battle. He went on to write poem that would later become the national anthem. -
Hartford Convention
Before hearing news of peace New England Federalists met together to protest the war and to possibly revise the constitution. However the convention combined with the New Englanders still trading with Canada and some of those Federalists thinking the British would win led to the Federalist Party loosing support. The Federalists were starting to look like they were against American. In addition in times of war it is important to have nationalism, and the Federalists were not looking nationalistic -
The Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent was a treaty between America and Great Britain that had ended the war of 1812. There were drawn out talks between them at Ghent,Belgium, where the negotiations were taking place.They agreed to settle for status quo ante bellum, which means to leave things as they were before the war.This treaty was the last peace treaty between America and Great Britain. -
Battle of New Orleans
The battle of New Orleans was the last battle of the War of 1812, although the war ended 2 weeks before. The reason why a battle happened after a treaty, was news from Ghent Belgium about peace took too long to reach New Orleans, and by that the time it did reach New Orleans, General Sir Edward Pakenham had already attacked General Andrew Jackson with a 2:1 advantage. However Jackson was able to command his troops to build earthworks/trenches to defend the city while suffering low casualties.
