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Embargo Act of 1807
The Embargo Act of 1807 is passed by President Thomas Jefferson which keeps American ships in ports and suspends trade with Britain and France. -
USS Chesapeake is Boarded By British Sailors
The HMS Leopard intercepted the ship off the coast of Norfolk. Then captain of the Leopard responded with a barrage of broadsides, killing three Americans and wounding eighteen. British officers then proceeded to board the crippled Chesapeake. -
James Madison Addresses Senate Regarding Impressment
In his address, James Madison notes that 4228 American sailors have been impressed up until this point. It is estimated that even more sailors are impressed than recorded by General Lyman -
Battle of Tippecanoe
The American forces led by William Henry Hill defeat a Native American uprising and torch Prophetstown. The U.S. is made aware that the British are supplying arms and offering military partnership to the Native Americans to fight the United States -
15,000 U.S. Seamen are Impressed by Britain Up To This Point
The impressment of American sailors into the British Navy was a driving factor in the U.S. declaring war on the United Kingdom in 1812. -
The U.S. Declares War on Britain
After British impressed American sailors and aided the Native Americans to halt American expansion, James Madison declared war on the United Kingdom to stand up to its unfair advances. -
Britain Declares War on the United States
After the United States officially declared war on the United Kingdom, Great Britain expressed their distaste with the U.S. by also declaring war. -
The Battle of River Raisin
British, Canadian and Native American troops attacked sleeping U.S. soldiers killing 50 of them which is known as the "River Raisin Massacre." -
Battle of Lake Erie
Nine U.S. ships went head-to-head with the British Royal Navy. As a result, 6 British ships were captured and destroyed off the coast off Ohio. -
Battle of the Thames
Led by General William Henry Harrison, American forces dismantled Tecumseh's Native American confederacy and killing him in the process. This put an end to any strong Native American opposition against the U.S. -
Battle of Chipawa
The Americans survived an unexpected attack and proved to the British troops that the U.S. was a force to be reckoned with. -
Battle of Bladensburg
The U.S. suffered a critical defeat that allowed the British to walk right into the nation's capitol. In the following hours, the British burned Washington in an infamous scene. -
The Burning of the White House
After a victory at the Battle of Bladensburg, British troops burned the White House in response to the Americans burning York previously, the capitol of Upper Canada at the time. -
The Lyrics of the "Star-Spangled Banner" Are Written
During the bombardment of Fort McHenry, Francis Scott Key wrote the original lyrics to the song that would become the United States national anthem. -
Delegates Meet at the Hartford Convention
Federalist delegates met at the Hartford Convention to discuss the ongoing War of 1812. As a result, the Federal Government was called upon to supply financial aid to the broken New England economy which had suffered from Democratic-Republican policies including the Embargo Act of 1807. -
Treaty of Ghent is Signed
American and British representatives signed the Treaty of Ghent to declare peace between the two fighting nations. -
Battle of New Orleans
Andrew Jackson leads a group of unexperienced troops in halting British expansion into Louisiana and developing a sense of confidence and patriotism within a damaged nation. Established the credibility of Jackson and put him on the road to the presidency. -
Treaty of Ghent is Officially Declared
After the signing of the Treaty of Ghent, this date marks the official end of the War of 1812. This declaration put an end to a costly and mostly unproductive war between Britain and England.
