WAR OF 1812• “The conduct of [the British] Government presents a series

of acts hostile to the United States as an independent and neutral nation. . . . British cruisers have been in the continued practice of violating the American flag on the great highway of nations, and of seizing and carrying off persons sailing under it. . . . We behold, in fine, on the side of Great Britain a state of war against the United States.”

—James Madison• What is Madison’s complaint against Britain? What does

he say Britain has done?• How do you think Madison wants Congress to respond to

this message?

WAR OF 1812

• In the early 1800s, the United States went to war with Great Britain once again. The British had seized American sailors from their ships on the open seas. Many Americans believed the British had encouraged Native Americans to resist settlers in the Northwest Territory. The young United States decided not to let these insults pass without answer.

Essential Question:• What was the impact of the War of 1812 on the

early history of the United States?

War of 1812 – Causes • Tensions between America & Britain• War between Britain & France affects America through

trade blockades (impacts American trade) and impressment (kidnappingof American sailors to work on British ships)

• America passes the Embargo Act (1807): stopped all trade with France and Britain.

• Tecumseh allies Native Americans against settlers, and they later ally with the British

• Andrew Jackson and the War Hawks push for war – war declared June 8, 1812

Look at this political cartoon from the War of 1812. •Who do you see in this picture? •What is happening? •What message do you think the author was trying to send to his audience?

War of 1812 – Causes • Background: Beginning in 1807, Thomas Jefferson’s administration began instituting a series

of laws known as the Embargo Acts that aimed to punish the British for the impressments of American sailors and, later, to keep American merchants from trading with Great Britain and France.

• The worst Embargo Act went into effect December 22, 1807, and all ships in New York harbor headed to any foreign port were forbidden from leaving. (Most snuck out before the ban could be imposed.) The effect in New York was devastating. Just as the city was growing into America’s most flourishing port, it was banned from trading with its biggest partners. Those sailors whose ships couldn’t leave port began growing restless and many wanted to rebel. All the people whose lives relied on shipping began feeling the economic pinch immediately.

• In political cartoons, a snapping turtle named O-grab-me (embargo spelled backwards) quickly came to symbolize the government’s position. The people took to the streets of New York demanding the city do something.

• “You infernal villain. How much longer are you going to keep this…Embargo on to starve us poor people…You must…afford us some kind of relief….I wish you could feel as bad as I do.”- John Lane Jones, letter to Thomas Jefferson, August 8th 1808

•Who do you see in this picture? •What is happening? •What message do you think the author was trying to send to his audience?

The War of 1812 -this cartoon of King George with a bloody nose given to him by President James Madison.

War of 1812 - DuringJIGSAW activity• After defeating France, Britain focused on the

war with America• British captured Washington, DC and burned

the White House & Capitol

War of 1812 - After• Treaty of Ghent – ended war• No clear winner, no territory changed hands• Lasting effects: – boosted patriotism – national anthem written– contributed to growing regional differences– disrupted trade but led to growth of American

manufacturing & economic growth– broke through Native American power which

cleared the way for further expansion

The Star Spangled Banner• Before departing from a ravaged Washington, British soldiers had

arrested Dr. William Beanes of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, on the charge that he was responsible for the arrests of British stragglers and deserters during the campaign to attack the nation’s capitol. He was imprisoned on a British warship.

• Friends of Dr. Beanes asked Georgetown lawyer, Francis Scott Key, to join John S. Skinner, the U.S. government’s agent for dealing with British forces in the Chesapeake, and to help secure the release of Dr. Beanes. They were successful; however, the British feared that Key and Skinner would reveal their plans for attacking Baltimore, and so they detained the two men aboard a truce ship for the duration of the battle. Key thus became an eyewitness to the bombardment of Fort McHenry.

Star Spangled BannerSong

Discuss• What was the author’s intended purpose for

writing this poem?• What does the flag symbolize in the poem? • How does this poem impact America today?• Reflect: How does this song make you feel?

Read Dolly Madison’s letter to her sister.Annotate as you read! Discuss as a group:

What impact did Dolly Madison and her actions have on America? How does this letter make you feel?

Essential Question:What was the impact of the War of 1812 on the early history of the United States?