Chapter 12 The Second War For Independence, and the Upsurge of Nationalism
C. The War - U.S. fought against Britain as well as Indian tribes from the west.

The U.S. military was smaller and less experienced than the British; however, Britain was also fighting a
major war in Europe.

American troops invaded Canada but had little success in defeating the British there.

Some victories were won against Native American forces in the west.

The U.S. won some early naval battles, but in time, were overmatched by the strong British navy.

The British navy set up a blockade of the Atlantic coast which severely hurt American trade.

Britain landed a large force in Washington D.C. forcing President Madison to flee. The city was burned.
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Baltimore was successfully defended inspiring Francis Scott Key to write the “Star Spangled Banner.”
D. The War Ends - the war was very unpopular among many Americans

In December of 1814, delegates from New England met at the Hartford Convention to consider leaving
the Union.
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Both the U.S. and Britain came to realize that the war offered little opportunity for gain.

December 24, 1814, the Treaty of Ghent ends the War of 1812.
E. The Battle of New Orleans - took place two weeks after the treaty was signed due to slow communication.

The battle ends up as an overwhelming U.S. victory with Britain suffering heavy casualties (2036 to 21).
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The leader of the U.S. troops, Andrew Jackson, becomes an American hero.
F. Post-War Economy - peace between the U.S. and Britain, as well as throughout Europe, creates a period of
economic prosperity beginning in 1815.

The level of trade between the U.S. and Europe greatly increased.

The Second Bank of the United States is chartered in 1816, increasing the amount of credit available in
the U.S.

The rate at which Americans were moving west increased due to available land and credit.

In 1819, the U.S. experienced a serious depression known as The Panic of 1819.

The depression was caused largely by the overextension of credit during the economic boom.

Many Americans who had taken out loans suffered severe economic hardships.
II. The Missouri Compromise - arose due to the issues of slavery, and the balance of power between free and
slave states in Congress.

By 1819, nine additional states had been admitted to the Union.

There were 11 states that allowed slavery and 11 states that did not.

When Missouri applied for statehood in 1819, there was a battle in Congress over whether it should
enter as a slave or a free state

Neither the northern (free) nor the southern (slave) states wanted to face a disadvantage in the Senate.

The south argued that the national government should not be able to determine whether or not a state
could allow slavery.

The Missouri Compromise was reached in 1820.
1.
It allowed slavery in Missouri.
2.
Maine was created out of land controlled by Massachusetts and admitted as a free state. This
preserved the balance in the Senate between free and slave states.
3.
The latitude of 3630' is set as a line that would separate free and slave states as the U.S. expanded
westward.