Download The War of 1812 Webquest and Video Analysis- Key

Name: ____________________________
The War of 1812 Webquest and
Video Analysis- Key
Directions: Complete the following questions using resources from the link listed below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMXqg2PKJZU (Crash Course Video)
http://www.history.com/topics/war-of-1812 (History.com)
Watch Crash Course: The War of 1812 on YouTube first, which will introduce you to the topic.
1. What is the most common reason given for America’s declaration of war on Britain in
1812?
- The impressment of American sailors by the British navy.
- American sailors would be kidnapped and then forced to serve in the Royal Navy.
- This would be a huge breach of American sovereignty.
2. Why does this common theory behind the cause of the war become complicated?
- Thousands of British sailors were working on American ships at this time.
- Many of the sailors that the British captured were indeed British.
3. Why would British sailors want to pretend or become Americans?
- Britain was fighting in a war against France (Napoleonic War) and they wanted to
stay alive and stay away from the violence.
4. What positive results did Britain gain from its impressment policy?
- They disrupted trade between the United States and their enemy, France.
- Britain received more sailors to strengthen their war effort.
5. What is a “war hawk?” What did they advocate?
- Someone who wishes for war.
- They wanted to go to war with Britain to defend American honor.
6. What were the “Orders in Council? Why would this infuriate Americans?
- The Orders in Council required American ships to dock in Britain, pay tax, and then
proceed to other European ports.
- This would anger Americans since it was hampering their trade.
- Britain was still treating the United States as a colony, not as an independent nation.
7. Why was Canada another cause of the War of 1812?
- The United States wanted to annex Canada.
- This would give them more territory and allow them to expand their farmland.
8. Who was Tecumseh and how did he become involved in the War of 1812?
- He was a Native American leader who wished to use force to stop American settlers
from occupying his peoples land.
- The British were most likely arming and supporting Tecumseh.
9. Why did the northern states want to avoid war with Britain? Why did southern and
western states support war?
- The northern states required trade with Britain to maintain their economies.
- The south and west wanted more land to expand their farms and the slave trade so
they supported war.
10. When the War of 1812 began, where did the majority of the fighting occur? Who won
the Battle of Canada?
- The majority of the early fighting was over Canada.
- Britain won the Battle of Canada.
11. How did the United States believe Canadians would react to their invasion from Detroit?
What was the end result of this invasion?
- The United States believed that the Canadians would flock to their cause and help
fight the British.
- Instead the Canadians, British, and Indian allies captured Detroit.
12. What was the fate of Washington D.C. during the war?
- Washington was captured and burned by the British in 1814.
13. How did the U.S.S Constitution earn the nickname “Old Ironsides?”
- During a battle with the British fleet, cannonballs bounced off the side of the vessel.
14. Where was Tecumseh defeated?
- The Battle of the Thames.
15. What was the United States most famous victory of the war? Why?
- The Battle of New Orleans.
- Andrew Jackson defeated the British and only lost 71 men while causing 2036 British
casualties.
16. When did the Battle of New Orleans take place? Why is the date important?
- The battle took place on January 8, 1815. A peace treaty had been signed two weeks
before the battle occurred.
17. Why would communications take such a long time to reach distant locations during this
time?
- Technology- there were no cars, airplanes, telephones, internet, or radios to spread
news quickly.
- News would most likely travel fastest by boat which would still take a lot of time.
18. What treaty ended the war?
- The Treaty of Ghent
19. What did the British ask for in the treaty? Why did the British not outright demand
these items?
- The British wanted a piece of northern Maine, a demilitarized Great Lakes, and a
piece of land in the American interior to establish a homeland for the Native
Americans.
- The British got none of these requests but they didn’t protest since they didn’t want
the Russians and Prussians demanding chunks of Europe now that Napoleon was
defeated.
20. Were the causes of the war, impressment and free trade, addressed in the peace
treaty?
- No, the treaty returned everything back to the status quo.
21. Who won the War of 1812 according to the video? Who lost?
- Neither the Americans nor British won the war.
- However, the Native Americans suffered significant casualties and lost even more
land. They can be considered the losers of the war.
22. What significant impacts did the War of 1812 have on North American history?
- The war confirmed that the United States would exist, Britain would not retake the
former 13 colonies.
- The war launched the political career of future president Andrew Jackson.
- The settlement and conquest of land east of the Mississippi River would go ahead.
- Canadian nationalism was reinforced, leading to two nations, not one.
For the next section of this assignment, go to the History.com address listed on the front page.
Watch the videos: James Madison and the War of 1812 and Americans and British Face off in
War of 1812 to answer the following questions.
23. What request did James Madison ask Congress for on June 1, 1812? Why was this
historic?
- He asked Congress to declare war on Britain.
- It was the first time the United States declared war.
24. Why did Madison’s opposition, The Federalists, oppose this declaration of war?
- They saw the war as pointless and a threat to the economy of the United States.
- They represented the northern states which needed trade to survive.
25. Why were the British capable of directing their entire national war effort towards the
United States in 1814? Why were these British reinforcement elite?
- In 1814 they defeated Napoleon’s France and they were now capable of using all of
their forces against the United States.
- The British reinforcements had been battling across Europe for years against
Napoleon. They were most likely some of the best soldiers in the world.
26. With the defeat of Napoleon, did the British have a reason to continue the war?
- No, they would no longer have to blockade American ships from trading with Europe
and they would not need to impress American sailors since their demand for sailors
would go down during peace time.
27. When was the Treaty of Ghent signed?
- December 24, 1814.
For the remainder of this assignment, use the article on the History.com site about the War of
1812 to answer the remaining questions.
28. What decision did the Battle of Tippecanoe cause amongst the Native Americans in the
Northwest Territory?
- That they needed British support to stop American settlement on their land.
29. Who was in charge of the defense of Upper Canada? What is Upper Canada referred to
as today?
- Sir Isaac Brock was in charge of the defense of Upper Canada, it is known as Ontario
today.
30. American victory in which naval battle guaranteed them control of the Northwest
Territory?
- Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s victory during the Battle of Lake Erie guaranteed
American control of the territory.
31. What did the bombardment of Baltimore’s Fort McHenry inspire?
- Fort McHenry withstood 25 hours of bombardment by the British Navy.
- The next morning, the fort’s soldiers raised a large American flag, a sight that
inspired Francis Scott Key to write a poem he called “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
- It would go on to become the national anthem.
The bombardment of Fort McHenry
32. Why was the Federalist Party damaged beyond repair because of the war?
- It was accused of being unpatriotic for its antiwar stance.
33. Even though the war ended with the status quo, what did the United States achieve
from fighting in the War of 1812?
- The war’s outcome boosted national self-confidence.
- The war encouraged the growing spirit of American expansionism which would
continue for the rest of the century.
Name: ____________________________
The War of 1812 Webquest and
Video Analysis
Directions: Complete the following questions using resources from the link listed below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMXqg2PKJZU (Crash Course Video)
http://www.history.com/topics/war-of-1812 (History.com)
Watch Crash Course: The War of 1812 on YouTube first, which will introduce you to the topic.
1. What is the most common reason given for America’s declaration of war on Britain in
1812?
2. Why does this common theory behind the cause of the war become complicated?
3. Why would British sailors want to pretend or become Americans?
4. What positive results did Britain gain from its impressment policy?
5. What is a “war hawk?” What did they advocate?
6. What were the “Orders in Council? Why would this infuriate Americans?
7. Why was Canada another cause of the War of 1812?
8. Who was Tecumseh and how did he become involved in the War of 1812?
9. Why did the northern states want to avoid war with Britain? Why did southern and
western states support war?
10. When the War of 1812 began, where did the majority of the fighting occur? Who won
the Battle of Canada?
11. How did the United States believe Canadians would react to their invasion from Detroit?
What was the end result of this invasion?
12. What was the fate of Washington D.C. during the war?
13. How did the U.S.S Constitution earn the nickname “Old Ironsides?”
14. Where was Tecumseh defeated?
15. What was the United States most famous victory of the war? Why?
16. When did the Battle of New Orleans take place? Why is the date important?
17. Why would communications take such a long time to reach distant locations during this
time?
18. What treaty ended the war?
19. What did the British ask for in the treaty? Why did the British not outright demand
these items?
20. Were the causes of the war, impressment and free trade, addressed in the peace
treaty?
21. Who won the War of 1812 according to the video? Who lost?
22. What significant impacts did the War of 1812 have on North American history?
For the next section of this assignment, go to the History.com address listed on the front page.
Watch the videos: James Madison and the War of 1812 and Americans and British Face off in
War of 1812 to answer the following questions.
23. What request did James Madison ask Congress for on June 1, 1812? Why was this
historic?
24. Why did Madison’s opposition, The Federalists, oppose this declaration of war?
25. Why were the British capable of directing their entire national war effort towards the
United States in 1814? Why were these British reinforcement elite?
26. With the defeat of Napoleon, did the British have a reason to continue the war?
27. When was the Treaty of Ghent signed?
For the remainder of this assignment, use the article on the History.com site about the War of
1812 to answer the remaining questions.
28. What decision did the Battle of Tippecanoe cause amongst the Native Americans in the
Northwest Territory?
29. Who was in charge of the defense of Upper Canada? What is Upper Canada referred to
as today?
30. American victory in which naval battle guaranteed them control of the Northwest
Territory?
31. What did the bombardment of Baltimore’s Fort McHenry inspire?
The bombardment of Fort McHenry
32. Why was the Federalist Party damaged beyond repair because of the war?
33. Even though the war ended with the status quo, what did the United States achieve
from fighting in the War of 1812?