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The War of 1812
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President Madison Takes Office
Americans were angy at Britain for arming Native Americans.Most Americans thought that their country's honor was at stake. People of America had a sense of nationalism for their country. -
War Hawks Take Power
Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun became the leaders of the House of Representatives. Clay, Calhoun, and their followers were called war hawks. Many New Englanders believed that war would hurttrade with America, so they didn't want to go to war. -
Relations with Great Britain Worsen
In the Spring,the Britishtold the United States that they wouldcontinue to impress sailors. In the Northwest Native Americans began new attacks on frontier settlements. -
Congress Declares War on Britain
When the war came Britain was still at war with Europe.Britain did not want to meet Americas demands to avoid war.Britain provided Native Americans with support so they could have protection from an American invasion. -
America is not Ready for War
Americans were confident that they would win the war.Jefferson's spending cuts made the military weaker.There were only16 ships ready for battle and about 7,000. -
Britain Blockades American Ports
The British navy had 135 warships blockading American ports.A blockade is the action of shutting a port or road to prevent people or supplies from coming into an area or leaving it.By the end of the war Britain had blockaded all of Americas ports. -
Invasion of Canada
Before the war began war hawks were demanding the invasion of Canada.General William Hull lead the invasion of Canada.Hull retreated after he feared he wouldn't have enough soldiers.General Isaac Brock surrounded Hull and forced him to surrender.It was a serious defeat for the U.S. -
USS Constitution Scores a Victory
A major sea battle was fought at the beginning of the war.American sailors nicknamed the Constitution "Old Ironsides".To the Americans, it seemed as if the Constitution were made of iron. -
Battle of Lake Erie
The American flagship was badly damaged.Both America and Britain were aware of the importance of controlling the lake. The Americans barely won the battle. -
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
Native Americans suffered defeat in the South.Andrew Jackson took command of the American forces in Georgia. The treaty that ended the fighting forced the Crocks to give up land. -
Washington D.C. Attacked and Burned
Britain's new strategy was to attrack Washington D.C. The presidents wife gathered all of the presidents important papers and fled when the British forces arrived. The british set fire to several government buildings. -
Writing of the Star Spangled Banner
At dawn of September 13, 1814 Francis Scott Keysaw that the American flag was flyingover the fort after it was attacked. On the back of an envelope Key wrote the "Star Spangled Banner". -
Hartford Convention
Delegates from the Hartford Conventionsuggested that the New England states secede from the United States. With the war over the Hartford Convention ended quickly. -
Treaty of Ghent
By 1814, Britain had become tired of war. Christmas Eve 1814, the two sides signed the Treaty of Ghent. The Treaty of Ghent ended the war. -
Battle of New Orleans
The two sides fought one last battle. January,1815, American forces under General Andrew Jacksonwon a stunning victory over the British at the Battle of New Orleans.
