CH. 6-4 WAR OF 1812AMERICAN HISTORY

Why did the USA and Britain get into a war so soon after the Revolutionary War?

Unresolved tensions about the Northwest Frontier and problems on the seas

1803—USA caught in the middle of British trade disagreements

Napoleonic Wars between France and Britain involve American merchant ships

France and England ignore American neutrality

VIOLATING NEUTRALITY

Americans saw Britain as a more serious threat

IMPRESSMENT—men kidnapped and forced to work on ships

Chesapeake Incident British ship Leopard stopped the US ship

Chesapeake to search for deserters Chesapeake refused to be searched so they

were fired upon Britain seized 4 American sailors

Americans were furious President Jefferson and Congress passed a drastic law The Embargo Act—Prohibited exports to foreign

countries Disastrous to the economy Goods piled up in warehouses, ships sat in the harbor,

people lost their jobs, businesses failed 1808 Presidential election—Madison, Jefferson’s ally,

wins easily A new law re-opens all trade except with Britain and

France Conflicts over commerce were pushing the nation

toward war

On-going conflict between settlers and Native Americans

Britain tried to re-build their relationship with Native Americans

NEW POLICIES William Henry Harrison named governor of the

Indiana Territory President Jefferson’s Native American Policy Native Americans could either choose to become

farmers or join white society and move west of the Mississippi River

TECUMSEH RESISTS SETTLERS

As Harrison implemented the policy, Native Americans made treaties in which they lost millions of acres of tribal lands in MI, IN, IL

NEW INDIAN LEADERS Two Shawnee brothers emerge as leaders Tenskwatawa (the prophet)—spoke against

white culture Tecumseh (shooting star)—1809-began to

unite his brother’s followers

1811—While Tecumseh was away, Harrison’s forces attacked. Both sides had heavy losses

Prophetstown, IN burns Conflict called The Battle of Tippecanoe.

Harrison was a national hero

Some American politicians had been calling for war – WARHAWKS

Less concerned about world affairs They hated Britain and even hoped for a conquest of

Canada

WAR IS DECLARED Henry Clay (a leading warhawk) became Speaker of

the House 1811 Congress pressured President Madison to send a war

declaration Congress declared war on Great Britain in June 1812

THE WAR OF 1812 BEGINS

The War of 1812 was fought on land and sea, from Canada to Louisiana

Much of the war took place along the US-Canadian border

British also staged a massive blockade of the American coast and New Orleans

GAINS AND LOSSES American navy was several victories August 1812—USS Constitution sank the British ship

Guerriere Gunfire bounced off the oak hull of the Constitution

earning it the nickname Old Ironsides

Americans make several unsuccessful attempts to invade Canada

Tecumseh joins the British to capture Detroit and invade Ohio

October 1813—Battle of the Thames (Ontario, CN), Tecumseh is killed

Native Americans suffer another tragic loss in Battle of Horseshoe Bend

TN militia leader Andrew Jackson massacred Creek Indian women, children, and warriors

He seized the fort at Pensacola, FL

A successful British tactic was to make quick strikes against coastal cities

August 1814—British navy sails into Chesapeake Bay. Soldiers march into Washington

Several major buildings are burned British bombard Fort McHenry (Baltimore, MD) Francis Scott Key observes the battle Key writes “The Star Spangled Banner” British forces land near New Orleans in

December 1814

Andrew Jackson beats the British to New Orleans January 1815—Battle of New Orleans made

Jackson a hero

TREATY OF GHENT 1814-diplomats meet in Ghent, Belgium to

create a peace treaty (signed in December) Both sides eager for peace No territory changed hands America had proved itself as a nation. THE END