Chapter 6 Section 4

* 1809 – Congress replaced the Embargo Act with Nonintercourse Act * Stated the U.S. would resume trade with whichever of those countries lifted their restrictions on American shipping

* Native Americans angered by government’s use of dishonesty * 1811 – while Tecumseh was seeking allies in the South, Governor William Henry Harrison of the Indiana territory led troops into Tecumseh’s village of Prophetstown along the Tippecanoe River * Battle of Tippecanoe – Native Americans lost some momentum but most escaped

* 1811 – aggressive, young politicians, known as War Hawks, took lead in Congress * John C. Calhoun of South Carolina and Henry Clay of Kentucky * Pushed for war against Britain * Thought invading Canada would hurt the Native Americans and drive out the British

* Jefferson advised Madison that the U.S. could easily take Canada * Land invasion was best tactic * Jefferson was wrong * Even though the British and Native Americans were under-matched – still managed to be victorious in 1812 and 1813 * Once again, the U.S. was embarrassed

* U.S. Navy performed well even if land invasion did not * Able to capture 4 British ships in 1812 * Able to retake Detroit in 1813 * Made little progress in conquering Canada but make progress in taking Native American land in U.S. * Andrew Jackson able to seize Spanish land in FL by defeating Seminoles in 1814

* In early 1814 – British invaded at three different points * Americans fought better * Most of the attacks ended in defeat for the British * British did capture capital and burned White House and capital * Francis Scott Key – wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner”

* Americans won greatest victory at the Battle of New Orleans in Jan * British suffered horrible losses and the battle actually came after the peace treaty was signed

* Both agreed to peace that restore prewar boundaries * U.S. thought of treaty as triumph because heard about it shortly after Jackson’s victory in New Orleans * Created the illusion that Jackson had forced British to accept peace

* Surge of confidence after the war * Outcome of the war discredited the Federalists – who opposed the war initially * December 1814 – Federalists met in Hartford, CT to consider secession and make a separate peace with Britain * Instead, demanded constitutional amendments designed to strengthen New England’s political power

* Demands from Hartford Convention reached Washington, D.C. at same time as news of victory * Once again, Federalists were embarrassed * Voters punished Federalists in next election * By 1820 – Federalist party was dead

* Results of War of 1812 ended most Indian resistance east of Mississippi River for time being * Millions of acres of Southern land opened up * New states created * American settlers were pouring into Spanish Florida, causing conflict * Will continue over the next decade