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Congress announces Madison victorious in the election
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Madison inaugurated as president
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The Erskine Agreement- revokes embargo act on Britain
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Madison fills the regular army
Prompted by tensions with Spain over West Florida, Madison calls for renewal of an act authorizing the President to call out 100,000 militiamen, fill up the regular army to its authorized strength, establish a force of 20,000 volunteers for immediate emergencies, and reactivate idle components of the naval fleet. -
President attacks Little Belt
The USS President fires upon HMS Little Belt, killing nine British sailors and disabling the ship after mistaking it for the Guerriere, a British ship that had recently intercepted an American merchant ship and impressed an American citizen -
Battle of Tippecanoe
Tecumseh and his indian buddies vs. Americans -
British impress approximately 10,000 Americans forcing them to work on British ships.
1803 - 1812 -
War of 1812 officially declared
The Senate, by a vote of 19-13, passes the declaration of war against Great Britain requested by President James Madison. Two weeks earlier, the House of Representatives passed a similar war measure by a vote of 79-49. -
Massachusetts condemns war
Massachusetts's House of Representatives issues a statement condemning the war against Britain. -
Refusing war
The governor of Connecticut, Roger Griswold, announces that his state's militia will not serve in the war against Britain. Massachusetts Governor Caleb Strong will similarly refuse to commit Massachusetts state militia to the war effort on 5 August 1812. -
U.S. loses Ft. Mackinac as the British invade American territory
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Surrender of Detroit
The first major battle of the War of 1812 ends in disaster for the United States when General William Hull, leading an American army of 2200 men, surrenders to British forces at Detroit without firing a shot. Hull will be courtmartialed for cowardice and sentenced to death, but the 61-year-old Revolutionary War veteran will be pardoned by President James Madison -
3 attempts by the U.S. to invade Canada which all end in failure.
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Battle of Queenston Heights
General Stephen Van Rennsselaer leads American forces across the Niagara River into Canada, where they clash with British forces at Queenston Hights, Ontario, in the second major battle of the War of 1812. New York state militia refuse to follow Van Rennsselaer across the border, claiming that they are only required to fight on New York soil. As a result, the Americans are defeated and 900 American soldiers are captured. -
Canada nearly invaded
General Henry Dearborn, having advanced to the Canadian border in order to attack Montreal, retreats to Plattsburg, New York when the militia under his command refused to cross the border, claiming that they are only required to fight to defend American soil -
The USS Constitution ("Old Ironsides") defeats the HMS Guerriere.
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Battle of Frenchtown
British and Indian allies repel Kentucky troops in bloody fighting. The American survivors are killed in the Raisin River Massacre. -
Battle of York (Toronto). US troops take control of Great Lakes and burn York.
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The British plan a 3-part invasion of the US
Chesapeake Bay, Lake Champlain, & the mouth of Mississippi River.The British are eventually turned back at Baltimore harbor. -
Peace is declared by the Treaty of Ghent
