Download The War of 1812

CHAPTER 10: THE
JEFFERSON ERA
Section 4: The War of 1812
Today we will trace the major events of the
War of 1812 and list its outcomes.
The War of 1812 Begins
Because it was already at war
with France in June 1812,
Britain did not want another
war with the United States.
The War of 1812 Begins
British leaders decided
to stop interfering with
U.S. shipping, but this
news didn’t reach
America until it was
too late.
The War of 1812 Begins
Congress had
already approved
Madison’s request
for a declaration of
war.
The War of 1812
Begins
In the first phase of the
war, from 1812–1814,
Britain concentrated
on its war against
France.
The War of 1812 Begins
• Britain spent little energy on the war with
America, except to blockade the coast.
• After Britain defeated France, it turned its
attention to the United States.
When the war began, the United
States military was weak.
• The navy had only
about 16 ships.
• The army had fewer
than 7,000 men, who
were poorly trained
and equipped.
• U.S. officers had
very little
experience.
After the British defeated
France in April 1814,
they would turn their
complete attention to the
United States.
The First Phase of the War
Although the U.S. Navy was small,
its warships were the fastest afloat.
The U.S. Navy’s officers had gained valuable
experience fighting the Barbary pirates.
Early stirring victories by ships such as
the Constitution and the United States,
won boosted American confidence.
The most important U.S. Naval
victory took place on Lake Erie in
September 1813.
• A British force on the lake attacked a force
of American ships led by Oliver Hazard
Perry.
• After two hours of battle, Perry’s ship was
destroyed.
Perry rowed to another ship, took
charge, and went on to win the battle.
The British were forced to begin
a retreat back to Canada.
On land, General William Henry
Harrison chased the fleeing
British all the way to Canada and
defeated them at the Battle of
the Thames in October, 1813.
General William Henry Harrison’s
victory put an end to the
British threat to the Northwest.
Tecumseh died in the battle
fighting for the British.
The Indian threat to the Northwest was over.
The Second Phase of the War
By April 1814, Napoleon
had been defeated and
Britain focused on the
war against America.
The Second Phase of the War
In August of
1814, British
forces invaded
the United States
and burned the
Capitol building
and the
President’s
mansion.
In September 1814, British ships
shelled Fort McHenry
near Baltimore in an all-night battle.
An oversized
American flag had
been sewn by
Mary Pickersgill for
exactly $405.90 in
anticipation of the
British attack on the
fort. When Key saw
the flag emerge
intact in the dawn of
September 14, he
was so moved that
he began that
morning to compose
the poem "The
Defence of Fort
McHenry" which
would later be
renamed "The StarSpangled Banner"
and become
theUnited States'
national anthem.
A
Washington
Lawyer
named
Francis Scott Key
watched the battle
all night from a
nearby ship.
At dawn, he could see that the flag was still flying.
Francis Scott Key showed his pride by writing
what would become “The Star-Spangled Banner,”
our national anthem.
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
The Battle of Lake Champlain
• In the North, the British sent a force
from Canada across Lake Champlain.
• Its goal was to push south and cut off
New England.
• But in September 1814, an American
fleet defeated a British fleet in the
Battle of Lake Champlain.
The Battle of
Lake Champlain,
also known as
the Battle of
Plattsburgh,
fought on
September 11,
1814, ended the
final British
invasion of the
northern states
during the War
of 1812. Fought
just prior to the
signing of the
Treaty of Ghent,
the American
victory denied
the British any
leverage to
demand
exclusive control
over the Great
Lakes or
territorial gains
against the New
England states.
In the South, the British targeted the
strategic port of New Orleans.
The Battle of New Orleans
A U.S. general, Andrew Jackson, put
together an army to defend the port city…
When the British launched their
attack in January 1815, their
7,500 troops were quickly
defeated by Jackson’s soldiers.
Victory in New
Orleans
• American casualties
totaled 71, compared
to Britain’s 2,000.
• Victory in the Battle
of New Orleans made
Jackson a national
hero.
The Treaty of Ghent
Unknown to Jackson at the time, the Treaty of
Ghent ending the War of 1812 had been signed
two weeks earlier, in December 1814.
The War of 1812
had no clear winner.
Under the terms of
the Treaty of Ghent:
1) no territory
exchanged hands
2) none of the other
issues and disputes
were resolved.
But the War of 1812 still had
several important outcomes.
1) The heroic
exploits of
men such as
Jackson and
Perry
increased
American
patriotism.
2) The war broke
the strength of
Native Americans,
who had sided with
the British.
3) Because the war had interrupted trade,
Americans were forced to make many of their
own goods. This encouraged the growth of U.S.
manufacturers.
The United States proved it could defend itself
against the mightiest military power of the time,
and the
independence
of the
the United
States
17.
What was
most
was cemented and confirmed .
significant outcome of the
War of 1812?
Most significantly, this victory caused a
new sense of national pride and political
unity to sweep the country.