WAR OF 18122ND WAR FOR INDEPENDENCEMR. MADISON’S WAR

CAUSES OF WAR

British violation of treatiesStill present in the NW Territory

Supply Native Americans with weapons, etc

Impressment continues

JUNE 1807

U.S. ship Chesapeake fired upon by British ship Leopard

Refused to allow British to board the ship

3 sailors killed, 18 wounded

ELECTION OF WAR HAWKS TO CONGRESS

Henry Clay from Kentucky:AKA “The Great Compromiser”Represents western interestsJohn C. Calhoun from South

Carolina:Represents southern interestsBoth Democratic-Republicans

Henry Clay John C. Calhoun

OPPOSITION TO WAR HAWKS

All FederalistsLeader of the Federalists in

Congress:Daniel Webster of

MassachusettsRepresented interests of New

England

Daniel Webster

“TRIUMVIRATE”

BATTLE OF TIPPECANOENOVEMBER 7, 1811

Tecumseh, Shawnee leader

Opposed to expansion in Native American land

Attempts to form a confederacy of various tribes

Tenskwatawa AKA “The Prophet”

Brother of Tecumseh

HQ of confederacy “Prophetstown” located in Indiana Territory

Tecumseh Tenskwatawa

TENSIONS INCREASE

Governor Indiana Territory:

William Henry Harrison

Marches on Prophetstown with 1000 troops

Tecumseh leaves “The Prophet” in charge while recruiting more allies

Orders his brother to take no action

Not being a military leader, “The Prophet” attempts a surprise attack but is defeated

William Henry Harrison

EFFECT OF THE BATTLE

Cause many to blame British for inciting Native American uprisings (War Hawks)

Many consider this 1st battle of the War of 1812

Tecumseh remains allies to the British but later killed at the Battle of the Thames in Ontario

Ends threat of his confederacy to the U.S.

JUNE 18, 1812

War formally declaredNo Federalists in Congress vote

for the declaration of warNeither side ready for warEngland battling NapoleonUnable to spare many troops for

N. America

AMERICAN ARMY

In 1812, consisted of less than 12,000 men

Madison believes state militias would easily seize Canada forcing negotiations

Militia’s unwilling to fight outside of state also lacked discipline

Congress authorizes expansion of army to 35,000

Voluntary, poorly paid, lack of trained officers

CONT.

New England states refuse to supply militia units or give financial support

New England states were threatening succession due to the war

BRITISH STRATEGY

Blockade American coastline

Defend Canada

KEY BATTLES

April 1813, Battle of York (Toronto) Provincial capital of Upper Canada

US victory which includes the burning down of the capital building

September 1813, Battle of Lake Erie AKA Battle of Put-in-Bay

US victory which includes capture of 6 British ships and ensures US control of Lake Erie

Oliver Hazard PerryHero of Battle of Lake Erie

Dies in 1819 after contracting yellow fever after visiting with Simon Bolivar regarding piracy in the Caribbean

KEY BATTLES CONT

By 1814, Napoleon abdicates and England begins invasion of U.S.

Aug 1814, British attack and occupy Washington, D.C.

White House and Capitol building destroyed

KEY BATTLES CONT

Sept 12-15, 1814Battle of BaltimoreU.S. forces hold off British

attacksTurning point of the warFt. McHenry:Francis Scott KeyStar Spangled Banner

Francis Scott Key

KEY BATTLES CONT.

Sept 6-11 1814Battle of Plattsburgh AKA

Battle of Lake ChamplainU.S. victory marked the

final invasion of northern states by the British

TREATY OF GHENT

Signed December 24, 1814

Basically restores relations to status quo ante bellum

The treaty released all prisoners

Returned to the United States were approximately 10,000,000 acres of territory, near Lakes Superior and Michigan, in Maine, and on the Pacific coast

TREATY OF GHENT CONT.

American-held areas of Upper Canada (present-day Ontario) were returned to British control.

BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS JANUARY 8, 1815

Due to slow methods of communication this is fought after signing of Treaty of Ghent

U.S. forces commanded by Andrew Jackson

Important victory for Jackson as it makes him a national hero

Andrew Jackson

HARTFORD CONVENTION

December 15, 1814-January 4, 1815

New England Federalists who opposed the War of 1812

Delegates from MA, CONN, RI, NH, and VT

Discussed proposing Const. amendments to look out for interests of New England

Discussed secession from the U.S. and negotiating treaty with England

CONT

Signing of the Treaty of Ghent disgraced the Federalist Party

Led to the disbandment of the party in most areas of the U.S.