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The War of 1812
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President Madison takes office
President Madison held office March 4, 1809 - March 4, 1817. Tension with Britain was high. Americans were angry for the British's impressment of American soldiers. -
War Hawks Take Power
War Hawks are people who were eager for war with Britain. Americans felt a new sense of nationalism. New Englanders thought war with Britain would harm American trade. Leaders of the nationalists were Henry Clay and John Calhoun. -
Relations with Great Britain Worsen
In spring of 1812 the British said that they would keep impressing sailors. Native Americans in the Northwest started attacking frontier settlements. Britains relationship wasn't getting any better. -
Congress Declares War on Britain
America's relationship with Britain was not doing good and the British were not helping it any. America had had enough. So in June, Congress declared war on Britain. -
America is not Ready for War
Because of Jefferson's spending cuts, the American military had weakened greatly. The navy had 16 warships ready. The military itself had less than 7,000 men. This was not a good start to the war. -
Britain Blockades American Ports
A blockade is the act of shutting down ports or roads to prevent people from getting supplies, or leaving/entering an area. It was the beginning of the war when the British had blockaded the American port. Britain was much more powerful than America. -
Invasion of Canada
Even before the war, warhawks wanted to invade Canada. When Americans started invading Canada they were led by General William Hull, he was unsure if they had enough soldiers so they soon retreated. The British took advantage of this, General Isaac Brock surrounded Americans and forced them to surrender. Britain captured over 2,000 American soldiers. -
USS Constitution scores a victory
It was the USS Constitution against Britain's Gueriere. America had reinforced the USS Constitution so the hull had thick wood in it. While Britains attacks bounced off harmlessly, Americans were damaging the Gueriere easily. The USS Constitution was nicknamed "Ironsides" for this reason. -
Second Battle of Sackets Harbor
British had seized control over the Great Lakes. Britain had sent a force over Lake Ontario, their goal was to capture the town. Sackets Harbor was the main base and dockyard for American naval on the lake. British casualties totaled of 30 killed, 200 wounded and 35 wounded prisoners, American casualties totaled of 153 killed and wounded and 154 prisoners. -
Battle of Lake Erie
The Battle of Lake Erie was three hours long. America's flagship was greatly damaged during the battle so they swiched ships and kept fighting. Eventually though, Americans won the battle, taking control of Lake Erie, Oliver Hazard Perry announced the victory with this message, "We have met the enemy and they are ours.". -
Battle of Thames
As British and Native Americans tried to retreat from the Battle of Lake Erie, Americans pursued them. They followed them into Canada and defeated them. Tecumseh was killed in this battle. -
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
Andrew Jackson took command of American forces in Georgia. In March 1814 Jackson defeated Creeks at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. A treaty, ending the fighting, forved Creeks to give up millions of acres of land. -
Battle of Fort Oswego
Commodore James Yeo led warships from Kingston to Fort Ontario. Lt. General Gordon Drummond led 1,100 marines and soldiers. Britain captured the fort and the 500 U.S. soldiers defending it. Britain destroyed the base and took supplies. -
Washington, D.C Attacked and Burned
Britain needed a new strategy, they needed to attack the capital. As British forces marched in Dolley Madison, the Presidents wife, gathered up all important papers and documents, then fled. British set fire to a few government buildings, including the White House. -
Battle of Plattsburgh
British had 10,000 soldiers and the navy. The navy was under pressure and sailed in to battle before they were ready. Fifteen minutes in, British navy commander, Captain George Downie, was decapitated. Soon British realized they were outnumbered and surrendered. It was a big victory for the U.S. -
Attack on Baltimore
After Washington D.C the British moved onto Baltimore. Their first target was fort McHenry. Fort McHenry defended the city's harbor. Britain bombarded the fort throughout the night. -
The Writing of the Star Spangled Banner
Francis Scott Key watched the Attack on Baltimore that night. When the sun rose the next morning he saw that the flag was still flying over the fort, this meant that the Americans had kept off British and were still in command. On the back of an envelope he wrote a poem and called it, "The Star-Spangled Banner." -
Hartford Convention
In December a group of delegates met in Hartford, Conneticut. They agreed that Britain should secede from the states. A treaty soon arrived and the Convention quickly ended. -
Treaty of Ghent
Britain had tired of war. In Ghent, Belgium people had started talking about peace. So on Christmas Eve, both sides of the war signed the Treaty of Ghent, succesfully ending the war. -
Battle of New Orleans
It was the last battle of the war. General Andrew Jackson led the American forces, and won the very last battle. Word of the Treaty of Ghent reached and the war ended.
