Battle of Horseshoe Bend

1. Battle of Horseshoe Bend Amanda, James, Justin

2. When it took place The Battle of Horseshoe Bend was fought during the war of 1812 in central Alabama. On March 27, 1814, United States forces and Indian allies under General Andrew Jackson defeated the Red Sticks, a part of the Creek Indian tribe inspired by the Shawnee leader Tecumseh, effectively ending the Creek War.

3. Who all was involved The Creek Indians of Georgia and Alabama were divided into two factions: the Upper Creeks (or Red Sticks), who opposed the Americans and sided with the British and Spanish during the War of 1812, and the Lower Creeks, who sought to remain on good terms with the Americans. Shawnee leader Tecumseh went to Creek towns in 1811-12 and persuaded the Upper Creeks to join his war against American encroachments. The Upper Creeks began to raid American settlements, but the Lower Creeks helped the Americans to capture and punish leading raiders, often becoming victims of Red Stick revenge themselves. The Lower Creeks fought alongside Jackson at Horseshoe Bend.

4. Where it took place Horseshoe Bend is located near Dadeville, Alabama on Tallapoosa River

5. What impact it had General Andrew Jackson led the main contingent of American forces against the Creek Indians known as "Red Sticks." His army included Creek Indians as well as a sizeable Cherokee regiment. On March 27, 1814, Jackson attacked a large Red Sticks force at their heavily fortified position in a bend of the Tallapoosa River. The so-called "Battle of Horseshoe Bend" began with a bombardment by Jackson's canon, which had no effect on the stoutly built barricade. The tide turned when Cherokee warriors crossed the river and attacked the rear of the Creeks' encampment and set fire to it. Jackson's regular forces then launched a frontal assault, which lead to a lopsided victory for the Americans in which by Jackson's own count no less than 850 Indians died defending their homeland. Jackson's triumph over the "Red Sticks" effectively ended the Creek War, and inaugurated Jackson's national reputation as a military hero.

6. Why did it take place? Horseshoe Bend was the major battle of the Creek War, in which Andrew Jackson sought to "clear" Alabama for American settlement. General Jackson was in command of an army of West Tennessee militia, which he had turned into a well-trained fighting force. To add to these militia units was the 39th United States Infantry and about 600 Cherokee, Choctaw and Lower Creeks fighting against the Red Stick Creek Indians. After leaving Fort Williams in the spring of 1814, Jackson's army cut its way through the forest to within 6 miles (10 km) of Chief Menawa's Red Stick camp near a bend in the Tallapoosa River, called "Horseshoe Bend," in central Alabama, 12 miles (19 km) east of what is now Alexander City. Jackson sent General John Coffee with the mounted infantry and the Indian allies south across the river to surround the Red Sticks camp, while Jackson stayed with the rest of the 2,000 infantry north of the camp.

7. How did it affect Canada’s development The War of 1812 (Battle of Horseshoe Bend) started the process that ultimately led to Canadian Confederation in 1867. Canada would have become part of the United States if the War of 1812 had not taken place because more and more American settlers would have arrived and Canadian nationalism would not have developed. The War of 1812 was highly significant in Britain's North American colonies. After the war British sympathizers portrayed the war was as a successful fight for national survival against an American democratic force that threatened the peace and stability the Canadians desired.