UNIT 7: MILITARY CONFLICT

LESSON 7.3: THE WAR OF 1812

Warm up

• What do you already know about the War of 1812?

INTRODUCTION

• The War of 1812 was the second major clash between the United States and Britain in North America. Although neither side won a clear victory, the war gave Americans a strong sense of national pride.

Foreign Trade Grows

• Although sea travel was dangerous, American economy relied on foreign trade

• Tea and silk from China was extremely valuable

• Ships were constantly leaving American ports for China, as well as S. America, Africa, and the Mediterranean Sea

War Helps US Trade

• War between France and England in 1790’s helped American shipping

• Many French and British ships stayed home to avoid capture or destruction

• Allowed America to increase profit from trade

• By 1800, almost 1,000 merchant ships trading around the world

Election of 1804• Jefferson easily won

reelection in 1804 due to successful first term defeating Charles Pinckney 162-14

• US at peace, but France and England at war, and threatened to interfere with American trade

• Resolved threat of Barbary pirates, but now challenged by 2 most powerful European nations

Neutral Rights

• 1803, shippers could continue business with France and England as long as US remained neutral

• Neutral rights-right to sail seas and not take sides

• By 1805, both nations tired of American “neutrality”

• England blockaded French coast and threatened to search all ships trading with France

• France later announced same deal in regards to trade with England

British Impressment

• British needed sailors for Navy

• British sailors were poorly paid, fed, and treated causing many of them to desert the Navy

• Often used force to get sailors

• Stop American ships and search for any sailors on board suspected of deserting the British Navy

• Forcing people to serve in navy is called impressment

• 1000’s of American sailors were also impressed into the British Navy

Attack on the Chesapeake

• British warship, the Leopard, waited outside Virginia

• Intercepted US ship, Chesapeake, demanding to search the ship

• US captain refused and British opened fire killing 3, wounding 18, and damaging the Chesapeake

• Anti-British feelings demanding war

• Jefferson sought different action than war

Trade Ban

• Embargo Act of 1807, although geared towards England, it banned trade with all foreign countries

• Jefferson wanted to prevent Americans from using go-betweens in the trade ban

• Believed England relied on American agricultural products

Nonintercourse Act

• Embargo Act destroyed the economy and England traded with Latin America for agricultural products

• Embargo Act repealed on March 1, 1809 replacing it with the Nonintercourse Act, prohibiting trade with only England and France

• Just as successful as Embargo Act

Election of 1808

• Jefferson decided to follow Washington’s precedent and not run for third term

• Jefferson approved James Madison as Dem-Rep candidate

• Beat Charles Pinckney 122-47 in electoral votes, even though people upset about Embargo Act

James Madison

• Lots of problems in regards to trade with other countries, causing problems at home and across the world

• Britain continued to stop American ships

• Americans desire for war with Britain increased

• 1810 – law allowing direct trade with France or Britain, whoever lifted trade restrictions first

• Napoleon tricks American government, by lifting restrictions for France, but still seizing American ships

• Who was the Enemy? France or Britain?

• France had tricked him, but Britain greater threat

War Hawks• Young group of Republicans

elected to Congress in 1810 from the South and West

• Pressured president to declare war on British

• Also eager to expand nation’s power

• Nationalism – loyalty to their country

• Urged major military spending quadrupling the army’s size

• Federalists in North remain opposed to war

Henry Clay of Kentucky and John Calhoun of South Carolina

THE WAR HAWKS-THE DECISION FOR WAR

• Most people who voted for war came from south and west

• Hurt due to British Trade restrictions

• Western farmers also blamed conflict w/ native Americans on British

• Many believed war w/ Britian would help USA gain Canada and end native attacks

• Anger over the impressment of sailors

June 1, 1812• James Madison asks

Congress for a declaration of war, saying war with Britain is inevitable

• Britain had ended their policy of searching and seizing American ships

• News took so long to travel, Americans had no knowledge of the change

War Begins

• United States unprepared for war

• Government provided no leadership

• Small army of 7,000• State militias with

50,000 to 100,000 poorly trained soldiers, some too old to fight

Invade Canada• General William Hull led

army from Detroit to Canada, but had to retreat

• General William Henry Harrison made same attempt with same result

• Declared as long as England controlled Lake Erie, Canada could not be invaded

Battle of Lake Erie

• Naval battles more successful

• 3 fast frigates, or warships

• Commander Oliver Hazard Perry led Americans in bloody battle on September 10, 1813

• Put-n-Bay, OH• Destroyed British naval

force

Battle at Lake Erie

Battle of Thames

• October 5, 1813• British and Native

allies tried to pull back from Detroit now America controlled Lake Erie

• Harrison and troops cut off British and native forces

• Tecumseh killed

Death of Tecumseh• Also meant death of a

Native American confederation

• In March 1814, Andrew Jackson defeated the Creeks, Tecumseh’s tribe in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend

• Forced them to give up most of their land to the U.S.

Attack of York

• Americans attacked city of York (present-day Toronto)

• Burned Parliament buildings

• Yet Canada remained unconquered by the U.S.

British Offensive

• Defeated French in spring of 1814

• Send more troops to America

• August 1814, marched into Washington, DC burning and destroying city

British Offensive• They then went to attack

Baltimore, but could not enter

• Roads barricaded, harbor was blocked, and over 13,000 militiamen stood guard

• Battle of Fort McHenry, American’s had great losses but still maintained the Fort, shown by the flag still flying

“Star-Spangled Banner”• Written by Francis Scott

Key after Battle of Fort McHenry

• Originally “Defence of Fort McHenry” and only a poem

• He watched the battle as the bombs burst over the fort at night

• When he woke the next morning, he saw the American flag still flying and got a sense of patriotism

• Not made national anthem until 1931

British Offensive

• Goal to capture Plattsburgh, key city along Lake Champlain

• Stopped by American naval force on Lake Champlain

• British retreated to Canada after realizing Americans could overtake them

Treaty of Ghent• December 1814 in

Ghent, Belgium• British realized war in N.

America was too costly and unnecessary

• Ended the war, but did not change any existing borders

• Agreed to release prisoners, lands, and ships obtained during the war

Battle of New Orleans• Word of treaty took to

long to get to the states, so one more battle took place in December of 1814

• Andrew Jackson led US Army to victory in a bloody battle

• Jackson became known as a war hero due to this, and helped him win the presidency in 1827

Fall of the Federalists• Opposed war with England• Proposed amendments to the

Constitution and possible secession, or leaving the union at the Hartford Convention

• These grievances seemed unpatriotic once word of Jackson’s victory and the Treaty of Ghent arrived

• War Hawks, although Republican, carried on Federalist philosophy of strong government, focusing on trade, expansion, and military strength

reflection

• IN YOUR JOURNAL, SUMMARIZE WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THE WAR OF 1812.