War of 1812: The Causes

1. War of 1812: The Causes

2. Causes: #1 Neutral Rights Violated • Britain and France were at war. • America enjoyed a profitable trade with both countries because it was neutral in the conflict. • In 1805, Britain blockaded the French coast and threatened to search all ships trading with France. • France announced that it too would search and seize all ships caught trading with Britain. • America could no longer trade with either side without their ships being taken over and searched.

3. Questions • Why did Britain and France begin to stop and search American trading vessels? • To prevent America from trading with either side • To take goods that their enemy would get through trade • Why wouldn’t either side want America to trade with their enemy? • Because their enemy would get supplies from America • Because America is helping their enemy through trade • How do you think America felt about this? • Upset – They weren’t doing anything wrong. • They got dragged into the conflict - forced to take sides • They are losing out on trade. • Why did America lose its neutrality rights? • France & England were stopping their ships and searching them

4. Causes: #2 Impressment • Britain needed sailors for their naval war against France • Why? • British Sailors were poorly paid and fed • Many of them ran away • British naval patrols claimed the right to stop American ships at sea and search for any sailors on board suspected of being deserters from the British navy. • The British would force sailors on these ships to serve in their navy (Impressment) • Many sailors that were taken were actually American citizens

5. Questions • Why did Britain need sailors? • To serve in the Navy & fight France • Their sailors were leaving • Poorly paid & Fed • Did Britain have a right to stop American ships and look for deserters? What do you think their reasoning was? • Yes: Their sailors were British Citizens and deserters broke an oath to serve the British Navy • No: America was a free country and shouldn’t have to be subjected to such an intrusion by the British • How do you think America felt when the British took American sailors and forced them to serve in their navy? • They weren’t respecting American Citizen’s rights

6. Causes: #3 Trade Ban • President Jefferson and Congress placed an Embargo on Great Britain • Jefferson thought the trade ban would hurt Britain because they got food, seeds & equipment from America • The embargo backfired • Britain just got its goods from Latin America • Britain told other countries not to trade with the United States • America suffered from the lack of trade with other nations.

7. Questions • What is an “Embargo?” • Trading Ban with another country • What was Jefferson’s reasons for placing a trade ban against Great Britain? • Reaction to British Impressment • Thought it would hurt the British • Send the British a message • How come the trade ban backfired? • Britain got is trade goods from Latin America • Britain told other countries not to trade with the U.S. • America lost out on trade • Why do you think other countries listened to the British when they told them not to trade with the United States? • They have a huge, powerful navy • They have a large empire • Other countries didn’t want to upset the British by not listening to them

8. Causes:#4 Frontier Conflicts • White settlers were moving into the northwest onto lands that had been promised to the Native Americans by treaties. • A Native American chief, Tecumseh formed a union of tribes in that territory to push back against American settlers. • Tecumseh and his people were getting supplies and weapons from the British in Canada • Great Britain is supporting the Native American resistance against American settlers who were moving onto their lands.

9. Questions • Why were white settlers moving onto and settling in lands that had been previously promised to the Native Americans? • Manifest Destiny • Needed more land to live on and cultivate • They didn’t care about the Native Americans • Why were Native Americans upset by this? • The land was promised to them by the American Government • It was their home/where they lived • Why did Tecumseh get help from the British? • They were giving him supplies and weapons • Why do you think the British were helping Tecumseh and the Native Americans? • So that America wouldn’t get the land from the Indians • They genuinely cared about the Native Americas • Could Trade with the Native Americans

10. Causes:#5 Canada America wanted to take over portions of southern Canada • WHY? • Manifest Destiny • Take it hostage (Stop British from searching and seizing American ships and impressing their sailors) • British in Canada were supplying the Native Americans with goods and weapons to fight American settlers and American troops

11. Questions • Why did America want portions of Canada? • Use it as a bargaining chip to get England to stop searching and seizing its ships & sailors • Manifest Destiny • Stop British from supplying the Native Americans with goods and weapons • What is “Manifest Destiny?” • Desire to move west • Expansion • To explore and see what’s out there. • How were the British in Canada assisting the Native Americans? • Giving them Supplies • Giving them weapons