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Chesapeake Incident
Tensions rise in the US-British relationship after the USS Chesapeake of the US Navy is fired upon by the HMS Leopard of the British Royal Navy. The Chesapeake was then taken into the Royal Navy service as HMS Chesapeake. -
Embargo Act
Jefferson and Congress pass the embargo act in response to the Chesapeake affair. This laid embargo on all ships in US ports bound for foreign trade. -
Non-Intercourse Act is Approved by Congress
The Embargo Act was repealed and replaced with the Non-Intercourse Act. The Non-Intercourse Act was passed just 16 days before Madison became president. This Act lifted Embargos on American shipping except for those bound for British or French ports. -
Warhawks join Congress
Young congressmen from the south and west are elected to leadership positions and immediately begin pushing for war against the British. John C. Calhoun is one of the most recognizable warhawks from this time. -
Shawnee Confederacy Forms
Tecumseh organizes resistance against US expansion into Native American Territory. The Confederacy gains support from the British in Canada. -
Battle of Tippecanoe
Indiana governor William Henry Harrison leads US troops to victory over the Shawnee Confederation which sparks movement for more expansion by force in the US. -
US Declares War
Without any Federalist support the US declares war on Britain in hope to expand its land and put an end to British impressment. The British agree to end impressment, but the US continues on into war. The US Army begins to move into Native lands to the west and British lands in Canada to the north. Early battles are easily won by the British. -
American Victories
The US gains victories in the north and the west in the Battle of Lake Eire and The Battle of Thames. Tecumseh is killed in the Battle of Thames. Meanwhile the Royal Navy dominates the US on the Atlantic coast. -
British Domination
After the Napoleon is defeated the British begin sending all troops into war in America. With the gain of extra troops the Royal army gains control of the capitol DC and burns down the White House. -
Treaty of Ghent is signed
The US and Britain sign an armistice to cease the war. This treaty was pushed upon Madison by Federalists at the Hartford Convention. This agreement stated that no lands changed as a result of the war and the British did not agree to end impressment. -
Battle of New Orleans
Just about 3 weeks after the treaty was signed to end the war, news did not yet reach the General Andrew Jackson. The Battle of New Orleans went on and became the last battle in the war. The US was lead to victory at New Orleans which injected feeling of victory and patriotism into the people of the US.
