THE WAR OF 1812

Chapter 10, Section 3

THE PATH TO WAR Jefferson wanted the U.S. to seek

friendship of all nations but have “entangling alliances with none.”

His desire to keep the U.S. out of conflict with other nations was doomed from the start.

PROBLEMS WITH FRANCE AND ENGLAND

In 1803, yet again war broke out between France and Britain. The U.S. tried to stay out of the war, but Britain begin to

capture any ship bound for France, and the French stopped all ships bound for Britain.

Britain had a shortage of sailors, so Britain begin to use a policy of impressment- or kidnapping, of American merchant sailors. Between 1803 and 1812, the British impressed about 6,000

American sailors.

NO MORE TRADE Instead of declaring war, Jefferson asked

Congress to stop all foreign trade. Jefferson described this policy as

“peaceable coercion.” In 1807, Congress passed the Embargo

Act of 1807, which forbade American ships from sailing to foreign ports. Also closed American ports to British ships.

The policy harmed the U.S. more than I did France and Britain. Farmers and manufacturers lost key

markets for their products.

TECUMSEH AND NATIVE AMERICAN UNITY Since the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794,

Native Americans had continued to lose their lands to white settlers.

Tecumseh, a Shawnee chief, vowed to stop this.

William Henry Harrison, governor of the Indian Territory, sighed the Treaty of Fort Wayne- the sale of more than three million acres of land- with chiefs of the Miami, Delaware, and Potawatomi Tribes.

Tecumseh declared the treaty void, should have the agreement of all tribes.

BATTLE OF TIPPECANOE In late 1811, William

Henry Harrison's forces defeated the Shawnee.

Following defeat, Tecumseh sided with the British in Canada.

Tecumseh's welcoming in Canada increased anti-British feelings in the west.

THE WAR OF 1812 By 1812, more and more Americans were calling

for war against Britain. War Hawks- those who supported the war. Finally on June 18, 1812, President James

Madison asked congress to declare war o Britain.

THE FIRST PHASE OF THE WAR

1812-1814- Britain concentrated its war on France. Spent little energy in North America.Blockaded the American coast.

Gave time for the U.S. to increase and strengthen its navy.

TRIUMPH ON LAKE ERIE Most important U.S. Navel victory took place

on Lake Erie. In September 13, 1813, a small British force

set out to destroy a new American navel fleet.

For two hours, British and American ships exchanged cannon fire.

American Commodore Perry soon forced the British to surrender.

The British fled to Canada, where they were later defeated at the Battle of Thames in Oct. 1813. Tecumseh died in battle, fighting for the British.

THE SECOND PHASE OF THE WAR The second phase began after the

British defeated Napoleon in Europe in April 1814.

Britain's army and navy were now set to attack the U.S. In August 1814, British forces neared

Washington, D.C..President Madison and other officials fled

the city.Dolly Madison refused to leave the White

House, staying behind to rescue important objects.

THE WHITE HOUSE BURNS

The British burned the White House and the Capital building.

Then moved on to attack Fort McHenry in Baltimore.

Dolly Madison as able to save the full length portrait of George Washington.

FORT MCHENRY Commander of Fort McHenry

requested a flag “so large that the British will have no difficulty in seeing it.”

Francis Scott key, an American lawyer, detained on a British ship, watched the all-night battle. At dawn, Key saw that the flag was

still flying with triumph. He expressed his pride in a poem

that is known as “The Star-Spangled Banner” It had later become the American

national anthem.

THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS

The British began to move in on the port of New Orleans.

In December 1814, dozens of ships carrying 7,500 British troops approached the coastline of Louisiana.

Under the command of Andrew Jackson, the Americans had organized an army.

THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS January 8, 1815, British forces

attack Jackson’s forces. Using the earth to build

defenses, the American army fended off advancing British troops.

American casualties totaled 71,000 compared to Britain's 2,000.

It was a great victory for Jackson. Jackson had become an American

hero!!!

THE LEGACY OF THE WAR The Treaty of Ghent showed that

the War of 1812 had no clear winner. No territory changed hands, and trade

disputes remained unresolved. No side made any significant gains.

Andrew Jackson & Oliver Hazard Perry were claimed heroes, increasing American patriotism.

The American victory also increase optimism about the nation's future.