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impressment of sailors
Impressment was recruitment by force. This was when the British navy would force residents of seaports. The navy did this because they never had enough soldiers. American merchant vessels were their common target. Between 1793 and 1812, the British impressed more than 15,00 U.S. sailors. -
Washingtons Proclamation of neutrality
This was a formal announcement by Washington declaring the nation as neutral in the conflict between France and Great Britain. Washington wanted to keep the U.S. out of other nations' conflict and threatened legal proceedings against any American who was providing assistance to any country at war. This proclamation contributed to the war of 1812 by making the British disregard the Americans' neutrality during the Napoleonic wars. -
The Jay treaty
This treaty was an agreement by the U.S and Great Britain that helped prevent war between them. This treaty improved trade, maintained peace, and included free border crossing. It maintained peace by preserving the U.S. neutrality and the free border crossing allowed citizens of the U.S. and Great Britain to cross the U.S. and Canadian border. Unfortunately, this treaty failed to formally state key issues like British impressment, making the U.S. feel like their interests were not protected. -
Washingtons farewell address
The main points in Washington's address is to warn Americans about the danger of political parties and to remain neutral in foreign conflicts. This address contributed to the war of 1812 by strongly advising against foreign relations and alliance, but many people interpreted it as a warning against the U.S. actually involving themselves in European conflict. -
Chesapeake-leopard affair
This is when the British warship Leopard boarded the American Chesapeake, who surrendered after just one shot. The British were looking for people to kidnap to force into their navy and they took four sailors from Chesapeake. The Americans were already angry about the impressions this just caused more tension, and this also led to Jefferson's embargo against Britain and France. -
Embargo act 1807
The Embargo act stated that America no longer would participate in any trade. Jefferson did this for economic pressure and for the other countries to respect American neutrality. This act contributed to the war of 1812 because this act damaged our economy which caused resentment toward Britain because the U.S. couldn't achieve their intended goal, which was to get Britain to change its trade policy. -
War Hawks
War Hawks was a term used to describe a person who favored armed conflicts or fueling ongoing armed conflicts, instead of attempting to solve the problem at hand. The war hawks contributed to the war of 1812 because they were aggressively advocating for war against Great Britain in Congress. They kept bringing up the interferences with American trade and the impressment of sailors. -
Battle of Tippecanoe
This battle was between American forces and Native American. It started the tension between American settlers and Native American tribes. Tecumseh was attempting to unite tribes across the Ohio Valley to protest further expansion on their land. William Henry Harrison confronted them at their headquarters to prevent further attacks on settlements. The defeat impacted the war of 1812 by pushing Native American leader Tecumseh to formally ally with Britain. -
War of 1812 begins
The war of 1812 began because the British were impressing American sailors into their royal navy. The British were restricting American trade, and they were supporting the resistance of Native Americans in the westward expansion. -
Battle of thames
This battle was caused by the British retreat from the battle of Lake Erie, causing them to withdraw up the Thames River. This caused the confrontation with general William Henry Harrison where battle took place. This also isolated their native American allies. This battle contributed to the war by breaking the power of Tecumseh's confederacy and securing America's control over the northwest territory. -
Hartford Convention
The Hartford convention was a series of meetings starting from December 15, 1814, to January 5, 1815. These meetings were where party representatives debated withdrawal. They drafted constitutional amendments, trying to strengthen militias and state controls over trade. -
Treaty of Ghent
This treaty was signed on December 24, 1814, by British and American representatives in Ghent, Belgium. This treaty was to officially end the war of 1812. This treaty included returning land, returning prisoners, and ending the slave trade. It took effect in February 1815. This treaty didn't really work because they were still fighting because Britain was concerned that the U.S. would suggest revisions. This treaty also left American Indians vulnerable to U.S. power. -
Battle of New Orleans
This battle was between the United States and British armies. It was fought in Chalmette, Louisiana, after the signing of the treaty of Ghent. This battle started before the news of the treaty managed to reach the U.S. This started because the British tried to block the mouth of the Mississippi river to attempt and control the American waterways, the Americans won.