 George Washington (1788)  John Adams (1796)  Thomas Jefferson (1800)  James Madison (1808)  James Monroe (1816)  So Far………

Born in Virginia, 1751 Attended Princeton University and became a lawyer. Father of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Secretary of State during Jefferson’s Presidency President, 1809 to 1817 Most known for US involvement during the War of Born in Virginia, 1751 Attended Princeton University and became a lawyer. Father of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Secretary of State during Jefferson’s Presidency President, 1809 to 1817 Most known for US involvement during the War of President James Madison

 Following the Battle at Tippecanoe, Indians increased their attacks on settlers  Many Americans believed the Native Americans were being encouraged and armed by the British  In 1812 many new southerners were elected to Congress  Members like John C. Calhoun and Henry Clay were known as the War Hawks because they favored a war with Britain  They represented interests of farmers moving west  Wanted to put a stop to Native American attacks

 In June of 1812, President Madison sent a message urging Congress to declare war on Britain  In addition to aiding Indians, Britain had interfered with U.S. shipping  For years the U.S. had tried to stop British impressment of Americans  British ships stopped American ships at sea, removed men, and forced them to serve in the British navy  Congress approved the call for war and thus began the War of 1812  At the time, this could have been a foolish action  U.S. had a very small army and navy  No offers of help from foreign countries  Fighting against powerful British and Indians

 The U.S. attempted a quick invasion into Canada, which failed in the summer of 1812  Poorly equipped and led  Victories:  William Henry Harrison wins the Battle of the Thames in October 1813, defeated Brits and Native American Tecumseh  Andrew Jackson defeats the Creeks at Horseshoe Bend in March 1814  Creeks soon signed Treaty of Fort Jackson in which they ceded 23 million acres of land, most of present day Alabama

 At first Americans won a few battles at sea  However, soon the British navy proved their might and the Americans lost several battles  British vessels outnumbered American ships 20-1  Britain captured or sunk several American ships (Chesapeake)  The British blockaded the U.S. coast which hurt trade

 In 1814, Britain ended a long and difficult war against French Emperor Napoleon  They were now allowed to turn full attention to the U.S.  In the late summer of 1814, Britain sends 4,000 troops into the Chesapeake Bay region  These troops soon descend upon Washington, D.C. against little opposition  President James Madison flees the capital  On the evening of August 24, the British enter the city and set it on fire, including the White House  They then move to Baltimore and begin a siege of Fort McHenry  Lawyer Francis Scott Key witnesses the all-night British bombardment and pens the Star Spangled Banner

 The war was controversial  Critics called it Mr. Madison’s War  The national treasury was empty  The capitol was in ruins  British blockade was crippling the economy  Hartford Convention  New Englanders had suffered the worst during the war  In December 1814 New Englanders send delegates to Hartford to consider leaving the union  In the end they only called for constitutional amendments to increase power of New England

 Soon, British and Americans realized this was a war no one wanted  Britain realized much like the revolution, this was a war they could not win  On December 24, 1814 representatives of the two nations met in Belgium and signed the Treaty of Ghent  This treaty ends the war  It does not resolve issues that led U.S. into war  Nothing is done for impressment or respect of U.S. neutrality  Many were happy with the end of war and some called it the second war for independence

 Although Treaty of Ghent officially ends the war, our greatest victory comes 2 weeks later  It was a result of the slow communication of the times  News of the treaty does not reach parts of the U.S. until February 1815  On December 23, 1814 a British force tries to take New Orleans  General Andrew Jackson successfully defends the city  On January 8, additional British forces attempt to take the city again  American riflemen easily win the battle in less than an hour  The Battle of New Orleans allowed the Americans to end an unhappy war on a powerful note  It restored patriotism and made Andrew Jackson a national hero

 The War of 1812 changed Congressional ideals  War and problems with neutrality demonstrated the vulnerability of America’s dependence on foreign economies  After the War of 1812, there was a push to build enough factories to serve domestic needs  It demonstrated that the U.S. was unable to coordinate a fiscal and military effort  The embargo forced NE businesses to become self-sufficient  Greater sense of American pride and nationalism