Chapter 11.4
War of 1812, Day 2
• The USS Constitution’s
triumph over the HMS
Guerriere shocked many
observers
• Everyone expected the
British to sweep the U.S.
Navy from the seas…
• Then, Britain sent the
rest of their Navy…
– Let Round 2 begin.
Early Naval Battles
America responds the only way we could
• Although the U.S. Navy
had only 6 ships,
– We can hire privateers of
our own!
– 1812-1813
• America keeps British
Navy away from the east
coast
– Force them up towards
Canada
» Is there away into
America through
Canada?
Battle for the Great Lakes
• Pres. Madison wanted to
keep control of the Great
Lakes
– Easiest Way?
• Invade Canada!!
– Make it part of America.
– How does that go?
• Horrible!
– Battle of Queenston
Heights
» We lose to
Canadians and the
British!!!
Battle of Lake Erie
• Though we lost in
Niagara
– We do manage to burn
down the capital of
Canada
• City called York
– This really makes England
mad!
• England chases us into
Lake Erie
– Let the next battle begin…
Battle of Lake Erie
• USS Lawrence led by
Oliver Hazard Perry
Vs.
HMS Queen Charlotte
• September 10,1813
– 3 hours later
• We win!
– Take control of the Great
Lakes!
The war moves into the Frontier
• William Henry Harrison is
going to go on the
offensive
– Chases Indians into
Canada
• Finds the British waiting to
help the Indians
• Battle of the Thames River
(October 1813)
– Harrison leads cavalry
charge into British lines
» Attack works
» Kills hundreds
including Tecumseh
We finish the Removal of the Indians
• 1813
– General Andrew Jackson
wants to eliminate the
Indians from the South
• Battle of Horseshoe Bend
– Modern day Alabama
» Jackson murders
most of the Indians
he finds
» Eventually Chief
Red Eagle
surrenders.
Meanwhile, the British are on the
move
• April 1814
– France surrenders to
England
• They move the 20,000
troops into USA
– First stop…Washington,
DC
• Why?
– To burn down our capital!
– Next, Baltimore, MD and
Fort McHenry
“Oh Say Can you See”
• For 25 hours
– The British Navy bombs Ft.
McHenry relentlesly
– Why?
• To get us to give up.
• Instead,
– We refuse to surrender
• British run out of ammunition
and leave the city.
• Francis Scott Key wrote about
seeing the flag the next
morning…
– Star Spangled Banner
Britain gives up on America
• December 24, 1814
– Treaty of Ghent
• England agrees to end the
war.
– England gets nothing.
– USA gets rid of England.
• Meanwhile….in New
Orleans.
Battle of New Orleans
• Gen. Andrew Jackson did not
hear there was a peace
treaty signed
– Neither did British army in New
Orleans
• So they attacked us!
– UK = 5,300 men
– USA = 4,500 men
• We destroy them in the open
field
– Kill 2,000 British troops
– We lose only 70!
• Andrew Jackson becomes a
national hero!!
Review Questions
• How did the US even the numbers against the British
Navy?
• Who was the captain of the ship that won the Battle
of Lake Erie?
• Why did Britain burn down the White House?
• What battle took place after the signing of the Treaty
of Ghent?