Download The War of 1812

The War of 1812
THINK AS YOU READ
1. What were some causes of the War of 1812?
2. What were some of the results of the War of 1812?
From 1793 to 1815 France and Britain were often at wars. These wars affected
politics in the United States. The Federalists usually favored the British. France was
generally favored by the Republicans. However, most Americans wanted to keep out of
wars in Europe.
British and French warships often seized American ships on the high seas. This
nearly led to war with France in the 1790’s. By the early 1800’s it was mainly the British
who seized American ships. They often took sailors off American ships and forced them
to become British sailors. This policy of impressment angered many Americans. They
felt it violated America’s right to sail the seas.
The impressments of American sailors was a cause of the
War of 1812
Presidents Washington, Adams, and Jefferson all tried to keep neutral in Europe’s
wars. However, British actions on the high seas angered the United States. Also, the
British were said to be giving guns to Indians in the Northwest. Some Americans called
openly for war. One group, called the War Hawks, hoped to seize Canada in such a war.
By 1812 Britain tried to prevent war. It agreed to stop seizing American ships. But the
British action came too late. It took weeks for the news to reach the United States. In the
meantime, President James Madison was unable to prevent war. On June 18, 1812,
Congress declared war on Britain.
Dolly Madison-the wife of
President James Madison
Americans were not united during the war. The New England states did not want war.
They were mainly Federalists and depended on trade and shipping. War with Britain
could ruin New England. The southern and western states favored the war. To them it
was a “second war of independence” from Britain. They hoped also to seize Canada,
defeat the western Indians, and get more land.
The War of 1812 went badly for the United States. An American army invading
Canada was badly beaten. American troops were poorly armed and trained. They often
were no match for well trained British troops. In 1813 American troops invaded Canada
and set fire to the government building in the capital city of York (now Toronto). The
low point for the United States came in 1814. A British force captured Washington, D.C.,
and burned much of the city, including the White House. Three weeks later, the British
nearly captured the city of Baltimore.
Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the Star-Spangled Banner
As he watched the Battle of Fort McHenry during the War of
1812.
The new American navy did much better than the army. Britain had the largest and
best-trained navy in the world. In spite of this, American warships won many victories at
sea. The most famous American warship was the Constitution. It won the name of “Old
Ironsides” because in spite of much battle damage, it won many victories. Today Old
Ironsides can be seen in Boston harbor. It has been kept as a monument to the brave
sailors of the navy.
By 1814 Napoleon had been defeated. This ended the British-French wars in Europe.
Britain now decided to end its war with the United States. A peace treaty was signed in
Europe in December 1814. The war was over, but it took two weeks for the news to reach
the United States. There were no radios, television, or telephones in those days. News
traveled very slowly by ship and by mounted messenger. The news of the end of the War
of 1812 came too late to prevent the battle of New Orleans. More than 2,000 British
soldiers died. Yet only 13 Americans were killed in the battle. General Andrew Jackson
became a great American hero because of the victory. But the deaths were needless. The
battle of New Orleans had been fought after the war had ended!
The War of 1812 had a few direct results. Almost everything returned to the way it
had been before the war. But now the British had no reason to seize American ships or
impress American sailors. Those actions stopped with the end of the British-French wars.
More Americans gave up their dreams of seizing Canada. Britain stopped giving arms to
the Indians of the West. These things helped calm American and British feelings. There
were no boundary changes as a result of the war. Boundary problems would be worked
out later. All in all, the War of 1812 seemed to have been a “needless war.” In many
ways it was. But the war did bring about changes. American industry began to grow
during the war years. The war also brought a spirit of patriotism and nation feeling to the
American people.
MAIN IDEAS: Put a check next to the two sentences that give the main ideas of what
you have just read.
___1. The United States did not have a strong navy.
___2. France and Britain were often at war in the early 1800s.
___3. Americans were not united during the War of 1812.
___4. The War of 1812 came about because of British actions and the action of American
War Hawks.
___5. There were few direct results of the War of 1812, but it affected the future of the
United States.
WHAT DID YOU READ? Circle the answer that best completes each sentence.
1. Impressment involved the seizing of American…
a. ships
b. goods
c. sailors
2. In the British-French wars, the British were usually favored by…
a. all Americans
b. Republicans
c. Federalists
3. The War of 1812 was favored by…
a. New England States
b. southern & western states c. New England and
western states
4. All of the following statements are true EXCEPT
a. American troops were poorly trained.
b. American warships won many victories at sea.
c. British troops captured Baltimore.
5. The War of 1812 resulted in…
a. boundary changes b. a spirit of American patriotism
c. Indian wars
MATCHING: Match the person in column A with a description in column B.
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
__1. Madison
__2. Napoleon
__3. Jefferson
__4. Jackson
a. hero of New Orleans
b. tried to keep U.S neutral in Europe’s wars
c. president during the War of 1812
d. ordered the White House burned
e. defeated in war in Europe in 1814
ALPHABETIZE: The following six words are taken from the reading selection. Put
them in alphabetical order.
patriotism
violated
invading
prevent
1.______________________
2.______________________
3.______________________
monument
impressment
4.________________________
5.________________________
6.________________________
WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Underline the best meaning for each of the words in capital
letters.
1. INVADE: a. to lose
b. to enter with force c. to destroy
2. IMPRESS: a. to escape
b. to take over
c. to force into the navy
3. VIOLATE: a. harmful
b. to destroy
c. to treat badly or disturb