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Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality
The significance of Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality was that it established the neutrality of U.S. policy regarding the conflict between other nations. With the declaration of neutrality, Washington's motive was to ultimately avoid entanglement with foreign allies that could lead to more wars. The policy had an influence on future foreign policies in America and its principles helped form a nations approach to international conflict. -
Impressment of sailors
The impressment of sailors was a practice made by the British that consisted of forcing sailors into their navy and it targeted American seamen. This demonstrated violence of sovereignty and it was seen as a violation of personal freedoms. This also fueled public outrage and calls for change, which heavily contributed to declaring war on Britain. -
Jay Treaty
The Jay Treaty between the United States and Great Britain was signed in 1794 and it had a significant role in politics leading up to the War of 1812. It was negotiated by John Jay and he aimed to resolve issues regarding the American Revolutionary War and he hoped to prevent any future conflicts between Britain and the U.S. The treaty demanded that Britain would leave their forts in the Northwest Territories, and America would grant Britain to be a "favored nation" in return. -
Washington’s Farewell Address
Washington's address warned of the dangers of political parties and factions and he warned that permanent allies with foreign nations could break the nations. He advocated for neutrality within foreign affairs, and he advocated against entanglements in European conflict. His emphasis on national unity was important as the War of 1812 tested this idea of unity, because different regions had different interests and levels of support for the war. -
Chesapeake-Leopard Affair
The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair heightened the tensions between the United States and Britain. Firstly, the British warship HMS Leopard attacked the American frigate USS Chesapeake in Virginia. The British boarded the ship and looked for deserters from the Royal Navy and took four sailors as captives. This outraged Americans and their government which lead to the need for retaliation. As a response, Jefferson enacted the Embargo Act of 1807. -
Embargo Act 1807
The Embargo Act of 1807 was put in place by Thomas Jefferson in response to the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair. The purpose of this act was to put pressure on Britain and France by stopping trade with American ships in foreign ports. As a result, the Embargo Act demolished the American economy and it led to opposition against Jefferson's policies. The act also emphasized the limitations of economic coercion which contributed to the decision to declare war on Britain. -
War Hawks
The War Hawks were a group of congressmen who were mostly young and they were from the South and West who wanted war against Britain. They argued that war was necessary for the defense of American honor and to stop British support of Native attacks on settlers. Their strong stance helped sway Congress and James Madison with an influence on policy, and it helped contribute to the declaration of war on Britain. Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun were a big part of this event as they led the majority. -
Tecumseh
Tecumseh, who was a Shawnee warrior, believed that by having an Indian federation, the pace of American westward expansion could either be fast or slow. The American forces which was led by William Henry Harrison, had defeated the Native American Warriors. This battle made Tecumseh's confederation weaker and heightened tensions that led to the War of 1812. -
War of 1812 Begins
The War of 1812 began when the United States declared War on Britain and America declared war because of many issues including British restriction on U.S. trade, impressment of American sailors, and the British supporting the Natives attacking Americans on frontier settlements. During the war, the burning of Washington D.C. took place as well as the Battle of New Orleans. -
Tecumseh
Tecumseh and his confederation aligned with the British forces and fought a battle against the United States. The battle took place in Ontario, Canada. General William Henry Harrison led the American forces and defeated the British as well as the Native American allies. Tecumseh's death happened during this battle, which put an end to the efforts of creating a strong native American confederation that was directly against American expansions. -
Hartford Convention
The Hartford Convention had a series of meetings that were held by New England federalists in Hartford Connecticut. Delegates gathered to discuss many issues concerning the War of 1812 and the increasing power of the federal government. Constitutional amendments were proposed to protect the interests of New England, as they threatened to succeed the United States and join Spain. The first threat of succession led to the Pickney Treaty. -
Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812 and it restored the borders to pre-war lines. The Treaty of Ghent began a period of peaceful relations between the U.S. and Britain and the successful retaliation against the British force succeeded in American nationalism and unionized the country further. The Treaty of Ghent also contributed to the decline of the Federalist Party mostly because of the timing of both the Treaty and the Hartford Convention. The Federalists were seen as disloyal. -
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans was one of the last major Battles during the War of 1812. It mostly happened because society at the time didn't know the War of 1812 was over yet. It was significant because it was led by Andrew Jackson and he helped the American forces achieve a victory against the British. The victory heightened American nationalism and pride, and the success of the battle further discredited the Federalist Party.