The War of 1812

As the new nation grew and it’s foreign policy of avoiding
permanent alliance became defined it sought out trade relationships.
America was determined to grow and become prosperous. It was
inevitable that there would be affairs with England and France as
they were the two strongest powers of the time. Eventually that
contact, as Washington feared, brought America to the brink of war.

I. The United States Enters the War of 1812

A. How did the United States first get involved in a
conflict with European nations?

1. In 1803 the expected war between France and Great
Britain broke out, and it continued for 12 years. Before it ended,
the US was “drawn into the conflict.”

2. As has been detailed earlier President Adams had worked to
avoid becoming involved in the conflict between France and England.
Jefferson attempted to follow that policy at great political cost.

3. Jefferson was criticized heavily for being too weak in regard
to the British and French policy of seizing or “impressing” American
sailors. When Madison, pushed by the “War Hawks” in Congress was
pressured to take stronger action.

B. What factors led to a declaration of war?

1. For centuries, the British had manned their fleet
by kidnapping British men and forcing them into a naval service. This
was known as impressment. The British justified their actions
by denying the fact that America was an independent nation. They
considered felt that we were all British subjects.

2. The Chesapeake Incident—In June 1807, the U.S.S. Chesapeake was
cruising in international waters just outside the three mile limit
off of Virginia. The British Warship Leopard approached and ordered
the Chesapeake’s captain to permit a search of British deserters.
When the captain refused, the Leopard opened fire. Three Americans
were killed and 18 wounded. The British allegedly took four
deserters.

C. What conflict arose with the Indians prior to the War of 1812?

1. In the Ohio river valley many displaced Indian
tribes led by the Chief Tecumseh formed a large confederation.

2. Tecumseh’s goal was to fight for the Indians common homeland.
In 1811 Tecumseh went on an eight month journey to rally support.
While he was away his brother, disregarding his instructions,
attacked troops led by Governor William Henry Harrison.

3. Harrison’s troops crushed the Indian Confederation at the
Battle of Tippecanoe. Harrison became a national hero. British guns
seized at the battle became yet another rallying cry for the War
Hawks in their quest for war against England.

 D. What happened during the War of 1812?

1. The Canadian Front

a) Madison called for 50,000 volunteers for a year’s
service in the regular army. 5,000 signed up. Because of this
situation, the first attempts to invade Canada were disastrous.

b) The American fleet on Lake Eric defeated a British fleet. The
Americans regained Detroit, and two American armies invaded Canada,
winning the battles at the Thames River, York (Toronto), and Fort
George.

2. The British Burn Washington D.C.

3. By 1814 British landing parties were burning towns all along
the coast. That summer they sent a sizable force up to Chesapeake
Bay.

4. In revenge for the American raid on York, the capital of
Canada, the British burned the Capitol, the White House, and other
public buildings.

5. From Washington, the British moved to Baltimore.

E. How did Andrew Jackson become an American hero during the war?

1. Jackson invaded Spanish territory in western
Florida to head off any British attempt to take the port of Pensacola

2. In 1815 he turned westward to help defend New Orleans. He had
collected 5400 frontiersmen, sailors, regular troops, and pirates.

3. The Americans were ready, waiting for the redcoats. The British
commander ordered a frontal assault. Before he was killed, he watched
his soldiers fall down in rows. Jackson instantly became know as the
Hero of New Orleans.

4. The Battle of New Orleans provided the Americans with their
only really decisive land victory of the entire war. Ironically, the
war was already over. On Christmas eve of 1814, the American and
British peace negotiations had reached an agreement. The news just
had not arrived in time.

F. What were the results of the war?

1. Britain and the United States signed the Treaty of
Ghent. In this treaty the British formally recognized the existence
of the United States and gave up all claims to most land south of
Canada.

1. Most Americans assumed that Spanish Florida would eventually
become part of the US, and American settlers began to move in on
their own. Unfortunately there were outbreaks of disputes between
settlers and the Indians.

2. Jackson was given command of the US troops, with vague
instructions to bring peace and order to the borderland region.

3. When Jackson reached Pensacola, he threw out the Spanish
governor, set up his own garrisons, claimed the territory for the
United States.

4. In the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819, Spain ceded (gave) the
territory of Florida to the United States

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