The War of 1812 Begins In August 1812 the USS Constitution sank the British Guerriére. The naval war moved into the Great Lakes; the United States won the Battle of Lake Erie. The Americans made several unsuccessful invasions of Canada. Tecumseh joined the British in a campaign to capture Detroit and invade Ohio. Battle of the Thames: Harrison’s army met British and Indian forces and was victorious Tecumseh was killed in the battle, ending the British-Native American alliance. Tennessee militia leader Andrew Jackson led a force against the Creeks at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend where women, children, and warriors were massacred.

The War of 1812 Begins In August 1814 the British fleet sailed into Chesapeake Bay. Their soldiers marched to Washington, where they burned several major buildings, including the White House. Then they bombarded Fort McHenry at Baltimore Harbor. After an overnight battle, the American flag was still flying. The sight inspired Francis Scott Key to write the lyrics to “The Star-Spangled Banner.” A British force landed near New Orleans in December 1814. Andrew Jackson and a militia were waiting for them. He became the hero of the Battle of New Orleans. Treaty of Ghent: peace treaty between the United States and Great Britain, signed in December 1814 in Ghent, Belgium