Download war of 1812

Heading Toward War!
British Impressment
*Impressment = To force a person into naval service
• England wants exclusive right to trade with the U.S.
• U.S. merchant ships were being stopped by the British Navy
• American sailors were forced to join the British Navy
Why would this anger the United States?
Embargo Act 1807
*Embargo = A government ban on trade with other countries
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Passed by Thomas Jefferson
Halted all trade with European Countries
Very unpopular in port cities & Northern states
Non-Intercourse Act of 1809 ended the embargo
Why would this
act be unpopular
in the United
States?
James Madison
• Jefferson does not run for a third term
• James Madison is elected as president in 1808
• President during the War of 1812
War Hawks
*War Hawks = Person that favors going to war
• Want to further expand the U.S. into Canada & Florida
• Typically were Southern representatives
• Driven by Nationalism
Why would most war hawks come from the South?
Native Americans
• Tecumseh attempt to organize an Indian Confederation to prevent
Westward expansion further into the Ohio River Valley
• Tecumseh leads an army to challenge U.S. at Tippecanoe, but fails.
• Congress blames the British for supplying the natives with weapons
Why would the British arm the Native tribes?
Tecumseh
Benefits of War
End British impressment of U.S. sailors
National Pride
Expanding U.S. Territory (CANADA!)
Disadvantages to War
• Small military (only 12,000 soldiers)
• Small navy (only 22 ships)
• Divided nation
• South & West had war fever to expand land claims
• North were anti-war due to economic ties to England
How does economics play a role in the nation’s division during this time?
Declaring War!
Declaring War
• Madison asked Congress for a
Declaration of War in June of
1812
• War declaration was pushed by
Kentucky representative Henry
Clay
• Argued in Congress in favor of
war due to British impressment
& alliance with Natives
• Failed to mention Nationalism
and Westward expansion as
reasons
• Vote to go to war were divided
by region
Why does Clay structure his argument the way he does?
Should the U.S. go to war?
Why do countries go to war?
Why would people oppose
going to war?
Canadian Failure
• Invasion of Canada led by Gen.
William Hull
• Many believed U.S. would be
seen as liberators
• Natives had allied with the
British
• Reclaim the Northwest
Territory
• U.S. is able to burn the town of
York (Toronto) before being
forced to retreat and surrender
Why would the U.S. invade Canada?
A Naval War
• British establish a naval *blockade along the entire
East coast
• *Blockade = To seal off an area from entry & exit
• U.S. Navy had 22 ships vs. British Navy’s 85 ships
• USS Constitution increases morale by defeating the
British ship HMS Guerriere
• Captain Oliver Perry defeats British ships to gain
control of Lake Eerie and the Northwest Territory
How would a blockade incite a war?
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Invading Washington
In August of 1814 the British Navy advance into the Chesapeake Bay
Attacked Washington DC in retaliation to the attack on York in Canada
British were met by little opposition
British burned the White House & Capital building to the ground and occupy
the city
• President Madison & members of congress barely escape in time
• This massive defeat greatly lowered American morale
Why would this defeat lower morale?
Defending Baltimore
• British lay siege to Baltimore in September of 1814
• Americans were prepared for the British
• Successfully defend Baltimore at Ft. McHenry
• Francis Scott Key witnessed the battle from
aboard a British ship
• After the battle he awoke to still see the
U.S. flag flying at Ft. McHenry and penned
the poem "Defense of Fort McHenry"
Why might the Americans have been successful in Baltimore?
The Hartford Convention
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A meeting of New England Federalists opposed to the war
Held In Hartford, Connecticut
Met to propose amendments to strengthen state autonomy
Secession was also discussed but quickly dismissed
Meeting became irrelevant due to the end of the war
Why would this only include New England representatives?
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Treaty of Ghent
Negotiated in Europe & signed on Dec. 24th 1814
Declared a stalemate with no country gaining or losing territory
Demilitarizes the Great Lakes region
Places Oregon Territory under joint rule for the next 10 years
How might war hawks feel about this treaty?
Battle of New Orleans
• U.S. led by General Andrew Jackson
• Battle occurs due to not having knowledge of the Treaty of Ghent
• Despite being outnumbered by the British Jackson is able to
defend New Orleans with help from pirates & frontiersmen
• Gave the British a crushing defeat with the loss of 1,000 soldiers
• Made Andrew Jackson a national hero
Why would this
battle happen after
the treaty had
already been
negotiated and
agreed upon?
The Lasting Impacts
What are the impacts of war?
National Identity
• Showed the world that the U.S. could
hold their own against the British
• Ended bad feelings toward the British
• Raised national morale
How would this impact the United States?
What is the intent of this painting?
Westward Expansion
• The war establishes confidence toward westward expansion
• Extends the Oregon Territory into shared control with the British
• Regained control of the Northwest Territory with defeat of native
tribes
How would this impact the United States?
Convention of 1818
• Establishes the U.S.-Canadian border from Minnesota to the Rocky Mountains
How would this impact the United States?
Andrew Jackson
• Makes Jackson an American hero and a household name
• Help establish the foundation towards his presidential run
Why did Jackson become considered a hero?
Economic Impact
• British blockade forced U.S. to develop more manufacturing
• Established the development of the Eerie Canal connecting the
Hudson river to Lake Eerie
• Led to the creation of the Second National Bank
Political Impact
• The Federalist party began to vanish
• Increased popularity of the Democratic-Republican party
• Lowest level of partisanship ever seen
How would this impact the U.S.?