War of 1812

British v U.S.

Causes

• British blockade of Europe- U.S. ships seized • Impressment-forcing Americans into British Navy• Chesapeake Incident-Br. Attack after refusal to

allow search killing 3 wounding 18• U.S. Embargo backfires, hurting U.S. economy• British supply Native Americans with guns• War Hawks-senators from the “west” want

protection from Native attack

Chesapeake v ShannonOn June 1st 1813 the USS Chesapeake is captured and attacked by the British Shannon.

Tecumseh “the prophet”-unites tribes

“The Great Spirit gave this great land to his red children” -Tecumseh

Battle of Tippecanoe• On November 7, 1811, then-Governor William Henry Harrison

defeated the Shawnee warriors at the Battle of Tippecanoe in what is now the state of Indiana.

Memorial at battlefield•We learn the British are supplying Natives with guns

War Hawks- Democratic-Republican members of Congress who advocated war against Britain, typically from Southern and Western states

John C. Calhoun South Carolina

Henry ClayKentucky

“On to Canada”

Wanting to rid the British fromthreatening theU.S, this became the rally cry.

Mr. Madison’s War

• Shaky start for both the U.S. and Britain neither country quite prepared for battle

• The war was conducted in four theatres of operations:– The Atlantic Ocean – The Great Lakes and the Canadian frontier – The coast of the United States

– The Southern States

The Atlantic Ocean

• USS Constitution defeats the Guerriere July 12,1812 outside Boston

• Most early Naval Battles here ended in U.S. victory due to heavier guns and an overworked Royal Navy

Great Lakes

Fighting in this region went back and forth until…

“We have met

the enemy and

they are ours.”

-Oliver Hazard Perry,

after victory on

Lake Erie, ensuring

American control

there.

Canadian Frontier

• Battle of Thames

• Badly outnumbered, the British and Indian allies are defeated.

• End to unity among Native tribes

Oct. 5th 1813, TecumsehIs killed by Richard M. Johnson

Coast of the U.S.

• British Blockade the Coast

• Strategic Point- Chesapeake Bay

• British “thrash” American militia and enter Washington D.C.

• Set fire to nearly all public buildings including White House and the Capitol

• Madison fled to Virginia, low point of war

Burning the Capitol

• Burned out shell of the White House

Dolly MadisonSaves Washington’s portrait

Baltimore Harbor

• U.S. troops were able to defend Fort McHenry, British troops withdrew from Chesapeake Bay

• Frances Scott Key-lawyer negotiating release of a prisoner of war was inspired by events and wrote a poem of what he saw

Southern States

• Andrew Jackson v Creek Indian at Horseshoe Bend (Alabama)

“We speak of the War of 1812, but in truth there were two wars. The war between the Americans and the British ended with the treaty of Ghent. The war between the Big Knives [American frontiersmen] and the Indians began at Tippecanoe, and arguably did not run its course until the last Red Sticks were defeated in the Florida swamps in 1818 (Sugden 401).”

•This battle was more related to control over southern land than a Creek/British alliance

Battle of New Orleans

• British Navy breaks through little resistance at the mouth of the Mississippi

• Jackson sets up defensive position 8 miles down river

• Jackson engages the British in battle with minimal losses forcing the British to stall their attack

• With reinforcements of heavy artillery and earthworks the U.S. troops outlast the British ammo.

• British were never able to scale the “earthworks” and withdrew forces confirming U.S. victory

Andrew Jackson commanding American troops. Engraving by H. B. Hall

after W. Momberger.

Battle Map of New Orleans

Treaty of Ghent

• Signed by U.S. and British Christmas Eve 1814, about 2 weeks before the battle of New Orleans came to an end.

• Armistice-agreement to end the fighting

British and U.S. resolve issues from the war

• 1815 treaty reopened trade with out the fear of impressment

• 1817 Rush-Bagot treaty limited war ships on the Great Lakes reducing fear of attack

• 1818 northern boundary of Louisiana decided at 49th parallel and a 10 year joint occupation of Oregon Territory

Was it worth it?

• The War of 1812 unites America and rushes in a period of Nationalism,

also known as

“The Era Of Good Feelings.”

Recap- Causes and EffectsThe War of 1812

Causes• British Interfere with Am.

Shipping• British arm Native

Americans, interfering with western expansion

• Southerners want Florida, which is owned by Britain’s ally, Spain

• War Hawks want to expel British completely from North America

Effects

•Revealed need for strong standing army

•Encouraged American Nationalism

• Brought an end to the Federalist Party

•Shattered the strength of Native American Resistance

•Paved the way for American acquisition of Florida