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Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality
Washington's Proclamation was his effort to make his nation neutral. Washington believed in staying out of foreign conflicts to protect the interests of the US. Currently, France and Great Britain were at odds with each-other and France wanted help from the US as payback for the American Revolution. It essentially decided that the US shouldn't assists countries at war for fear of being drug into them as well as protecting their own identity. -
Impressment (Sailors)
During the early days of the US, they offered trade to France and Great Britain. However, Britain and France began to seize US ships, fearing they were military vessels. The difference was that Great Britain began to kidnap the sailors ON the ship, not just the resources. This forced them to fight for the British navy and serve British ships, having no other choice. This impressment lasted for a long time and created high tensions between the US and Britain. -
Jay Treaty
John Jay created a treaty that sought to help ease issues between Great Britain and the US which had been going on forever. The treaty helped to divert war as well as help America's economy, reinstating their ability to trade with Great Britain. Great Britain had been denying trade to the United States as well as being plagued by unclear borders, which the treaty helped to define. Overall, the treaty helped to put off war between the two nations. -
Washington's Farewell Address
When Washington left office, he left important messages to the American people. He warned them against the danger of political parties as well as the dangers of the nation being interfered with by the affairs of other nations. He wanted America to remain with it's independent identify as well. Washington was concerned with the instability of the nation and as the head of the US, it was his duty to aid his people with his message, even after he left office. -
Chesapeake-Leopard Affair
The British ship, the Leopard and the US ship, the Chesapeake entered a naval conflict in 1807. The US and the British already had great disdain for eachother and this conflict only fanned the flames. The Leopard easily won the conflict and boarded the ship in efforts to look for British deserters. The American people were furious and saw it as a humiliation, calling for war against Britian. -
Embargo Act
The Embargo act was an act that Jefferson attempted to try and cripple Great Britain and France by ending trade to the nations. However, this was hardly effective as both other nations were able to trade with other countries. All this act did was absolutely destroy the economy for the US, every person from the merchants to the poor people were severely effected. The end result was widespread smuggling and the crippling of the US economy. -
War Hawks
The War Hawks were a group of people who vouch and call for war as opposed to preventing it. Before the War of 1812, these people sought to escalate the conflict and to provoke the War. They were heavily against Great Britan and their continuous acts against the United States. Some of these people were in congress, pushing Madison to declare war. Most of these Hawks came from southern and Western states. -
Tehcumseh (Tippecanoe)
Tecumseh was a Shawnee tribe chief, he organized a Native confederation as well as being responsible for siding with Great Britain. At the battle of Tippecanoe, which was caused by the Treaty of Fort Wayne, Tecumseh rallied a confederation of Native tribes to help drive out pioneers into the native land. The treaty required the natives to sell their land to the US, something Tehcumseh was not a fan of this. Eventually he was defeated and this caused him to take his forces and ally with Britian. -
The War of 1812
Tensions between the US and Britain grew and grew, culminating in the War of 1812, caused by many transgressions against the US. This battled lasted about 3 years after James Madison had signed and declared war against Britain. The US did end out winning this war, it even being called a second battle for independence. This battle's main causes were the impressment of US sailors, restricted trade to the United States, and treaty violations. -
Tecumseh (Death)
Tecumseh led his Indian Confederacy in battles during the War of 1812, having sided with the British after Tippecanoe. This army led by him was a major offensive force in the war, leading Britain to secure more victories. However, in 1813, Tecumseh was killed in the battle of Thames. His death caused his forces to absolutely fall apart, and due to this the British forces were extremely diminished. Since the confederacy had fallen apart, it effectively allowed the British to lose the war. -
Hartford Convention
This event refers to the series of meetings lasting from Dec. 15th-Jan. 5th. The purpose of the Hartford conventions were to amend the constitution as the state control over their military were loose and undefined. The amendments made served to strengthen the states ability to control their commerce as well. The New England states also feared the Southerners and Westerners political power, so they sought to improve their own with these conventions as well. They met in secret. -
Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent was the Treaty signed to end the War of 1812. While somewhat effective, one battle still happened after, the Battle of New Orleans. The British decided to back off of the Northwest territory they laid claim too as well as aid in ending the Slave Trade. Borders between Canada and the US were also defined better, the treaty was unanimously ratified. -
Battle of New Orleans
Though the Treaty was signed, the battle was on the verge of erupting anyways and there wasn't really any way to stop it. The news had not reached the armies, so battle ensued anyway. The US won this battle and the British lost pretty badly. Significantly, this battle was won by Andrew Jackson, a future US President. The Battle of New Orleans also put New Orleans under the United State's control. This was the final battle included in the War of 1812.