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The War of 1812
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President Madison Takes Office
One of President Jeffeson's fellow rebuplicans was James Madison who was soon elected to be the next US president. Madison won the election easily, and hoped to keep America out of war. Many Americans thought his approach to Native Americans and foreign countries was too timid. -
War Hawks take Power
War Hawks were members of Congress that wanted war with Britian. These people were very anti-British. They felt Britian was acting as though it still ran the colony. President Madison didn't want war, but War Hawks did. Many War Hawks thought we would have many advantages if we went to war against Britian. -
Relations with Britian Worsen
Britian was supplying guns to the Native Americans, so they could attack Americans. Many Americans and British disagreed over trade, except for New Englanders. They thought war would disrupt their trade with Britian. America continued trade with France, but stopped trading with Britian. The British, then, contiued the impressment of American sailors. -
Congress Declares War
Britian contiued to block American ships to discontinue their trade with France. War Hawks dreamed of winning more land for the United States by going to war. Others thought Americans wouldn't stand for more war taxes. Madison askes Congress to declare war on June 18, 1812. Americans soon discovered winning the war wouldn't be easy. -
Americans Aren't Ready for War
The United States declaration of war suprised Britian. America already had troops in France, fighting Napolean, had had none to spare. America only had 16 warships to go against the whole British navy. The army was very small and unequipped. Officers were untrained and not very skilled. Congress payed soldiers $124 and 360 acres of land to serve in the army. -
Britian Blockades American Ports
Britian had 135 warships blocking United States ports. Britian was eventually able to close all ports and badly damage New England trade. The small American navy couldn't get through the blockade. Several sea captioans won many small victories for the United States. -
Invasion of Canada
Genral William Hull moved American troops to Canada. Canadians only had a few untrained troops, but very skilled leaders. One general tricked the Americans into thinking the Canadians were helping Britian. Americans thought Native Americans were also helping Britian. The Americans retreat time and time again. -
USS Constitution Scores a Victiory
One major sea battle was fought at the beginning of the war. The USS Constitution was part it. The ship was named after the Constitution because to some Americans the Constitution was made of iron. The USS Constitution was nicknamed "Old Ironsides" because British artillery bounced off the hull. The USS Constitution defeated the many British warships! -
Battle of Lake Erie
Americans wanted to take control of Lake Erie. Captain Hazard Perry (American) had to design a fleat of smal ships to go against the British. Perry's ship was beaten by the British, but the Americans kept going. The Americans eventually won the battle against the British fleat and won control of Lake Erie. The British retreat to Canada. -
Battle of Thames
While the British reatreated to Canada, the Americans followed them. The Americans won a decisive victory against the British. Tecumseh, a leader of the Indian Confederation, died while fighting. Without Tecumseh, the Indian Conferderation fell apart. -
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
Andrew Jackson gained leadership of American troops. The Creeks Indians attacked Americans. The Cherokees helped the Americans win the battle. The Creeks surrender to the Americans and had to give up millions of acres of land. -
Washington DC Attacked and Burned
The British planned a invasion and sailed to the Chesapeak Bay. Meanwhile, the Americans met the British at Maryland. The British fought off Americans forces and contiued to Washington DC. Dolley Madison saved many important papers from the White House before the British got there. When British troops arrived in Washington DC, they burned the White House. -
Attacks on Baltimore
British forces moved to Baltimore after burning the White House. The first attck was at Fort McHenery. British warships shot at the fort, and the Americans beat off the attack. The writing of the Star Spangled Banner occured during this battle. -
Writing of the Star Spangled Banner
The British attacked Fort McHenrey's harbor on September 13, 1814. In the morning of September 14, the US flag still stood even after the British shot and bombed Americans. Francis Scott Key, a wittness of the battle, wrote a poem about it. The poem was set to music and named "The Star Spangled Banner". The song eventually became the United States national anthem. -
Hartford Convention
A group of Federalists met in Hartford, Conneticut. The delegates suggested that New England withdrawal, or seperate, from the United States. The convention quickly ended. Delegates disliked the president and the war. While the Convention was going on, news of the treaty arrived. The convention quickly ended. -
Treaty of Ghent
Talk of peace began in Ghent, Belgium. Britian and America both signed the treaty. The Treaty of Ghent was what eventually ended the war. In the time it took for the news of the treaty to arrive America, both sides fought one last battle. On January 15, the Americans won the last victory! -
Battle of New Orleans
Andrew Jackson was waiting for the British at New Orleans. American forces were made up of 1,000s of fronteirsmen and citizens of New Orleans. American soliders dug trenches while waiting. During the battle, 2,000 British died to cannons and guns, while only 7 Americans died. The Americans won the last battle of the war!
