UNIT 3 NOTES: The War of 1812

1. UNIT 3 NOTES: The War of 1812

2. Presidents of the united states • George Washington (1788) • John Adams (1796) • Thomas Jefferson (1800) • James Madison (1808) • James Monroe (1816) • So Far………

3. President James Madison • Born in Virginia, 1751 • Attended Princeton University and became a lawyer. • Father of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. • Secretary of State during Jefferson’s Presidency • President, 1809 to 1817 • Most known for US involvement during the War of 1812. President James Madison

4. war hawks • Following the Battle at Tippecanoe, Indians increased their attacks on settlers • Many Americans believed the Native Americans were being encouraged and armed by the British • In 1812 many new southerners were elected to Congress • Members like John C. Calhoun and Henry Clay were known as the War Hawks because they favored a war with Britain • They represented interests of farmers moving west • Wanted to put a stop to Native American attacks

5. War break out • In June of 1812, President Madison sent a message urging Congress to declare war on Britain • In addition to aiding Indians, Britain had interfered with U.S. shipping • For years the U.S. had tried to stop British impressment of Americans • British ships stopped American ships at sea, removed men, and forced them to serve in the British navy • Congress approved the call for war and thus began the War of 1812 • At the time, this could have been a foolish action • U.S. had a very small army and navy • No offers of help from foreign countries • Fighting against powerful British and Indians

6. The land war • The U.S. attempted a quick invasion into Canada, which failed in the summer of 1812 • Poorly equipped and led • Victories: • William Henry Harrison wins the Battle of the Thames in October 1813, defeated Brits and Native American Tecumseh • Andrew Jackson defeats the Creeks at Horseshoe Bend in March 1814 • Creeks soon signed Treaty of Fort Jackson in which they ceded 23 million acres of land, most of present day Alabama

7. The naval war • At first Americans won a few battles at sea • However, soon the British navy proved their might and the Americans lost several battles • British vessels outnumbered American ships 20-1 • Britain captured or sunk several American ships (Chesapeake) • The British blockaded the U.S. coast which hurt trade

8. The burning of washingtond.c. • In 1814, Britain ended a long and difficult war against French Emperor Napoleon • They were now allowed to turn full attention to the U.S. • In the late summer of 1814, Britain sends 4,000 troops into the Chesapeake Bay region • These troops soon descend upon Washington, D.C. against little opposition • President James Madison flees the capital • On the evening of August 24, the British enter the city and set it on fire, including the White House • They then move to Baltimore and begin a siege of Fort McHenry • Lawyer Francis Scott Key witnesses the all-night British bombardment and pens the Star Spangled Banner

9. Serious problems • The war was controversial • Critics called it Mr. Madison’s War • The national treasury was empty • The capitol was in ruins • British blockade was crippling the economy • Hartford Convention • New Englanders had suffered the worst during the war • In December 1814 New Englanders send delegates to Hartford to consider leaving the union • In the end they only called for constitutional amendments to increase power of New England

10. What is the name of the treaty that ends the war?

11. The war ends • Soon, British and Americans realized this was a war no one wanted • Britain realized much like the revolution, this was a war they could not win • On December 24, 1814 representatives of the two nations met in Belgium and signed the Treaty of Ghent • This treaty ends the war • It does not resolve issues that led U.S. into war • Nothing is done for impressment or respect of U.S. neutrality • Many were happy with the end of war and some called it the second war for independence

12. The battle of new orleans • Although Treaty of Ghent officially ends the war, our greatest victory comes 2 weeks later • It was a result of the slow communication of the times • News of the treaty does not reach parts of the U.S. until February 1815 • On December 23, 1814 a British force tries to take New Orleans • General Andrew Jackson successfully defends the city • On January 8, additional British forces attempt to take the city again • American riflemen easily win the battle in less than an hour • The Battle of New Orleans allowed the Americans to end an unhappy war on a powerful note • It restored patriotism and made Andrew Jackson a national hero

13. Effects of 1812 • The War of 1812 changed Congressional ideals • War and problems with neutrality demonstrated the vulnerability of America’s dependence on foreign economies • After the War of 1812, there was a push to build enough factories to serve domestic needs • It demonstrated that the U.S. was unable to coordinate a fiscal and military effort • The embargo forced NE businesses to become self-sufficient • Greater sense of American pride and nationalism