WAR BREAKS OUT BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES

…..AGAIN!

The War of 1812

I. Causes of the War of 1812

A. Britain is in a MASSIVE war against Napoleon’s France in Europe and on the high seas BOTH countries seal off ports in Europe.

(No ships get in or out of France OR Britain)

B. British Navy follows the policy of impressment: over 5,000 sailors snatched from U.S. ships between 1803 & 1812.

I. Causes of the War of 1812 (cont.)

C. Jefferson’s solution was the Embargo Act: no exporting of goods out of USAThis was very unpopular among the people Export revenue fall from $108 million in 1807 to $22 million in 1808

D. The War Hawks in Congress, led by Calhoun & Clay, call for war with Britain.

E. In putting down Tecumseh’s rebellion in Indiana, it’s discovered that the Indians were getting their guns from the British Canadians.

WHO was paying attention????

Take a piece of paper out and answer the following questions….

You have 5 minutes….No Notes!

GO!

Who was Britain in war with? What is impressment?

What was the Embargo Act?

II. Major Events

A. New president James Madison (like Jefferson- a Virginia republican and intellectual hero of the Revolution) Madison persuades Congress to declare war on Britain: impressment is the biggest reason.B. Americans try a disastrous attack on Canada British navy beats them back brutally, sinking their ships on the Great Lakes, taking Detroit and Fort Dearborn (the site of what will later become Chicago).

1. II. Major Events (cont.)

C. British begin attacks along the Atlantic coast, burning towns.D. British attack Washington D.C. They chase President Madison out of townThey burn down the White House & the Capitol.

II. Major Events (cont.)

E. Meanwhile, diplomats negotiate in Europe and a Peace treaty is signed in Ghent.

F. Since it takes 4-6 weeks for the news of the treaty to reach America, fighting continues… At the Battle of New Orleans, General Andrew Jackson of Tennessee gathers up his outnumbered troops and defeats the British once more.

III. Legacies

A. Indians are even more vilified (abused) by whites.

B. Federalists ridiculous attempt at joining Britain= the true end of the Federalists once and for all.

III. Legacies (cont.)

C. Proved that a Republic as large as the U.S.A. that needed international shipping routes would

need a more powerful military in order to protect them. (not part of Jefferson’s original plan)

D. The Monroe Doctrine: President James Monroe (after Madison) claimed that the USA had the right and the duty to keep the European powers from interfering in the Western Hemisphere (North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America).