-
United States declares war on Great Britain
After deciding to take action against their British rivals, President James Madison declared war on Great Britain on June 12th, 1812, starting the 2 year conflict known as the War of 1812. -
Period: to
War of 1812
The War of 1812 began when Americans, angered over their inability to move West because of British intervention, declared war on Great Britain and invaded British controlled Canada. -
Battle of York
On Tuesday, April 27th, 1813, the American army marched on the capital of Canada at the time, York. Fighting a significantly smaller force, the Americans won a stunning victory, even going as far as to burn the Parliament building. -
The Hartford Convention
In response to the federal government's rise of power, Federalists in New England met in Hartford, Connecticut to discuss their complaints about the ongoing War of 1812, and to discuss the possibility of secession from the United States. Rather than seceeding, the meetings served to instead establish laws and resolutions which better served their purpose. -
Battle of Washington D.C.
In response to the American attack on British controlled York, the capital of Canada at the time, British forces marched on the United States' capital of Washington D.C., burning the city to the ground. -
Battle of Plattsburgh
The Battle of Plattsburgh, also known as the Battle of Lake Champlain, began on September 6th, 1814, and marked the end of the British invasion of the United States' northern states. The battle ended on September 11th, becoming a major victory for the Americans. -
Battle of Fort McHenry
In September of 1814, the notorious British Navy sailed to attack the American city of Baltimore, Maryland, and its Fort McHenry. The battle lasted for 25 hours, but by September 14th, the American flag was proudly waving above the fort. Among the battle's many successes, its largest contribution was probably the Star Spangled Banner, which later became the country's national anthem. -
Signing of Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent was signed on December 24th, 1814 by both the United States and Great Britain. The treaty officially ended the War of 1812, and attempted to restore relations between the countries. -
The Battle of New Orleans
On January 8th, 1815, British soldiers march towards the American controlled city of New Orleans with intentions of capturing it, unaware that the war had officially ended just last month. The battle was a humiliating defeat for the much larger British forces, and served to be the path to fame for future President Andrew Jackson.