Download William Henry Harrison

War of 1812
Causes:
Violation of American trade rights – America had in place a policy of
neutrality, but continued to trade with both Britain and France.
Impressment – Thousands of American merchants captured by British Navy
and forced to serve.
Arming of Native Americans – Britain was selling weapons to Native
Americans who opposed American expansion westward
Embargo Act of 1807 – American trade restrictions banning all trade with
Great Britain and France (Failed because of smuggling – hurt American trade more
than Britain and France)
War Hawks – Congressmen from the South and West who called for war
against Britain; Led by John C. Calhoun and Henry Clay
Battles:
Pre War – Shawnee Chief Tecumseh and his brother, the Prophet, try to form a
confederacy of tribes to oppose American expansion westward.
The Prophet was crazy and led an attack against William Henry Harrison,
the governor of Indiana.
Battle of Tippecanoe – Harrison and his troops burned the Shawnee capital,
and Harrison became a national hero (Later known as Tippecaone)
Native Americans had received their arms from Great Britain, causing the
war hawks in Congress to call for war vs. GB.
War in Canada –
Lake Erie – Oliver Hazard Perry led American naval ships against the
British and defeated them at Lake Erie.
American troops retook Detroit, previously captured by the British, and won
several other key battles. Native Americans supported both sides, but groups like
Tecumseh’s Shawneed hoped Britain would win in order to stop American
expansion.
War at Sea –
American navy had only 16 ships, including 3, 44-gun frigates.
British superiority allowed blockades to be put in place, bottling up
American ships at port, causing trade to decline.
Burning the White House –
In 1814, the British laid siege to Fort McHenry and the nation’s capital,
Washington, D.C. The British burned the Capitol, White House and other
government buildings, forcing the President to flee.
Battle of Horseshoe Bend –
American general Andrew Jackson defeated the Creek Indians at Horseshoe Bend.
This destroyed the military power of the Native Americans in the South.
Battle of New Orleans –
Arguably the greatest victory of the war…. Came after it was already over.
January 8, 1815, weeks after the Treaty of Ghent was signed, Americans led by
Andrew Jackson defeated the superior British Force at New Orleans. Hundreds of
British troops died while only a handful of Americans lost their lives.