Essential Question: What were the significant causes & effects of the War of 1812?

The Road to War: Renewed Conflict with England & France

The Embargo of 1807 When England & France resumed war in 1803 & violated U.S. neutrality, Jefferson approved the unpopular Embargo of 1807 To enforce the embargo, Jefferson contradicted his principles of individual liberty & weak gov’t: He mobilized the military to enforce the blockade He declared regions of NY (near Canada) in a state of insurrection 19

Congress repealed the embargo just 3 days after Jefferson left office For 15 months the embargo proved ineffective; Congress repealed the embargo in 1809 Jefferson’s decision to not run for a third term meant that these problems fell to his hand-picked successor, James Madison In 1808, Madison was elected president & the Republicans maintained control of the gov’t The Embargo of 1807 But it produced economic hardship, smuggling, & political dissent in America “Never did a prisoner, released from his chains, feel such relief as I shall on shaking off the shackles of power.”—TJ just 3 days before Jefferson left office In effect for 15 months,. But it had produced economic hardship, evasion of the law, and political dissension at home. : Congress repealed the embargo just 3 days after Jefferson left office

The Road to the War of 1812 The focus of Madison’s presidency was foreign policy: In 1809, the Non-Intercourse Act promised the U.S. would resume trade with England & France once U.S. neutrality is respected In 1810, Congress replaced this with Macon’s Bill #2 offering exclusive trade to whichever nation 1st honored U.S. neutrality 21

Which region would have supported a declaration of war the most? NE Federalists thought a war with Britain would be a mistake: they feared the us could not defeat England and it would bankrupt the country By 1810, War Hawks in Congress, led by Henry Clay (KY) and John Calhoun (SC) demanded war the England Most calls for war centered on British interference with US Trade rights “Free Trade and Sailors’ Rights!” Madison eventually gives in and asks Congress for declaration of war in June 1812. 23

Main Causes of the War of 1812 British interference with American shipping- naval blockade Impressment British provoking Native American Attacks War Hawks, from South and West, pushing for war and expansion – want Canada GB and France were at war with each other. GB did NOT want the US to provide the French with food and supplies, so they set up a partial blockade. British “impressed” or kidnapped American sailors and forced them to work on British ships. Between 1803 to 1812, the British impressed about 6,000 American sailors. Many American settlers believed that the British were stirring up the Native resistance to frontier settlement. Leaders such as Congressman Henry Clay angrily demanded war against Britain. These “war hawks” wanted British aid to Natives Americans stopped, and they wanted the British out of Canada.

The War of 1812

War of 1812 Despite increased patriotism, the U.S. was unprepared for war: Congress refused to raise taxes The army was small The government was incapable of directing a full- scale war The U.S. goal for the war was to attack British Canada & force England to respect U.S. rights The U.S. navy was a little more successful but only because the bulk of British navy was still fighting Napoleon in Europe 24

In 1814, the British took the offensive in a 3-pronged attack The American army under Andrew Jackson defeated the British at New Orleans (after a peace treaty was drawn up ending the war) The War of 1812 British were turned back at Plattsburg on Lake Champlain & gave up their Canadian offensive The British attacked the undefended Chesapeake & burned Washington, DC & laid siege to Baltimore In 1814, the British took the offensive in a 3-pronged attack

The British invaded Washington, D.C. in 1814 The War on Land Battle for Washington The British invaded Washington, D.C. in 1814 British soldiers burned the Capitol, the White House, and other public buildings Before the British burned the White House, Dolly Madison saved a famous painting of George Washington

Battle at Fort McHenry Francis Scott Key: an American lawyer and prisoner of the British Saw an American flag flying over Ft. McHenry after the battle The flag inspired Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner”

Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland

The Battle of New Orleans (1815) The most famous/important battle of the War Americans were lead to victory by General Andrew Jackson. Made him a national hero The battle continued even after the war ended because word did not reach the Americans for several weeks British suffered 2100 casualties; US 60

“Battle of New Orleans”—Johnny Horton (1959) In 1814 we took a little trip Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip. We took a little bacon and we took a little beans And we caught the bloody British in the town of New Orleans. [Chorus:] We fired our guns and the British kept a'comin. There wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago. We fired once more and they began to runnin' on Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. We looked down the river and we see'd the British come. And there must have been a hundred of'em beatin' on the drum. They stepped so high and they made the bugles ring. We stood by our cotton bales and didn't say a thing. [Chorus] Old Hickory said we could take 'em by surprise If we didn't fire our muskets 'til we looked 'em in the eye We held our fire 'til we see'd their faces well. Then we opened up with squirrel guns and really gave 'em ... well

Hartford Convention Federalists opposed the war by not paying taxes or sending troops In 1814, Federalists met at the Hartford Convention to discuss altering the U.S. Constitution to: restrict Congress’ war powers supported a one-term president abolish the three-fifths clause They discussed seceding from the USA if they did not get their way While the war still going on In order to reduce southern control of Congress And break the Virginia presidential dynasty 26

Treaty of Ghent Treaty of Ghent ended the war Establishes Status Quo Things go back to how they were before the war Signed in Dec 1814, ratified by US Congress Feb. 1815 27

Results of the War National Pride and confidence 2nd time US had defeated Britain Andrew Jackson seen as National Hero Destruction of the Federalist Party Fell apart Period of European Peace American Isolationism Period leads to boom in American industry Native Americans the main losers Had sided with the British