The War of 1812

Tensions with France and Britain

• Europe in early 1800s in midst of Napoleonic Wars

• France and Britain (enemies) each tried to block the other’s trade

• U.S. had trade ties with both

• Both France and Britain seized American ships they claimed were illegally trading

Impressment

• Many British sailors deserted when they reached American ports because of harsh punishment by British naval officers

• Angry over losing sailors, British began stopping U.S. ships and taking sailors by force (called impressment)

• About 9,000 American sailors impressed by 1807

Embargo Act

• Passed by Congress 1807 at Pres. Jefferson’s urging

• Stopped all foreign trade• No U.S. ships could sail abroad, no

foreign ships could enter U.S. waters• Intended to avoid war• Quickly took major economic toll• Some in New England considered

secession

“cutting one’s throat to cure a nosebleed”

End of Embargo

• 1809- Jefferson eventually repealed Embargo Act.

• Allowed foreign trade with all countries except France and Britain

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

New Tactics• James Madison elected

President, took office Jan. 1809

• 1810- lifted all trade restrictions

• Negotiated with both Britain and France- if respect American neutrality, U.S. would cut off trade with the other

• Napoleon agreed (but secretly continued seizing U.S. ships)

• Madison banned all trade with Britain

National Feeling• Most New Englanders opposed war-- would hurt trade

profits.• Most in South & West resented British abuse and saw

war as chance to break British alliances with Indians and allow settlement further west. Farmers in northwest territories wanted the fertile land of British Canada, and farmers in South wanted land owned by Spain in Florida (Spain was an ally of Britain).

War Hawks• Republicans in Congress

from South and West -- Henry Clay (Kentucky) and John C. Calhoun (South Carolina) said war with Britain would end Indian attacks and win Canada.

• June 18, 1812 Congress declared war on Britain. The conflict would become known as the War of 1812 because it started in...never mind.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Tecumseh • Powerful Shawnee Chief• Dedicated his life to

building an alliance of the culturally and geographically-fragmented native tribes, believing it was the only way to resist spread of settlers streaming into Indiana, Michigan, Illinois territories.

• He was perhaps the greatest Indian warrior and political leader of all time, and lived up to his promise to protect Indian territory and traditions or die trying.

• Was allied with the British.

Can you believe the United States once invaded Canada?

• War Hawks urged attack on Canada, assuming Canadians would welcome “liberation”

• Warned that any Canadians fighting with Indians would be killed

• Canadians did not welcome American interference• Tecumseh’s forces joined British forces in Canada• In April 1813, the Americans successfully invaded York

-- present-day Toronto. After they won, however, they looted and burned the town, destroying several government buildings.

• The British would not forget this. A little over a year later, when they invaded Washington D.C., they would get their revenge.

• William Henry Harrison, Gov. Indiana, led attack on Tecumseh’s capital on Tippencanoe Creek in present-day Indiana.

• Harrison’s forces found British-made weapons-- seen as proof of British support for Indian aggression against Americans.

• In 1813, US troops killed Tecumseh. His grave remains a secret.

War at Sea

• U.S. privateers harassed British shipping

• U.S. Navy sank several British warships

• Still, by 1813 British blockaded U.S. coast

• U.S. Navy did gain control of Lake Erie

British Strike Back

• April 1814, British (and allies) defeated Napoleon in Europe - 4,000 more British troops sent to North America

• British planned 3-pronged attack-push south from Canada-push North from New

Orleans-hit-and-run raids on port

cities

• Attack from Canada repelled• British captured Washington, DC, burned

White House, the Capitol building, the Library of Congress, the U.S. Treasury, the War Department and the State Department.

Attack on Balitmore

• Attacked Baltimore next– Fort McHenry– Francis Scott Key -- friend

to captured Dr. Beanes from Washington, DC -- got permission from Pres. Madison to negotiate Beanes' release on warship at sea. Two watched as British attacked Fort McHenry.

• Perhaps you've heard of Key’s poem he wrote about event?

Star Spangled Banner

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early lightWhat so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Battle of New Orleans• General Andrew

Jackson• Volunteer army:

pirates, local militia, freed slaves

• British withdrew after two attempts

• Greatest land victory of war

Outcomes

• Treaty of Ghent- signed two weeks BEFORE Battle of New Orleans– Did not settle issues of impressment or

neutrality on seas– Restored prewar boundaries between U.S. &

Canada

• Nationalism in U.S. soared: “The people are more American. They feel and act

more like a nation.” Gallatin, Treasury Secretary

• Despite no territorial gains, U.S. government did gain more dominance over Indians