Foreign Powers and the War of 1812

I. “Kindly separated by nature and a wide ocean from the exterminating havoc of one quarter of the globe” A.Jefferson wanted the states to seek friendship with foreign powers but have no alliances 1.Merchants and Louisiana prevented Americans from avoiding foreign nations 2.American trading vessels had trouble choosing sides when it came to trading in Europe B.The Leopard and Chesapeake fight off the coast of Virginia- (Impressment)

II. Trade as a weapon A.Peaceable Coercion- Embargo Act of “Cutting ones throat to stop a nosebleed” 2.The act was partially repealed under Madison in 1808 a)-

III. Tecumseh A.Wanted to unite many different tribes to fight for their land 1.September of 1809 William Henry Harrison (gov. of Indiana territory) signed the Treaty of Fort Wayne with several different Chiefs a) Tecumseh declared the treaty meaningless B.At the battle of Tippecanoe Harrison forces defeated the Shawnee 1.-

IV. War Hawks A.Tecumseh and his men went to Canada 1.The British and Tecumseh become allies a)Congressmen Henry Clay of Kentucky demanded that America go to war with the British due to the alliance i.Congress declared war on Britain June 18, 1812

The War of 1812

I. Phase One A.The British didn’t really want to get involved in another war because they were already fighting the French B.The US Navy rose to the challenge against the British- 1.In September of 1813 Oliver Hazard Perry sailed out to meet the British on lake Erie 2.His ship the Lawrence flew the banner “don’t give up the ship”

3. The Brits and Americans exchanged cannon fire for 2 hours until Perry’s ship was all but destroyed 4. He grabbed the banner and rowed a row boat to another American ship- 5. Harrison pursued the British into Canada and won the battle of Thames- Tecumseh dies

II. Phase Two A.In 1814 Britain turned its full attention to America B.British burned the White House and Capitol building C.At Ft. McHenry a large American flag flew 1.Francis Scott Key, detained on a British ship, watched all night during the battle and at dawn discovered that the flag still flew a)-

III. The end of the War A.American forces defeated the British at Lake Champlain in 1814 B.The British moved to the port of New Orleans 1.Jackson and his men repealed the British attack (America lost 71, British 2000) C.Two weeks earlier the Treaty of Ghent had officially ended the war 1.-

IV. The Treaty A.Showed that there was no winner B.No land changed hands