THE WAR OF 1812THE WAR OF 1812

1. Causes of the War1. Causes of the War

a.a. Free seas and tradeFree seas and trade- neither Britain or France respected neither Britain or France respected

neutral rightsneutral rights- majority of Americans sympathized majority of Americans sympathized

with France against Britainwith France against Britain- British violations of neutral rights British violations of neutral rights

more blatant - more blatant - impressmentsimpressments

b. b. Frontier PressuresFrontier Pressures- Americans more ambitious for more Americans more ambitious for more

landland- Canada and Florida (England, Spain and Canada and Florida (England, Spain and

Native Americans stood in the way.Native Americans stood in the way.- Gen. William Henry Harrison (Gov. of Gen. William Henry Harrison (Gov. of

Indiana Territory) destroyed the Native Indiana Territory) destroyed the Native American Headquarters (Battle of American Headquarters (Battle of Tippecanoe) and ended Indian Tippecanoe) and ended Indian Confederacy Confederacy

- British blamed US for conflictBritish blamed US for conflict

c. c. War HawksWar Hawks- Congressional elections of 1810 Congressional elections of 1810

brought new group of young brought new group of young Republicans Republicans

- Came from frontier states (Kentucky, Came from frontier states (Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio)Tennessee, Ohio)

- Eager to go to warEager to go to war- Led by Henry Clay (Kentucky), John Led by Henry Clay (Kentucky), John

C. Calhoun (S. Carolina) C. Calhoun (S. Carolina)

Henry Clay John C. CalhounHenry Clay John C. Calhoun

2. A Divided Nation2. A Divided Nation

a.a. Election of 1812Election of 1812

- Division of opinion seen in Division of opinion seen in presidential electionpresidential election

- Madison defeated De Witt Clinton of Madison defeated De Witt Clinton of New YorkNew York

b. b. Opposition to the WarOpposition to the War

- Outspoken criticism of the war – N. Outspoken criticism of the war – N. England merchants, Federalist England merchants, Federalist politicians and “Old” Republicanspoliticians and “Old” Republicans

3. Military Defeats and Naval 3. Military Defeats and Naval VictoriesVictories

- Madison based hope of victory on two Madison based hope of victory on two things:things:

1. Napoleon's continued success in 1. Napoleon's continued success in

EuropeEurope

2. US land campaign against 2. US land campaign against CanadaCanada

a.a. Invasion of CanadaInvasion of Canada- Army poorly equipped, but initiated Army poorly equipped, but initiated

action action

- Launched 3 prong invasion of Launched 3 prong invasion of CanadaCanada

- Easily repulsed by British defendersEasily repulsed by British defenders

b. b. Naval BattlesNaval Battles- Victories attributed to superior Victories attributed to superior

shipbuildingshipbuilding- USS Constitution – “Old Ironsides” USS Constitution – “Old Ironsides”

raised morale by defeating and raised morale by defeating and sinking a British shipsinking a British ship

- American privateers successful in American privateers successful in capturing British merchant shipscapturing British merchant ships

b. b. Naval battles cont.Naval battles cont.- British were successful in blockading British were successful in blockading

the US coast – crippled trading and the US coast – crippled trading and fishingfishing

- Victories at Lake Erie, the Thames Victories at Lake Erie, the Thames River (near Detroit), and Lake River (near Detroit), and Lake Champlain ended the British Champlain ended the British campaign in NY & New Englandcampaign in NY & New England

b. b. Naval battles cont.Naval battles cont.- Prepared the way for Gen. Harrison’s Prepared the way for Gen. Harrison’s

military victory at battle of Thames River military victory at battle of Thames River (near Detroit) – which killed Tecumseh(near Detroit) – which killed Tecumseh

- 1814, Thomas Macdonough defeated 1814, Thomas Macdonough defeated British fleet on Lake ChamplainBritish fleet on Lake Champlain

- Result: British forced to retreat and Result: British forced to retreat and abandon plan to invade New York and New abandon plan to invade New York and New EnglandEngland

Lake Lake ChamplainChamplain

c. c. Chesapeake CampaignChesapeake Campaign- 1814, defeat of Napoleon enabled 1814, defeat of Napoleon enabled

British to increase forcesBritish to increase forces- British marched through DC – set fire British marched through DC – set fire

to the White House, Capitol, and to the White House, Capitol, and other buildingsother buildings

- Attempted to capture Ft. McHenry Attempted to capture Ft. McHenry (Baltimore)(Baltimore)

- Origins of the Star Spangled BannerOrigins of the Star Spangled Banner

d. d. Southern CampaignSouthern Campaign

- Battle of Horseshoe Bend – Andrew Battle of Horseshoe Bend – Andrew Jackson – ended power of Creek NationJackson – ended power of Creek Nation

- New Orleans – Andrew Jackson – New Orleans – Andrew Jackson – defeated the British (fought 6 weeks defeated the British (fought 6 weeks after the signing of the peace treatyafter the signing of the peace treaty

4. The Treaty of Ghent4. The Treaty of Ghent

a.a. Halt to the fightingHalt to the fighting

b.b. Return of all conquered territoryReturn of all conquered territory

c.c. Recognition of prewar boundary Recognition of prewar boundary between Canada and the USbetween Canada and the US

5. Hartford Convention5. Hartford Convention

a.a. Before end of the war – New Before end of the war – New England came close to seceding England came close to seceding from the Unionfrom the Union

b.b. Opposed the warOpposed the war

c.c. Special convention held at Hartford, Special convention held at Hartford, CTCT

6. War’s Legacy6. War’s Legacy

a.a. US gained respect of other nationsUS gained respect of other nations

b.b. US accepted Canada as neighborUS accepted Canada as neighbor

c.c. Federalist party came to an end as Federalist party came to an end as a national forcea national force

d.d. Nullification talk and secession in Nullification talk and secession in New England set a precedent used New England set a precedent used by the Southby the South

e. Native Americans in the West were forced e. Native Americans in the West were forced to give up large areas of landto give up large areas of land

f. US factories were built – America took big f. US factories were built – America took big step toward industrial self-sufficiencystep toward industrial self-sufficiency

g. War heroes – Jackson and Harrison –g. War heroes – Jackson and Harrison –political leaderspolitical leaders

h. Feeling of h. Feeling of nationalismnationalism