The War of 1812
CAUSES
Conflict in Europe
 Britain and France
began another conflict
– Napoleonic Wars
 1806 – France
excluded British goods
from Europe
 Great Britain decided
to retaliate by
blockading Europe’s
coasts
Aggression Extends
towards US
 By 1807 Britain had seized more than 1,000
American ships, confiscated their cargoes
 France had seized about ½ that number of US
ships
SO WHO DO WE VIEW AS THE BIGGER
THREAT?
Impressment
 Most of American anger
focused on British
 British would seize US
citizens from ships and
force them into the British
“Navy” known as
impressment.
Chesapeake Incident
 June 1807 –
commander of a
British Warship
demanded the right
to board and search
the US naval frigate
for British deserters
 When US captain
refused, British
opened fire
 Killed 3, wounded 18
Americans
Jefferson’s Reaction
 Convinced Congress
to pass Embargo of
1807
 hurt Britain and other
European powers to
convince them to
honor American
neutrality
 Hurt US economy, so
Congress lifted
embargo in 1809.
Madison’s Non-Intercourse
Act
 Re-opened trade with all nations, except GB
and France
 1810, expired Non-Intercourse and passed
Macon’s Bill No. 2 – reopened trade, but
President had power to prohibit commerce if
continued to be belligerent
 Napoleon stopped, so only put Embargo on
Britain
Conflict with Natives over
Westward Expansion
 Shawnee chief Tecumseh
began organizing fights
against expanding white
settlers
 In 1811, Tecumseh’s brother
was defeated at the Battle of
Tippecanoe by Governor of
Illinois, William Henry Harrison
 Found out Native Americans
were fighting with arms from
British Canada
 War Hawks called for
declaration of War
War Hawks
 Southern and Western young
congressman who pushed for war
 What could they gain?
 MORE LAND
John C. Calhoun
Henry Clay of Kentucky
of South Carolina
James Madison Declares
War
 Elected in 1808, Republican from VA
 By 1812, decided to go to war
 Felt Britain was trying to strangle American trade and cripple US
economy
 Congress approved war early June 1812