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Impressment of sailors
The British impressed over 15,000 American soldiers and force them to work in their military. Conditions in the Royal Navy were harsh, and the British needed soldiers fast. -
Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality
The Proclamation of Neutrality was a formal announcement issued by George Washington declaring the nation neutral in the conflict between France and Great Britain. The proclamation also stated that the government would prosecute any American citizen who offered to help with the war with any of the nations, and it set a precedent of neutrality that would help create a foreign relations policy in the years ahead. -
Jay Treaty
Britain was still upset over the loss of their colonies, and demonstrated this by seizing American ships, impressing their men, and continuing to occupy western posts on the U.S. border. As relations with Britain worsened in the 1790s, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Jay was sent to England to find solutions. This resulted in an agreement, Jay's Treaty, that has key provisions such as the the withdrawal of British soldiers from American western posts, and commission for the ship seizures -
Washington's Farewell Address
Washington's Farewell Address has been recognized as America's statement of its political purpose and, until the 1970s was read annually in Congress as part of the national recognition of Washington's birthday. The address clearly expresses Washington's sense that duty and interest must be put together in all human concerns whether it may be on an individual level or in the collective action of the country. Duty needed to be matched with realistic study of self-interest in determining actions. -
Chesapeake - Leopard Affair
This affair was a controversial incident in American history and a contributing factor to the start of the War of 1812. on June 22, 1807, the HMS Leopard pursued the USS Chesapeake of the Virginia Coast. The captain of the Leopard sent a message demanding to search their ship for naval deserters, but the Chesapeake's Commodore refused. The Leopard opened fire, causing the Chesapeake to surrender. Four deserters were removed from the Chesapeake's crew. Only one was British-the rest were impressed -
Embargo Act of 1807
This law was passed by the U.S. State Congress and signed by Thomas Jefferson, prohibiting American ships from trading in all foreign ports. Britain and France had been at war since 1803, and Americans were trying to mantain their neutrality within this conflict and keep up with the communication and trade with the countries. this didn't work out and France passed a law prohibiting trade with neutral parties, aka Britain and the U.S. Soon after, Britain did the same, and America was losing. -
War Hawks
The War Hawks were a group young and outspoken members of the Twelfth Congress who were foes of Great Britain and supporters of U.S. expansion. Western War Hawks, most notably Henry Clay, called for war against England and eyed Canada as a possible location for future expansion. The Southern War Hawks, who were led by John C. Calhoun, made longing looks at Texas and Florida. -
Tecumseh
Tecumseh was a Shawnee Indian political leader and war chief. He grew up amidst the border warfare that was raging the Ohio Valley during the end of the 18th century. In 1811, while he was in the South on a recruiting mission, William Henry Harrison moved a force of 1,000 men to Prophets town. On November 6th, the Prophet sent a message asking to meet with Harrison, and on November 7th, Tecumseh's brother launched a sneak attack on the camp. In the Battle of Tippecanoe, Americans were victorious -
War of 1812 Begins
The day after the Senate and the House of Representatives agreed in voting to start a war against Great Britain, President James Madison signs it into law, and the war finally begins. The war was called on in response to the British's economic blockade of France, the impressment of American sailors into the Royal Navy, and the British's support of Indian tribes along the Great Lakes. -
Tecumseh (2)
Tecumseh and his alliance with the British was forged on an undelivered promise. He agreed to join the British forces in exchange for his homeland. During the Battle of Thames, the British were retreating into Canada when Tecumseh and his warriors joined them. The chief fought long and hard, but ultimately ended failing with his death. The U.S. victory over British and Indian forced enabled the United States to consolidate its control in the Northwest. -
Hartford Convention
Federalists delegates gathered in Hartford, Connecticut to discuss the impact of the War of 1812 on their economies. They were held in secret just like the Constitutional Convention. Sometimes, they did talk about secession, but the meetings' major emphasis was to propose constitutional changes to prevent a similar crisis from happening in the future. -
Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent was signed by British and American representatives at Ghent, Belgium, which ended the War of 1812. BY its terms, all territory that was conquered during the war had to be returned, and commissions were planned to settle the boundary of the United States and Canada. -
Battle of New Orleans
This battle was remembered as one of the war's biggest and most decisive engagements. In the Battle of New Orleans, the British launched an effort to take away a portion of southern Louisiana, including New Orleans. American forced, a group of militia men, and pirates under Andrew Jackson defeated British regulars, who were veterans of the Napoleonic Wars. The war was a major confidence booster for the American military and the nation.
