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British Ignorance of Treaty of Paris
The British largely ignored the Treaty of Paris agreements, as they continued to occupy a string of frontier posts, armed natives, refused to return slaves, and when Congress sent a minister to London to resolve these differences, no headway was made. -
British Send a Minister
The British finally sent a minister to the US after 8 years and only due to Madison and Republican threats of special trade restrictions on the British. -
Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality
Due to France's war against the British that began in 1793. -
British Impressment Begins
British ships began seizing American ships engaged in the West Indies. Impressment increased from this date up until the early 1800s before the war. Impressment included British officials forcibly removing American citizens from American vessels and forcing them to join the British navy. This practice outraged Americans. -
William Henry Harrison
Harrison was a congressional delegate from the Northwest Territory in 1799 and committed to the development of the western lands. He was responsible for the passage of the “Harrison Land Law” of 1800 which enabled white settlers to acquire farms from the public domain on much easier terms than before. Monitored the president’s proposed solution to the “Indian Problem.” He used whatever tactics he deemed necessary to help conclude treaties including threats, bribes, and trickery. -
"Indian Problem"
Jefferson offered the Native Americans a choice: they could convert themselves into settled farmers and assimilate - become a part of white society; or they could migrate to the west of the Mississippi. In either case, they would have to give up their claims to tribal lands in the Northwest. Jefferson saw it as a benign alternative to continuing conflict between the Natives and Americans. -
The Napoleonic Wars
Full-scale war that escalated in Europe, led to the British and French both attempting to prevent the United States from trading with and assisting the other. -
Chesapeake-Leopard Incident
In the summer of 1807, the British navy on the ship Leopard encountered the American naval ship Chesapeake. The American commander James Barron refused to allow the British to search the Chesapeake, which led to the Leopard opening fire and dragging 4 men off the Leopard. Led to an American clamor for revenge. -
The Embargo Act
Put in place as a "Peaceable Coercion" response to the Chesapeake-Leopard incident. The act prohibited American ships from leaving the USA for foreign ports anywhere in the world and resulted in a serious depression through most of the nation. It was one of the most controversial political policies of its time. Hardest hit by this act were merchants and shipowners of the Northeast, most of them being Federalists. -
James Madison Elected
James Madison elected in the midst of the Embargo-induced depression -
Non-Intercourse Act
The act was created in place of the the Embargo Act by James Madison. It allowed trade to be reopened trade with all nations, except France and Great Britain. -
Macon's Bill No. 2
Congress allowed the Non-Intercourse Act to expire in order to conditionally reopen free commercial trade relations with Britain and France, under conditions. The French stopped impressment and interference with American shipping, while the British did not. Led to an embargo against the British alone. -
American Settlers in West Florida
American settlers seized the Spanish fort at Baton Rouge and asked the government to annex the captured territory in which Madison agreed and began planning to get the rest of Florida. -
Congressional Elections of 1810
Voters from these regions elected a large number of representative of both parties eager for war with British, these voters are also known as the “war hawks” -
Embargo Against Great Britain
Since the British would not comply with the terms of Macon's Bill No. 2, James Madison instituted an embargo against the British alone. The British did repeal their blockade of Europe, but came too late before war. -
Tecumseh left Prophetstown
Left Prophetstown and traveled down the Mississippi to visit tribes of the south. In hopes to persuade them to join his new alliance of tribes. -
Battle of Tippecanoe
During Tecumseh’s absence William Henry Harrison provoked a battle in Prophetstown. Harrison drove off Indians and burned the town. Tecumseh returned to disarray started raiding white settlements and terrifying white settlers. Showed Harrison that the only way to expand was to drive England out of Canada. -
Americans invade Canada
American forces invaded Canada and soon had to retreat back to Detroit and surrender their fort there. The retreat was forced by Tecumseh. Included the first battle of the war. -
Declaration of War
Madison gave into the pressure of the “war hawks” and approved a declaration of war against Britain. -
Battle of Thames
American forces seized control of Lake Erie, this made possible for another invasion of Canada in which William Henry Harrison pushed up the Thames River into upper Canada and won a victory notable for the death of Tecumseh. This battle weakened the Native Americans of the Northwest. -
Surrender of Napoleon
England could focus more of their energy to the war in the US and not the war in Europe with Napoleon. -
Conflict in Fort McHenry
Britain marched into Baltimore, but the Americans were well prepared. To block the approaching fleet, the American Garrison sunk several ships to clog the entry to the harbor which forced the British to bombard the fort from a distance, and the British eventually withdrew from Baltimore. -
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
Andrew Jackson’s men took terrible revenge on the Indian’s slaughtering many people and broke the resistance of the Creeks and the tribe agreed to cede most of its lands to the US and retreated westward. -
British set flames to American Capital
The British marched into Washington DC and burned down the capitol building and White House in retaliation for the American burning of Canada’s capital. -
Hartford Convention
Federalists met in Hartford, Connecticut to discuss concerns such as there shrinking political base, slaves and secession of the New England states. Majority agreed on seceding, but American victory in war virtually destroyed the what was left of the Federalist party. -
Treaty of Ghent
The treaty was signed in late December of 1814 and it formally ended the war of 1812, which nothing gained on either side. -
Battle of New Orleans
American forces defeated British troops in New Orleans. The British advanced but they were no match for Andrew Jackson and his army and were forced to retreat after several waves of attacks. Occurred weeks after war, but poor communication prevented the attack from being stopped. -
Rush-Bagot Agreement
This agreement provided mutual disarmament on the Great Lakes.
