The War of 1812
America’s
second war
of
Independence
Reasons for the War
Britain, France seize American
ships, confiscate cargoes
Impressment—seizing
Americans, drafting them
into British navy
• Chesapeake incident further
angers Americans
• Jefferson convinces
Congress to declare
embargo, or ban on exports
• Embargo, meant to hurt
Europe, also hurts U.S.
- Congress lifts it, except
with Britain, France
Trouble with Native
Americans
William Henry
Harrison makes land
deal with Native American
chiefs
Shawnee chief
Tecumseh tries to
form Native American
confederacy:
- tells people to return to
traditional beliefs, practices
Americans Learn that Native Americans
are receiving weapons from the British
Harrison is hero of
Battle of Tippecanoe
but suffers heavy
losses
•
War hawks —
want war with Britain
because natives use
British arms
War at Sea
U.S. navy only 16
ships; 3 frigates
sail alone, score
victories
British blockade
U.S. ports along
east coast
British Burn White House
By 1814, British
raid, burn towns
along Atlantic
coast
British burn
Washington D.C.
in retaliation for
York, Canada
Francis Scott Key
Key writes the
“Star Spangled
Banner” as he
watches the
shelling of Fort
McHenry from a
British ship.
The Battle of New
Orleans
General Andrew Jackson
fights Native Americans,
gains national fame
• Jackson defeats Native
Americans at Battle of
Horseshoe Bend
- destroys military power of
Native Americans in South
• In 1815, defeats superior
British force at Battle
of New Orleans
The Treaty of Ghent
Treaty of Ghent, peace
agreement signed Christmas
1814
• Declares armistice or end to
fighting; does not resolve all
issues
____ 1. The Shawnee chief
Tecumseh attempted to
A. negotiate a fair peace treaty with the U.S.
government.
B. organize a confederacy of Native American
tribes.
C. guide Lewis and Clark through the Louisiana
Territory.
D. attack British forts along the Canadian border.
____ 2. The outcome of the Whiskey
Rebellion helped to establish the
power of the federal government to
A. impose taxes.
B. enforce federal laws within states.
C. control interstate and foreign trade.
D. reinterpret the Bill of Rights.
____ 3. For 15 million dollars, the
United States was able to purchase
the Louisiana Territory from
A. Spain.
B. France.
C. Great Britain.
D. Native Americans.
____ 4. What principle was affirmed
in the Supreme Court case of
Marbury v. Madison?
A. the right of the citizens to criticize their
government
B. the right of the Supreme Court to declare
an act of Congress unconstitutional
C. the right of Congress to declare war
D. the right of states to nullify an act of
Congress that they
____ 5. Why did the United States
go to war against Britain in 1812?
A. Britain was trying to buy the Louisiana
Territory.
B. Britain was interfering with U.S. foreign
trade.
C. Britain refused to sell tea to the U.S.
D. Britain was becoming too friendly with
France.
____ 6. All of the following occurred
during the War of 1812 except
A. British ships blockaded the eastern
seacoast.
B. the White House and the Capitol were
burned.
C. New Orleans was lost to the British.
D. Andrew Jackson became a national hero.