War of 1812

A. Election of 1808

The Election James Madison wins Two Terms 1809-1817

B. Mr. Madison as President

Macon’s Bill No. 2 (1810) Replaced Non-Intercourse Act that expired in 1810 Provisions: No trade with Britain or France unless they agreed to honor neutrality The 1st to agree, the U.S. would resume trade with Madison angry proved the U.S. could not survive without Britain & France

Macon’s Bill No. 2 (1810) Napoleon takes advantage of the new law & agrees to honor neutrality Hopes to force a war between Britain & the U.S. Trade resumes with France Britain resumes attacking American ships

Dealing with the Natives Americans are expanding to the West Indian Intercourse Act (1790): U.S. could only acquire land ceded by the Indians Tecumseh & the Prophet were the leaders of a new Northwest Confederation of Indians in Ohio & Indiana Began an active resistance movement with the assistance of the British British General Brock Meets with Tecumseh

Battle of Tippecanoe (1811) General William Henry Harrison is the governor of the Indiana Territory Treaty of Ft. Wayne (1809): Indians signed away 3 million acres of land to the U.S. Tecumseh & Shawnees begin a war against Harrison 1811: Tecumseh goes to the South to recruit the Southern tribes The Prophet fought against Harrison and was defeated and killed at Tippecanoe This made Harrison a national hero & Tecumseh formed an alliance with the British

War Hawks vs. Federalists War Hawks – those who wanted to go to war with Britain from the D-R Party Mainly from the West & South Hoped to acquire more land for more expansion End attacks coming from Native Americans Two main War Hawks: Henry Clay (KY) John C. Calhoun (SC)

War Hawks vs. Federalists Federalists did not want to go to war Trade with Britain benefitted them Mainly New England merchants that were against the war Main Federalist: Daniel Webster (NH)

C. War is Declared

War is Declared President Madison asked Congress for a Declaration of War on June 1, 1812 His Reasons: 1. British Impressment of American Soldiers & other violations of neutrality 2. Pressure from the War Hawks 3. British arming of Hostile Native Americans Congress declared war 2 weeks later

American Advantages/Disadvantages Britain was fighting in Europe too Disadvantages: Army was ill-trained and ill-disciplined Navy had 12 ships compared to Britain’s 800 Had some really old generals No Draft = No men Financially Unprepared No tariffs = no income Regional Disagreements Fighting the British & the Native Americans

Essex Junto Extreme Federalists who believed that this was an unjust war and worked to support the British Supplied food & money to Britain (mainly in Canada) fighting against the U.S. New England refused to help war effort – governors would not allow militias to fight out of their states Referred to the war as “Mr. Madison’s War”

D. The War

The War Itself Lasted from 1812-1815

Major Events of the War Washington, D.C. is burned down The Star Spangled Banner is written

The Hartford Convention Some radicals brought up secession Demands made moot by the end of the war Was the death knell of the Federalists – seen as traitors Meeting in Dec 1814-Jan 1815 26 delegates from MA, RI, CT, VT, NH (Federalists) Met to discuss their grievances & seek redress b/c of the war Wanted amendments added to the Constitution Limit presidents to 1 term Need 2/3 majority for embargos & war No successive presidents from the same state

E. End of the War

Treaty of Ghent Neither side was winning U.S. had trouble fighting, British distracted by France Met in Ghent, Belgium to discuss a peace treaty Signed December 24, 1814 Provisions: The status quo was restored

Battle of New Orleans Communication was slow – no one knew the war was over Largest battle took place after the treaty was signed

Effects of the War Nationalism Economic Independence Finally identify themselves as “Americans” Growing pride in the nation Nation starts to become more important than the states Economic Independence Developed own industries Not relying on Europe for finished products