The War of 1812
J.A.SACCO
“Mr. Madison’s War?”
Divisions Over War
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Support from South and West, mostly
Democratic-Republicans
Federalists oppose—especially in New
England
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Still Pro-British
Hated Napoleon
Didn’t want to acquire Canada—make agrarians
more powerful
America Not Ready For War?
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Small army/ unreliable militias- 7000 soldiers/16 ships in
the navy compared to 800 British ships
Lacked military and congressional leadership
Nation weakened by financial problems/ no national
bank?
Inflation of the money supply
Events of the War of 1812
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Been called America’s worst fought war
No decisive victory on either side/ a stalemate
Small navy assisted by hundreds of privateers/ able to
harass the British navy- did much better than the U.S.
Army
U. S. Invasions of 1812
•U.S. attack in Canada failed- Gen. William Hull defeated- Br. Take Detroit
•Only U.S. victory was “Old Ironsides” at sea
Campaigns of 1813
•Oliver Hazard Perry won a major victory on Lake Erie.
•Allows Gen. William Henry Harrison to recover Detroit and
march into Canada.
•Harrison defeats a combined Br./Native American force at the
Battle of the Thames. Tecumseh is killed.
Battle of Fort McHenry-1814
Oh Say Can You See
By the Dawn’s Early Light…
-- Francis Scott Key
Key Victory at Plattsburgh
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Thomas Macdonough
and American troops
stop British invasion of
New York. Win victory
at Lake Champlain.
Key defensive victory.
The Battle of New Orleans
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Andrew Jackson and ragtag
army—regulars, pirates,
Frenchmen, free blacks
Most devastating defeat of
British attack-2000 killed in
half an hour!
Restored American honor
and pride.
The Hartford Convention
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New England Federalists called in 1814, right before Battle of
New Orleans
Hartford resolutions did not demand secession.
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Did demand money from Washington D.C. to compensate for lost trade,
also
Restrictions to make declaring an embargo and war more difficult (2/3
vote in Congress).
End 3/5 Compromise
Presidents only to serve one term.
Presented resolutions right when war was over.
Federalist party looked like traitors
DEATH-KNELL OF THE FEDERALIST PARTY!
Treaty of Ghent
December 24, 1814
Impacts of War of 1812: America’s
Second War for Independence?
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Republic proved itself, increased respect
See dangers of divided nation, increased
unity
War heroes president—Harrison and Jackson
Indians lost more land.
Increased economic independence.