War of 1812 By: Ms. Astle Picture from: American History Picture Packs Collection C: The American Revolution and the Early Republic, 1765-1820

War Begins The United States was unprepared for the war. It had a government that provided no leadership, an army fewer than 12,000 with 5,000 being new recruits, state militias with 50,000 to 100,000 poorly trained soldiers, some of whom were too old to fight. The war became known as “Mr. Madison’s War.” The war began in July 1812. General William Hull led the army from Detroit to Canada but met Tecumseh and his warriors. Fearing a massacre he surrendered Detroit to the British and retreated. Other American attempts to invade Canada also failed. General William Henry Harrison made another attempt without luck and decided that as along as the British controlled Lake Erie, they would not be able to invade Canada. Naval battles were more successful. The navy was more prepared with three of the fastest frigates, or warships. The Constitution destroyed two British vessels early in the war. On September 10, 1813, after a bloody battle along Lake Erie led by Oliver Hazard Perry, American ships destroyed the British naval force.

War Begins British troops and their Native American allies tried to pull back from Detroit now that America controlled Lake Erie. In the Battle of Thames on October 5, Tecumseh was killed when Harrison and his troops cut off the British and Native American forces. Canada remained unconquered, although Americans attacked York (present-day Toronto), burning the Parliament buildings. The war at sea saw more victories. In August 1812, the American warship Constitution destroyed a British vessel and four months later destroyed another British ship. American privateers attacked and captured numerous vessels.

War Begins The Native Americans had some setbacks. Before Tecumseh's death he talked with the Creeks in the Mississippi Territory about forming a confederation. When Tecumseh died, hopes of a Native American confederation also died. In March 1814, at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, Indiana, Jackson attacked and defeated the Creeks. More than 550 Creeks died in the battle and were forced to give up most of their lands in the United States.

The British Offensive In the spring of 1814, the British won the war with the French. Now they could send more troops to America. In August 1814, the British launched an attack on Washington D.C. The British overpowered the militia on the outskirts of the city and then marched into the city. They burned and destroyed everything connected to the government. They burned the US Capitol and the President’s Mansion. Luckily a thunderstorm put out he fires before they completely destroyed the buildings.

The British Offensive After D.C. the British headed north to Baltimore. The British attacked but could not enter the city. Roads were barricaded, the harbor was blocked, and some 13,000 militiamen stood guard. Fierce artillery fire from Ft. McHenry in the harbor kept the British from entering the City. On the night of September 13, Francis Scott Key wrote the “Star-Spangled Banner” to exemplify the patriotic feeling when he saw the American flag still flying over Fort McHenry when the battle was over. He watched as bombs burst over the fort in the night. When he saw the American flag the next morning, he wrote the poem.

The British Offensive While the British were attacking D.C. & Baltimore, Gen. Sir George Prevost was moving into New York from Canada. He led 10,000 troops and the goal was to capture Plattsburgh, a key city on the shore of Lake Champlain. He was stopped when the American naval force on Lake Champlain defeated the British fleet on the lake in September 1814. Knowing the American ships could overtake them, the British retreated to Canada.

The British Offensive The British decided after the Battle of Lake Champlain loss that the war in North America was too costly and unnecessary. In December 1814, in Ghent, Belgium, American and British representatives signed the Treaty of Ghent to end the war. The treaty did not change any of the existing border. There was also no mention of impressment of sailors. One final battle was fought after the peace treaty was signed because word had not yet reached the U.S. of the peace agreement. On January 8, 1815, the British advanced on New Orleans, LA. Andrew Jackson led the American army and became a hero during this battle. He and his troops were waiting when the British arrived. They hid behind thick cotton bales, which absorbed the British bullets. The British ere an open target. The battle of New Orleans was a bloody battle in which the Americans were victorious. Hundreds of British soldiers were killed. Andrew Jackson’s fame helped him later win the presidency in 1829.

The War Ends The Federalists in New England had opposed the war from the start. At the Hartford Convention, they drew up a list of proposed amendments to the constitution. Once the word came of Jackson’s victory and the peace treaty, their grievances seemed unpatriotic and their party lost favor. Americans felt a new sense of patriotism and a strong national identity after the war of 1812. The nation also gained new respect from other nations around the world.

Resources The White House: Andrew Jackson (2008) United States Government at URL: http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/aj7.html Wikipedia: Napolean Bonaparte (2008) Wikimedia Incorporated at URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_I_of_France Wikipedia: War of 1812 (2008) Wikimedia Incorporated at URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_1812 Wikipedia: Treaty of Ghent (2008) Wikimedia Incorporated at URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_ghent American History Picture Packs Collection C: The American Revolution and the Early Republic, 1765-1820 CD-Rom (2002) History Pictures Blank Maps for Quizzes (1995-2008) Pearson Education, Inc. at URL: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://wps.ablongman.com/wps/media/objects/1483/1518969/DIVI036.jpg&imgrefurl=http://wps.ablongman.com/long_divine_appap_7/0,9455,1518971-content,00.html&h=1004&w=800&sz=137&tbnid=hrv3RMmhgyE6fM:&tbnh=149&tbnw=119&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnew%2Bengland%2Bcolonies%26um%3D1&start=3&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=3 eMedia: War of 1812 Part 1 (2008) Utah Education Network at URL: http://dms.uen.org/cgi-bin/WebObjects/tsweb.woa/1/wo/tA9MJTLIBe2bhRi5Fp9Z90/0.13.3?1202176630162 Those Oldies But Goodies: Battle of New Orleans (2001) at URL: http://www.stinalisa.com/BattleOfNewOrleans.wav