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Forming of the Indian Confederation
Tecumseh, a Shawnee chief, traveled from Wisconsin to Florida, persuading Indian tribes East of the Mississippi River to unite against the Americans. His brother Tenskwatawa, also known as "The Prophet," encouraged members of the Confederation to abandon white ways and resist American influences on Indian culture. By 1811, thousands of Indians were prepared to drive Americans off Indian lands. -
Battle of Tippecanoe
General William Henry Harrison, governor of the Native American's Territory, led a force of 1,000 soldiers against the Native Confederation's capital, at Prophetstown, near Tippecanoe Creek. Tenskwatawa ordered a counter attack on the American camp on November 7, 1811. Although the battle was indecisive, it destroyed Native confidence and the confederation. Warfare continued between the Natives and Americans, but never on as large of as scale as during the existence of the Confederation. -
Suspensions of the Orders in Council
A depression hit Britain caused by Napoleon's continental system. Manufacturers blamed it on the loss of American markets. On June, 23-1812 the government repealed the the orders. Unfortunately The Americas had declared war 5 days earlier. -
Failed American 3-prong Attack on Canada
American forces under General William Hull marched against Canadian positions facing North. However, Hull delayed the attack, hoping Canadian soldiers would desert. Another American force, based in Fort Niagra, attacked Canada in October. The attack would have been successful, had the New York militia been willing to fight outside their state. The final prong of the attack, led by General Henry Dearborn, left from Plattsburgh New York, but refused to cross the Canadian border. -
Battle of Lake Erie
A British squadron controlling Lake Erie threatened President Madison's communication, so the president assigned Oliver Hazard Perry to build a fleet to challenge the British. Perry met the British in September 1813 at Put-in-Bay. Although he destroyed the British forces, 85 of his103 men died. With the Americans now in control of the lake, the British abandoned of Detroit. General Harrison chased and defeated them at the Thames River. -
Napoleon's fall from power
Napoleon's failure to invade Russia in 1812 significantly weakened his forces and encouraged his European satellites to rise against him. Paris fell in the following months, then in April 1814, Napoleon was officially removed from power. This enabled the British army to focus on the war in America. 14,000 veteran British soldiers were sent to aid the soldiers currently fighting in Canada. -
Treaty of Ghent
In Ghent, Belgium, the Americans and British commissioners met to talk peace treaties. In their discussion they could not agree on land claims, neutral rights, and impressment, so they decided to settle for "status quo ante bellum," to leave things as they were before the war. -
The Hartford Convention
Moderate New England Federalists came together in December 1814. This convention results in a statement that in the case of "deliberate, dangerous, and palpable infractions of the Constitution" a state has the right "to interpose the its authority" to protect itself. The Federalists came up with a list of amendments designed to weaken the federal government, reduce Congress's power to restrict trade, and limit presidents to a single term. The end of the war, led to Federalists being discredited. -
Battle of New Orleans
In December 1814 and January 1815, American forces led by Andrew Johnson defended the gulf coast from an excpected British attack. The Americans held their ground and defeated the British in this last battle of the War of 1812. Using a three-ranked formation, the Americans placed the British constantly under fire and inflicted almost 2,100 casualties.
