Madison and the War of 1812

CH: 6

Section: 4

THE DECISION FOR WAR

• 1808 the Republican Party nominated James Madison, he won easily.

• Tensions between the United States & Britain were rising & Madison had to decide whether to lead the U.S. into the first real war since the Revolution

• Non-intercourse Act –stopped trade w/ France and Britain until one lifted the trade restrictions.

ECONOMIC PRESSURES

• May 1810, congress used a plan by Nathaniel Macon of NC, Macon’s Bill Number Two

• France was 1st to lift restrictions on U.S. trade• 1811 congress passed a non-importation act

against Britain, which hurt the British economy• 1812 Britain ends restrictions on U.S. trade • 2 days later the U.S. declared war on Britain • Most people who supported the war came from

the South and West, J. Calhoun, Henry Clay, Felix Grundy- called War Hawks

THE WAR HAWKS

• These actions hurt mainly the S & W farmers, people also blamed Britain for clashed w/ Native Americans

• Early 1800’s settlers moved past the line in the Treaty of Greenville.

• Tecumseh & Tenskwatawa wanted to protect Native lands, W.H. Harrison-Gov. of IN Territory - wanted to stamp out resistance

TECUMSEH AND TIPPECANOE

• Nov. 1811 Harrison gathered a force and marched toward Prophetstown, attacked in the bloody Battle of Tippecanoe

• Tecumseh fled to Canada

• June 1812 Madison asked congress to declare war, vote split by region

• Country divided over war, called “Mr. Madison’s War”, few supplies, little money

Three Strikes Against Canada

• NE bankers are reluctant to fund war but Madison orders invasion of Canada

• All three strikes failed• Commodore Oliver Perry was able to win

victory over the British on Lake Erie, & allowed Gen. Harrison to win the Battle of Thames River. However, he was not able to go on and separate force lost Battle of Stony Creek

The War Ends

• British attack strategy in 3 parts– Cities, cut off New England, seize MS River

• D.C., burned White House & Capitol• Baltimore turned the British away• British defeat on Lake Champlain, no NY• Hartford Convention, call for

amendments• Battle of New Orleans – U.S. victory

– Andrew Jackson becomes a hero, nationalism

Treaty of Ghent

• Ended war of 1812

• Restored prewar boundaries

• No territory changed hands

• No mention of impressment