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The War of 1812
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President Madison Takes Office
During Madison's Presidency Native Americans were being Armed by the British. This made Americans mad. Britain also angered America by continuing impressment of American sailors. Americans also started to feel nationalism toward their country during this time. -
War Hawks Take Power
Henry Clay (from Kentucky), and John C. Calhoun (from South Carolinia), Had began to take power in the House of Representatives. Clay and Calhoun were the leaders of the war hawks. War Hawks are Americans ready to begin war with Britain. Many New Englanders did not want to start war with Britain. They thought the war would harm trade. -
Relations with Great Britian Worsen
Britain and America start to resent each other more and more. During the spring months, Britain say they will not stop impressing American sailors. Native Americans continue to attack American settlements in the Northwest. Americans Have war fever. -
Congress Declares War on Britian
Britain was also at war in Europe when war in The United States was declared. America was willing to avoid war if Britain would stop supplying Native Americans with weapons. Britain did not stop supplying the Natives. The armed native Americans were protection for Canada. As a result, war had started. -
America is Not Ready for War
Americans thought they were ready for war but they were not. The Navy was too small (less than 7,000 men), and they only had 16 war ships ready to fight. The spending cuts from Jefferson's Presidency were weakening the army also. -
Britian Blockades Americian Ports
The British Navy set up a blockade during the first days of war. 135 ships were blocking American ports by 1814. Britain closed off all American ports by the end of the war. -
Invasion of Canada
War Hawks wanted to invade Canada. They thought Canadians would happily overthrow British rule. So in July, troops invaded from Detroit. General William Hull led them. Hull soon feared he did not have enough troops, so he backed out of it. Britain General Isaac Brook saw it as an opportunity to cease Hull and his army. Brook captured more than 2,000 American soldiers. -
USS Constitution Scores a Victory
The US navy beat the British warship Guerriere with the American warship the USS Constitution. Americans nicknamed the ship "Old Ironsides" due to a British artillery fire that bounced off the ships hull. They fought in the North Atlantic Ocean. -
Battle of Lake Erie
Both America and Britain wanted to control the lake. The battle of Lake Erie was three hours long and it took place on the western part of the lake. The American flagship was severely damaged during this battle. Oliver Hazard Perry (The American commander), decided to switch ships and continue to fight. The United States won when Britain retrieved to Canada. The United States followed the British into Canada and defeated Britain again in the battle of Thames. -
The Battle of Horseshoe Bend
Britain decided to attack the capital of the United States. Britain burned down the White House. The President's wife (Dolly Madison) gathered all important papers and left the White House. Britain also burned several other government buildings. They then attacked Baltimore starting with Fort McHenry. -
Washington D.C. Attacked and Burned
Britain decided to attack the capital of the United States. Britain burned down the White House. the president's wife (Dolly Madison) gathered all important papers and left the White House. Britain also burned several other government buildings. Britain then attacked Baltimore starting with Fort McHenry. -
Writing of The Star Spangled Banner
Francis Scott Key was the author of The Star-Spangled Banner. Key watched the attack happening in Baltimore, Maryland. At dawn Key knew that Americans had beaten off the attack because he saw the American flag hanging over the fort. Key then wrote The Star Spangled Banner. It started as a poem, but then was made into a song when it became more popular. The Star Spangled Banner became the national anthem in 1931. -
Hartford Convention
Federalists met in Hartford Connecticut to debate if New England should secede to be a part of the United States. The Delegates debated as the Treaty of Ghent arrived, therefore the convention ended soon once the Delegates realized the war was over. -
Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent was signed on Christmas Eve in Ghent Belgium. Britain was longing for peace. The treaty made things like they were before the war. It took several weeks for news of a treaty to reach the United States. -
The Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans was the last battle of the war. The United States won. Andrew Jackson was their Leader.
