AIM: How did the War of 1812 affect the developing United States?

CAUSES of the War of 1812

Cause #1 – British interference with American shipping – naval blockade Great Britain and France were at war with each other. Great Britain did NOT want the US to provide the French with food and supplies, so they set up a partial blockade.

Cause #2 – Impressment (kidnapping) American sailors 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.

Cause #3 – Americans believe British push Native Americans to fight settlers. Many American settlers believed that the British were stirring up the Native resistance to frontier settlement.

Cause #4 – Western members of the House of Representatives (called War Hawks) want to expand into Canada. 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.

EFFECTS of the War of 1812

Effect #1 – Heroism of Andrew Jackson, and others increased American patriotism. American men were pretty courageous and did some impressive things all for the good of not themselves, but the country.

Effect #2 – Native Americans weakened The war broke the strength of Native Americans who had sided with the British.

Effect #3 – Growth of US manufacturing. War interrupted trade and Americans were forced to make many of the goods they had previously imported. We made more goods at home.

Effect #4 – US proves it could defend itself against world’s strongest military power. Britain was still viewed as the mightiest military power of the time and the US was able to beat them… again!

Effect #5 – Americans gain confidence in country’s ability to survive and prosper. Our ability to defend ourselves against a powerful country and win as well as the US manufacturing more and more goods made Americans believe in the stability of their country.

The Star-Spangled Banner, Francis Scott Key, 1814 The 35 year-old lawyer Francis Scott Key was an aspiring poet who witnessed the British Navies attack on Fort McHenry on September 13, 1814. After a night of heavy bombardment by British cannons and rockets, the Americans held their breath in anticipation for whether or not the American flag would fly over the Fort in the morning, signifying they had successfully survived the British assault. The poem he wrote would become the United States National Anthem. Star Spangled Banner

Why do you think the Star-Spangled Banner has become the National Anthem for the United States?

Treaty of Ghent On December 24, 1814 the Treaty of Ghent was signed, ending the War of 1812 -The United States solidified control over the Northwest Territory, preventing the formation of an independent Native American territory -The war served as a unifying force for Americans, rekindling a new sense of national unity and pride in the face of the political division that had formed in the country

The Battle of New Orleans A British naval force had planned an attack on the city of New Orleans and, thanks to the slow speed of communications, the Americans under the command of Andrew Jackson would meet the British Army in early 1815

Andrew Jackson, outnumbered and in command of an army of untrained militia, including Africans and pirates, would successfully defeat the British invasion force The battle would serve as a source of pride for Americans, and would cause Andrew Jackson to become one of the most famous men in the nation