Causes of the War of 1812 – Neutrality of the Seas
Napoleonic Wars - 1803
Essex is seized - 1805
Britain seizes 120 ships and the crews are
impressed - 1806
U.S passes non-importation agreements
British products are excluded - 1806
Britain Blockades the European Coast 1806
Berlin Decree – France declares the
British Isles in a state of blockade - 1806
Very Important – British issues the Order In
Council. Britain prohibits any vessel from
trading with any port of France or her allies
- 1806
Very Important – Britain issues the Order In
Council. This is a British blockade of all ports
that do not allow British ships. - 1807
Milan Decree – Any ship searched by the British was
to be regarded as British property and can be seized
by the French - 1807
The United States passes three Embargo Acts.
Jefferson believed these would bring the warring
powers to terms if neither could trade with the United
States. These Acts were difficult to enforce and
caused an economic downturn – 1807, 1808, 1808
The United States passes the Non-Intercourse Bill.
President Madison can re-open trade with Great Britain
or France if either of these nations cease to violate U.S.
neutrality rights - 1809
Non-Intercourse Act Expires - 1810
Congress passes Macon Bill Number 2. In case either France or
Britain should cease violations of our neutrality rights in commerce
the Non-Intercourse Act should be revived against the other - 1810
Napoleon reacts and revokes all decrees against the United States
Congress passes a new Non-Intercourse Act against Britain - 1811
On June 1, 1812, President Madison sent a letter—later dubbed his war
message—to both houses of Congress. In it, he listed a series of
transgressions Great Britain had committed against the U.S.
Britain is going to revoke the Orders In Council but Prime Minister Percival is
assassinated. The Orders In Council are revoked on June 23, 1812, but too late to
avoid war
Congress declares war of Britain for the following reasons:
a. Seizure of our ships based on the Orders In Council
b. The Impressment of American sailors
c. British naval vessels hovering near our ports
d. Frontier violence linked to the British. Western member of Congress who
wanted war with Britain were called War Hawks. They saw war as an
opportunity to seize Canada which would increase the amount of arable land
for wheat.