9.4 The War of 1812

1. 9.4The War of 1812

2. War Begins • The War Hawks predicted a swift victory • Revolutionary war leaders were too old or dead • Washington (D.C.) provided little if any leadership • Underestimated the strength of the British • Native Americans were too strong • Lost 2 Battles trying to attack Canada • 1 to Tecumseh • Gen. Harrison failed in the other • Needed to defeat the British navy on Lake Erie to succeed

3. Navel Battles

4. Naval Battles • Admiral Perry Defeats the British on Lake Erie • This forces the British and the Nat. Am. to retreat • Gen Harrison is able to cut them off • Tecumseh is killed in the Battle of the Thames • this is a severe blow to the morale of the Nat. Am. • Americans were also able to attack and burn York (Toronto)

5. Naval Battles • Even though the US had reduced the size of its navy 3 of its frigates were among the fastest warships in the world • The Constitution defeated 2 British warships and earned the nickname “Old Ironsides” • Privateers also won some smaller battles increasing the morale of Americans

6. Setbacks for Native Americans • The Native Americans were planning on creating a confederacy of their own with Tecumseh as their leader • His death ended that hope • Andrew Jackson led an attack against the Creeks • At the Battle of Horseshoe Bend they defeated the Creeks with the help of other Nat. Amer. • Your book says 550 Creeks maybe more like 1000, 800 were killed

7. The British Offensive • After the British defeat Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo they able to focus on the Americans Attack on Washington D.C. • The British sailed into Chesapeake Bay • Defeated the militia • Burned and destroyed everything related to the government • A storm helped to put out the fires • Dolly Madison refused to leave until the most valuable items (including a portrait of Washington) in the White House were safe.

8. Baltimore Holds Firm • The British did not try to hold D.C. • Moved on to Baltimore • American forces were better prepared • Ft. McHenry which protects Baltimore was attacked for 2 nights • Francis Scott Key • on while on a British ship • saw that the American flag still flew over the fort • Wrote a poem called the “Star Spangled Banner” – later put to music

9. Plattsburg • The British sent a force of 10,000 men from Canada into New York state • They were larger, better equipped and better trained than the Americans • Suffered a humiliating loss • Convinced the leaders in London that the war was not worth it

10. The War Ends • December 1814, the Treaty Ghent was signed • No borders changed • And the issue of impressment did not come up • The Battle of New Orleans takes place after the treat is signed • 1/8/1815 the British attacked New Orleans • It was defended by Andrew Jackson • Jackson soldiers were very well prepared and defeated the British • This victory helps send him to the Presidency in 1828

11. American Nationalism • The Hartford Convention • New England Federalists gathered • A few proposed secession • They proposed amendments to the Constitution • After the Battle of New Orleans it seemed unpatriotic • The party lost a lot of respect in the eyes of the people • Never really was powerful again nationally

12. American Nationalism • The idea of strong national gov. was kept by the War Hawks in the Republican Party • The new Republicans favored • Trade • Westward expansion • Developing the economy • And strengthening the army and navy • Americans were proud to have held off the British again • America gained respect from other countries