WAR OF 1812
2 ND WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE
MR. MADISON’S WAR

CAUSES OF WAR
British violation of treaties
Still present in the NW Territory
Supply Native Americans with weapons, etc
Impressment continues

JUNE 1807
U.S. ship Chesapeake fired upon by British ship Leopard
Refused to allow British to board the ship
3 sailors killed, 18 wounded

ELECTION OF WAR HAWKS TO CONGRESS
Henry Clay from Kentucky:
AKA “The Great Compromiser”
Represents western interests
John C. Calhoun from South Carolina:
Represents southern interests
Both Democratic-Republicans

Henry Clay John C. Calhoun

OPPOSITION TO WAR HAWKS
All Federalists
Leader of the Federalists in
Congress:
Daniel Webster of Massachusetts
Represented interests of New
England

Daniel Webster

“TRIUMVIRATE”

BATTLE OF TIPPECANOE
NOVEMBER 7, 1811
Tecumseh, Shawnee leader
Opposed to expansion in Native American land
Attempts to form a confederacy of various tribes
Tenskwatawa AKA “The Prophet”
Brother of Tecumseh
HQ of confederacy “Prophetstown” located in Indiana Territory

Tecumseh
Tenskwatawa

TENSIONS INCREASE
Governor Indiana Territory:
William Henry Harrison
Marches on Prophetstown with 1000 troops
Tecumseh leaves “The Prophet” in charge while recruiting more allies
Orders his brother to take no action
Not being a military leader, “The Prophet” attempts a surprise attack but is defeated

William Henry
Harrison

EFFECT OF THE BATTLE
Cause many to blame British for inciting Native
American uprisings (War Hawks)
Many consider this 1 st battle of the War of 1812
Tecumseh remains allies to the British but later killed at the Battle of the Thames in Ontario
Ends threat of his confederacy to the U.S.

JUNE 18, 1812
War formally declared
No Federalists in Congress vote for the declaration of war
Neither side ready for war
England battling Napoleon
Unable to spare many troops for N.
America

AMERICAN ARMY
In 1812, consisted of less than 12,000 men
Madison believes state militias would easily seize Canada forcing negotiations
Militia’s unwilling to fight outside of state also lacked discipline
Congress authorizes expansion of army to
35,000
Voluntary, poorly paid, lack of trained officers

CONT.
New England states refuse to supply militia units or give financial support
New England states were threatening succession due to the war

BRITISH STRATEGY
Blockade American coastline
Defend Canada

KEY BATTLES
April 1813, Battle of York (Toronto) Provincial capital of Upper Canada
US victory which includes the burning down of the capital building
September 1813, Battle of Lake Erie AKA Battle of Put-in-Bay
US victory which includes capture of 6 British ships and ensures US control of Lake Erie

Oliver Hazard
Perry
Hero of Battle of
Lake Erie
Dies in 1819 after contracting yellow fever after visiting with Simon Bolivar regarding piracy in the Caribbean

KEY BATTLES CONT
By 1814, Napoleon abdicates and
England begins invasion of U.S.
Aug 1814, British attack and occupy
Washington, D.C.
White House and Capitol building destroyed

KEY BATTLES CONT
Sept 12-15, 1814
Battle of Baltimore
U.S. forces hold off British attacks
Turning point of the war
Ft. McHenry:
Francis Scott Key
Star Spangled Banner

Francis Scott
Key

KEY BATTLES CONT.
Sept 6-11 1814
Battle of Plattsburgh AKA Battle of
Lake Champlain
U.S. victory marked the final invasion of northern states by the British

TREATY OF GHENT
Signed December 24, 1814
Basically restores relations to status quo ante bellum
The treaty released all prisoners
Returned to the United States were approximately 10,000,000 acres of territory, near Lakes Superior and Michigan, in Maine, and on the Pacific coast

TREATY OF GHENT CONT.
American-held areas of Upper
Canada (present-day Ontario) were returned to British control.

BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS
JANUARY 8, 1815
Due to slow methods of communication this is fought after signing of Treaty of Ghent
U.S. forces commanded by Andrew
Jackson
Important victory for Jackson as it makes him a national hero

Andrew
Jackson

HARTFORD CONVENTION
December 15, 1814-January 4, 1815
New England Federalists who opposed the War of 1812
Delegates from MA, CONN, RI, NH, and VT
Discussed proposing Const. amendments to look out for interests of New England
Discussed secession from the U.S. and negotiating treaty with England

CONT
Signing of the Treaty of Ghent disgraced the Federalist Party
Led to the disbandment of the party in most areas of the U.S.