The War of 1812: America’s The War of 1812: America’s Second War for Second War for Independence?Independence?

Challenges to US Maritime PowerChallenges to US Maritime Power

War between French and British War between French and British boosted the power of each country, boosted the power of each country, threatened neutral US at sea.threatened neutral US at sea.

US stuck in middleUS stuck in middle• British Orders in Council: All ships must British Orders in Council: All ships must

stop at British portsstop at British ports• French seizing ships stopping at British French seizing ships stopping at British

ports!ports!

The The Chesapeake Chesapeake IncidentIncident Impressments continued—Impressments continued—

6000 Americans between 6000 Americans between 1808-18111808-1811

Chesapeake Chesapeake incident incident highlighted how serious highlighted how serious issue was.issue was.

Royal frigate tried to seize Royal frigate tried to seize four “deserters” from four “deserters” from American ship. When US American ship. When US refused, ship attacked. refused, ship attacked.

Americans enraged but Americans enraged but Jefferson worried about Jefferson worried about full-scale war.full-scale war.

The Solution: The Embargo Act The Solution: The Embargo Act (1807)(1807)

Very strict law—Very strict law—forbade all exports, forbade all exports, attempt at “peaceful attempt at “peaceful coercion”coercion”

Effects:Effects:• Hurt economyHurt economy• Catalyzed illegal tradeCatalyzed illegal trade• Anger even led to Anger even led to

revived Federalist partyrevived Federalist party• Changed to Changed to Non-Non-

Intercourse Act: Intercourse Act: Begin trade again, just Begin trade again, just not with France or not with France or England.England.

Presidential Election of Presidential Election of 18121812

Presidential Election of Presidential Election of 18121812

Madison and Macon’s BillMadison and Macon’s Bill Congress tried to get rid of Non-Intercourse Act Congress tried to get rid of Non-Intercourse Act

with a bargaining measure. with a bargaining measure. Under Macon’s Bill—tried to play countries off of Under Macon’s Bill—tried to play countries off of

one another.one another. Deal: Whichever country lifted trade restrictions Deal: Whichever country lifted trade restrictions

could trade with US, other country would have an could trade with US, other country would have an embargo against it.embargo against it.

French agree to this and US accepts offer—meant French agree to this and US accepts offer—meant US restored embargo against England!US restored embargo against England!

One step closer to war.One step closer to war.

““War Hawks”War Hawks”““War Hawks”War Hawks”

Henry Clay Henry Clay [KY][KY]

Henry Clay Henry Clay [KY][KY]

John C. Calhoun John C. Calhoun [SC][SC]

John C. Calhoun John C. Calhoun [SC][SC]

TecumsehTecumseh

Americans afraid of Americans afraid of Tecumseh’s plan Tecumseh’s plan for Indian for Indian confederacy confederacy against American against American expansionists.expansionists.

Battle of Tippecanoe (1811)Battle of Tippecanoe (1811)

William Henry HarrisonWilliam Henry Harrison

Governor of Governor of Indiana territoryIndiana territory

Won at the Battle Won at the Battle of Tippecanoeof Tippecanoe

Indian leaders Indian leaders fled to Canadafled to Canada

Br. Gen. Brock Meets Br. Gen. Brock Meets Tecumseh (1811)Tecumseh (1811)

Br. Gen. Brock Meets Br. Gen. Brock Meets Tecumseh (1811)Tecumseh (1811)

““Mr. Madison’s Mr. Madison’s War?”War?”

““Mr. Madison’s Mr. Madison’s War?”War?”

Quote, MadisonQuote, Madison

““Thousands of American citizens, Thousands of American citizens, under the safeguard of public law under the safeguard of public law and of their national flag, have been and of their national flag, have been torn from . . . Everything dear to torn from . . . Everything dear to them; have been dragged on board them; have been dragged on board ships of a foreign nation to be exiled ships of a foreign nation to be exiled to the most distant and deadly to the most distant and deadly climes to risk their lives in battles of climes to risk their lives in battles of their oppressors.”their oppressors.”

Divisions Over WarDivisions Over War

Support from South and West, mostly Support from South and West, mostly Democratic-RepublicansDemocratic-Republicans

Federalists oppose—especially in Federalists oppose—especially in New EnglandNew England• Still Pro-BritishStill Pro-British• Hated NapoleonHated Napoleon• Didn’t want to acquire Canada—make Didn’t want to acquire Canada—make

agrarians more powerfulagrarians more powerful

War of 1812War of 1812

The Republican-led Congress declared The Republican-led Congress declared war, but the country was not ready to war, but the country was not ready to fight: fight: • Insufficient troops and equipment, Insufficient troops and equipment, • a division over the war itself, and a division over the war itself, and • financial concerns all added to the problems. financial concerns all added to the problems.

Madison ordered the military to Madison ordered the military to invade British held Canada anyway.invade British held Canada anyway.

Battles of War of 1812Battles of War of 1812

Invasion of CanadaInvasion of Canada

Attacked from Attacked from Detroit, Niagara Detroit, Niagara Falls, Hudson Falls, Hudson River ValleyRiver Valley

All failedAll failed

Oliver Hazard PerryOliver Hazard Perry

Leader of Lake Leader of Lake Erie FleetErie Fleet

Defeated the Defeated the BritishBritish

Control for U.S. of Control for U.S. of Great LakesGreat Lakes

Washington D.C.Washington D.C.

August 1814August 1814

British fleet British fleet entered the entered the citycity

Washington D.C.Washington D.C.

Madison and Madison and other leaders fledother leaders fled

British set fire to British set fire to the White House the White House and the Capitoland the Capitol

Dolly Madison Dolly Madison saved important saved important paperspapers

Fort McHenryFort McHenry

British British marched on marched on BaltimoreBaltimore

Attacked Fort Attacked Fort McHenryMcHenry

Not successfulNot successful

Francis Scott KeyFrancis Scott Key

He wrote The He wrote The Star-Spangled Star-Spangled Banner while Banner while watching this watching this battlebattle

Battle of Fort Battle of Fort McHenry,McHenry,

18141814

Battle of Fort Battle of Fort McHenry,McHenry,

18141814

Oh Say Can You SeeOh Say Can You SeeBy the Dawn’s Early Light…By the Dawn’s Early Light… -- -- Francis Scott KeyFrancis Scott Key

Oh Say Can You SeeOh Say Can You SeeBy the Dawn’s Early Light…By the Dawn’s Early Light… -- -- Francis Scott KeyFrancis Scott Key

Battle of Lake ChamplainBattle of Lake Champlain

September 1814September 1814

U.S. VictoryU.S. Victory

The Hartford ConventionThe Hartford Convention New England federalists called in 1814, right New England federalists called in 1814, right

before Battle of New Orleansbefore Battle of New Orleans Hartford resolutions did not demand secession.Hartford resolutions did not demand secession. Did demand money from Washington to Did demand money from Washington to

compensate for lost trade, also restrictions to compensate for lost trade, also restrictions to make declaring an embargo and war more make declaring an embargo and war more difficult. Also, wanted to get rid of 3/5 difficult. Also, wanted to get rid of 3/5 compromise, and allow presidents only to serve compromise, and allow presidents only to serve one term.one term.

In end, presented resolutions right when war was In end, presented resolutions right when war was over.over.

Federalist party looked stupid! Federalist party looked stupid! DEATH-KNELL OF THE FEDERALIST PARTY!DEATH-KNELL OF THE FEDERALIST PARTY!

Treaty of GhentTreaty of Ghent

Dec. 1814Dec. 1814

Ended the Ended the War of 1812War of 1812

England must England must honor U.S. honor U.S. boundariesboundaries

The Battle of New OrleansThe Battle of New Orleans

Andrew Jackson and Andrew Jackson and ragtag army—regulars, ragtag army—regulars, pirates, Frenchmen, pirates, Frenchmen, free blacksfree blacks

Most devastating Most devastating defeat of British defeat of British attack-2000 killed in attack-2000 killed in half an hour!half an hour!

Restored American Restored American honor and pride.honor and pride.

Convention of 1818Convention of 1818

U.S.-Canadian U.S.-Canadian border from border from Minnesota to the Minnesota to the Rocky Mountains Rocky Mountains set at 49 degrees set at 49 degrees north latitudenorth latitude

Impacts of War of 1812: America’s Impacts of War of 1812: America’s Second War for Independence?Second War for Independence?

Republic proved itself, increased Republic proved itself, increased respectrespect

See dangers of divided nation, See dangers of divided nation, increased unityincreased unity

War heroes president—Harrison and War heroes president—Harrison and JacksonJackson

Indians lost more land.Indians lost more land. Increased economic independence. Increased economic independence.