The War of 1812

1. The War of 1812 Unit 3, Lesson 1

2. Essential Idea • The War of 1812 helped make the United States a world power and sparked of national pride.

3. Impressment • Cause 1: Impressment • Britain and France went to war again in 1803 • America declared neutrality and wanted to trade with both • Neither Britain or France accepted neutrality • Impressment- Britain again captured ships and kidnapped sailors

4. Impressment • The Chesapeake Affair: • In 1807, a British warship tried to capture the Chesapeake, an American warship • The Chesapeake resisted and the British ship fired upon it and kidnapped sailors • Many Americans were furious and called for war

5. The Embargo Act of 1807 • Cause 2: Economic Problems • Jefferson proposed an embargo to avoid war • The “Damn-bargo”: • Embargo Act of 1807- America stopped ALL trade with Europe • Good result- kept American ships safe and avoided war • Bad result- without European trade, the American economy suffered • Embargo Act of 1807

7. Madison becomes President • Election of 1808: • James Madison, a Democratic-Republican, was elected president • Non-Intercourse Act- restored trade with all of Europe EXCEPT Britain and France • The American economy still suffered, and many Americans wanted war

8. The War Hawks • Cause 3: “War Hawks” Elected • “War Hawks” wanted war against Britain • In 1810, new “War Hawk” congressmen from the South and West were elected • Southern anger- Britain had damaged their trade with Europe • Western anger- they blamed Britain for Indian attacks on the frontier

9. Famous War Hawks • Notable War Hawks: • Henry Clay- later proposed a new economic system for America • Clay also developed many compromises to prevent civil war • John C. Calhoun- future vice-president under Andrew Jackson

10. Fighting in the West • Cause 4: Native American Attacks • Americans violated the Treaty of Greenville and moved into Indian land • British troops were still in western forts and armed Indians to attack Americans

12. Tecumseh • Native Americans Unite? • Tecumseh- began recruiting and uniting western tribes to protect their lands • Battle of Tippecanoe- William Henry Harrison led troops against Indians, crushing Tecumseh’s movement • Tecumseh fled to British-owned Canada, confirming that Britain was aiding Indians • Battle of Tippecanoe

13. War Declared • In 1812, Madison asked Congress to declare war on Britain • Northern congressmen, Federalists, voted against war • Southern and Western congressmen, Democratic-Republicans (and war hawks), voted for war • Northern critics called it “Mr. Madison’s War”

14. Causes of the War of 1812 • “W.I.N.E.” • W: • War Hawks Elected • I: • Impressment • N: • Native American Attacks • E: • Economic Problems

15. War of 1812 • Fighting on the Canadian border: • British and American navies fought battles on the Great Lakes • Americans burned the city of York, now Toronto • Britain tried to invade New York and New England, where Federalists were, but failed • If Britain succeeded, the North and possibly the entire war would have been lost • America tried to invade Canada at three locations but failed • Fighting on the border was a stalemate

16. Washington, D.C. Attacked • Fighting around the Chesapeake Bay: • The British navy moved to the Chesapeake Bay and marched soldiers to Washington, D.C. • Members of the federal government, including Madison, fled as the British attacked • The Capitol building and White House were burned • Washington Burned

17. Battle of Baltimore • Battle of Baltimore: • The British navy tried to attack Baltimore but were stopped at Fort McHenry • Francis Scott Key was inspired by the battle to write what became the “Star-Spangled Banner,” which became the national anthem • British ships retreated and the Chesapeake area was saved • The Star Spangled Banner

18. Federalist Opposition • Many Federalists opposed fighting Britain • Hartford Convention- Federalists met to discuss their opposition to the war • Federalists looked unpatriotic when the war ended

19. Battle of New Orleans • Fighting at New Orleans: • Britain wanted to capture New Orleans and the Mississippi River to cut off trade • Battle of New Orleans- led by Andrew Jackson, American troops beat the British • This battle made Jackson a national hero and inspired nationalism (patriotism) throughout the country • Battle of New Orleans

20. Treaty of Ghent • Terms: • Peace was established • All territory returned to original owners • The war ended with a truce • Americans viewed this as a “Second War of Independence”

22. War of 1812 Aftermath • Economy: • Factories grew during the war and America depended less on British manufacturing • Politics: • William Henry Harrison and Andrew Jackson became heroes • The Federalists looked unpatriotic after the Hartford Convention and “died out” • Effects of the War of 1812

23. War of 1812 Aftermath • Foreign relations: • International respect- America had become a world power • Nationalism: • “Era of Good Feelings”- America entered a period of nationalism • America turned from Europe and looked west to expand • Americans created a unique culture distinct from Europe