Unit 4 “The Early Republic” Part 1 The WAR OF 1812 Unit 4 “The Early Republic” Part 1

Conflict with Britain Year by year, the United States moved toward war with Britain. In 1810, France promised to end its attacks on American ships. President James Madison (4th POTUS) cut off trade with Britain. British attacks on American ships continued.

James Madison 4th POTUS

Conflict at Home with the Indians Meanwhile , in the Indiana Territory, a Shawnee Chief named Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa worked to create a confederacy of tribes that would stop the spread of settlers. To their people, Tecumseh’s brother Tenskwatawa was known as the prophet. Tenskwatawa claimed to have magical powers and they seemed to be proven to his followers when he predicted a solar eclipse. Prophet- a messenger from God

Tecumseh

Tenskwatawa

Battle of Tippecanoe Followers of Tecumseh and the Prophet built Prophetstown, their capital, on the Tippecanoe River in the present day state of Indiana. In 1811, at the Battle of Tippecanoe, soldiers under Governor William Henry Harrison scattered Tecumseh’s forces and burned down Prophetstown, their capital.(Harrison becomes the 9th POTUS and uses his nickname Old Tippecanoe in his campaign)

War Fever and War Hawks After the Battle of Tippecanoe, the soldiers found British-made guns there which was evidence that the British had been arming the Indians. In June 1812, the War Hawks persuaded Congress to declare war on Great Britain. War fever was rising among southern and western Republicans. They were so eager for battle that the Federalists called them War Hawks.( The War of 1812 )

Questions? Why were the Warhawks so eager for War? Did their reason make sense? Could there have been another option? If so, what?

Gov. William Henry Harrison

Defeating the Indians Tecumseh and his followers joined the Canadians in pushing back American invading forces. In 1814, Tecumseh was killed at the battle of Thames. Tecumseh’s death ended the dream of a united Indian people. Soon after the battle, the Indians of the Ohio country signed a peace treaty with the United States.

Questions? How did the Battle of Thames crush the dreams of a united Indian people?

Burning down the White House On August 23,1814, the British marched through Washington D.C. and set the capital on fire. During the fighting the White House and other public buildings were burned by the British. The President and his wife, Dolley, were forced to flee the city and were drenched in a thunderstorm taking place at the time. (The storm actually saved the White House)As if this was not humiliation enough, a large supper left on the table by the fleeing Madisons’ was eaten by some brash British soldiers.( Dolley Madison saved the portrait of George Washington, historic papers, and her pet parrot)

British burn down the White House

Burning down the White House

Battle of New Orleans 1815 New Orleans was defended by General Andrew Jackson and a “backwoods rabble” of untrained troops, free African Americans, Indians, and a few pirates. In January of 1815, General Andrew Jackson gave the Americans a stunning victory over the British at the Battle of New Orleans. ( 2000 – British killed or wounded, 8 –Americans killed or wounded) When the news of Jackson’s stunning victory reached Washington, D.C., Andrew Jackson had become a national hero.

General Andrew Jackson

General Andrew Jackson

The End Of The War of 1812 The Treaty of Ghent was signed in 1815, and ended the War of 1812. The Treaty did not deal with the British seizure of American ships. Peace brought with it a new spirit of nationalism among Americans. Nationalism-pride in one’s own country

Battle of Fort McHenry On September 13, 1814, British Warships bombed Fort McHenry all day and night. Through the night, an American lawyer named Francis Scott Key watched the bombardments from a ship in the harbor. The next day Key saw a tattered American flag waving at Fort McHenry. Key captured his feelings in a poem called, “The Defense of Fort McHenry”. Later on it was put to music and renamed “The Star Spangled Banner”.( It was adopted our national anthem in 1931)

Question? How is the poem ,”Defense of Fort McHenry” and the Star Spangled Banner different? What do they have in common?

Francis Scott Key

Fort McHenry (Today)

Ft. McHenry

Star Spangled Banner