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Washigton's Proclamation of Neutrality
In order to keep the United States out of European conflicts, President George Washington issued this proclamation stating that the country would maintain its neutrality in the fight between France and Great Britain. -
Jay Treaty
John Jay mediated this treaty, which attempted to settle unresolved issues between the US and the UK that dated back to the American Revolution. It was very unpopular in the United States because many felt it was too advantageous to the British, even though it prevented war. -
Washington’s Farewell Address
George Washington counseled the United States to maintain its neutrality in European affairs and cautioned against forging long-term alliances with other countries in his Farewell Address. -
Impressment of Sailors
One of the main points of contention between the United States and Britain was the British practice of impressionistically capturing American sailors and enlisting them in the Royal Navy. -
Chesapeake-Leopard Affair
The USS Chesapeake was attacked by the British warship HMS Leopard, which demanded to look for British deserters. Tensions with Britain escalated after this incident, which infuriated Americans. -
Embargo Act 1807
In an effort to put pressure on Britain and France to uphold America's neutral rights, President Thomas Jefferson signed this legislation prohibiting all foreign trade into effect. Still, the law did a great deal of harm to the American economy. -
Tecumseh
A Shawnee leader named Tecumseh made an effort to unite Native American tribes in a confederacy to thwart American encroachment on their territory. American settlers viewed their resistance as a serious threat. -
War Hawks
A group of young congressmen known as the War Hawks, who were mainly from the American West and South, supported going to war with Britain in order to uphold American honor and conquer new territory. -
War of 1812 Begins
The British support of Native American tribes opposing American expansion, trade restrictions, and the impressment of sailors were among the reasons the United States declared war on Great Britain. -
Hartford Convention December 1814-January 1815
New England delegates gathered in Hartford, Connecticut, to voice their complaints about the war and deliberate potential amendments to the constitution. Some even talked about breaking away from the union. -
Treaty of Ghent
Both parties committed to giving back the seized lands and forming a commission to settle any future border disputes. -
Battle of New Orleans
Although the Treaty of Ghent had already been signed, news of it had not reached the forces on the ground. General Andrew Jackson led American troops to a decisive victory against the British at New Orleans, becoming a national hero.