The War of 1812 Section Four

A) Defeats and Victories

U.S. Army The U.S. military had about 7,000 regular soldiers and 75,000 poorly trained militia. Many commanders were too old and they underestimated how strong Britain was.

Gen. William Hull General William Hull surrendered Detroit to the British without a fight on August 16, 1812. He was branded a coward and traitor to America. After the War of 1812, he was tried for treason and was sentenced to death for his actions. He is the only general in U.S. History to be sentenced to death by a court-martial. Later, President Madison remitted his sentence.

Com. Oliver Hazard Perry The U.S. Navy did have new frigates that were some of the fastest warships on the water. The U.S.S. Constitution, nicknamed Old Ironsides, defeated the H.M.S. Guerriere and H.M.S. Java. Com. Perry defeated the British on Lake Erie.

U.S. Frigates

American Privateers American privateers also helped harass the British Navy and helped build American confidence.

Gen. Andrew Jackson In the South in 1814, General Andrew Jackson defeated the Creek and Seminole tribes in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in the Mississippi Territory.

Battle of Horseshoe Bend

B) The British Offensive

Britain Focuses on the U.S. In 1814, the British began to focus exclusively on the U.S. after their war with France ended - this changed things drastically.

British Land in the U.S. In August, the British Army landed in the Chesapeake Bay and marched on Washington, D.C. burning the Capitol and White House, but Madison was able to escape.

British Burn Washington DC

British Leave D.C. The British Army did not stay in Washington, they moved on to Baltimore and attacked Fort McHenry.

British Attack Fort McHenry O say! can you see, by the dawn’s early light, what so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly still streaming! … Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Francis Scott Key Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner, originally as a poem, while watching the attack on Ft. McHenry from a British prison ship.

Battle of Lake Champlain Meanwhile, in September, an American naval force defeated a British fleet of more than 10,000 soldiers in the Battle of Lake Champlain.

Treaty of Ghent After this loss, Britain decided the war in America was no longer worth the effort. The war ended with the Treaty of Ghent in December.

Battle of New Orleans Before word reached the U.S., the Battle of New Orleans occurred with the U.S. Army crushing the British Army killing hundreds of British soldiers with very few American losses.

Battle of New Orleans

Battle of New Orleans

Gen. Andrew Jackson General Andrew Jackson became a national hero.

U.S. Earns Respect After the war, The United States gained respect from many nations of the world for the first time.