April 13, 2016` AIM: How did the conflict at home and abroad lead to the War of 1812? DO NOW: Please watch the following clip and be prepared to discuss.

Following the American Revolution U.S. trade with foreign countries increased very rapidly. This created both advantages and disadvantages for the U.S. However, the situation became complicated because the U.S. developed a foreign policy of neutrality after George Washington’s 2 terms as President. Do you believe trading with other countries could jeopardize U.S. foreign policy?

Impressment: The act of seizing ships, kidnapping its sailors and forcing them into labor.

LIMITS ON TRADE Jefferson passed the Embargo Act: Totally banned all importing and exporting. It hurt the U.S. the most. Then passed a limited ban called the Nonintercourse Act: No trade with just Britain and France.

CONFLICT WITH BRITAIN The U.S. and Britain continued to disagree over trade. Whoever stopped seizing American ships first would be the nation the U.S. traded with: It was France!! The embargo with Britain continued. However, President Madison still did not want war.

March 24, 2015 AIM: Why did the U.S. go to war with Britain? DO NOW: Look at the 2 images on the following slide and describe what you believe each one represents.

THE WAR HAWKS Members of Congress from the South and West called for war against Britain. Had a strong sense of nationalism. Felt they were still being treated like a colony of Britain.

ARGUMENTS FOR WAR Henry Clay was the most outspoken War Hawk. He wanted war!! I want revenge on Britain for seizing American ships. Let’s conquer Canada and seize Florida from Spain Let’s conquer Canada and seize Florida from Spain Let’s bring peace to the frontier.

An Act Declaring War Between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the Dependencies Thereof and the United States of America and Their Territories. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, That war be declared to exist between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the United States of America and their territories; and that the President of the United States is hereby authorized to use the whole land and naval force of the United States to carry out war, and to issue the use of private armed vessels of the United States against the vessels, goods, and effects of the governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. APPROVED, June 18, 1812

The Beginning 1811: William Henry Harrison wins the Battle of Tippecanoe. Tecumseh is convinced they need British help. U.S. forces almost immediately attacked Canada, then a British colony. 1812: Humiliating U.S. defeat at Detroit.

The Middle 1813: Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s wins the Battle of Lake Erie, placed the NW Territory under American control. Harrison was able to retake Detroit with a victory in the Battle of Thames (in which Tecumseh was killed). U.S. navy had been able to score several victories over the Royal Navy in the early months of the war. August 24, 1814: Washington D.C. captured, government buildings including the Capitol and the White House burned!

The End Peace talks had begun at Ghent (modern Belgium), and Britain moved for an armistice after the failure of the assault on Baltimore. In the negotiations that followed, the United States gave up its demands to end impressment, while Britain promised to leave Canada’s borders unchanged and abandon efforts to create an Indian state in the Northwest. On December 24, 1814, the U.S. and Great Britain signed the Treaty of Ghent. On January 8, 1815, unaware that peace had been concluded, British forces mounted a major attack on New Orleans, only to meet with defeat at the hands of future U.S. president Andrew Jackson’s army. News of the battle boosted sagging U.S. morale and left Americans with the taste of victory, despite the fact that the war was technically over.

QUESTION: If nothing technically changed, why was this an important war for the U.S. and considered a victory????