The War of 1812 AKA…Madison’s War

Background Information The War of 1812 is one of the forgotten wars of the United States. The war lasted for over two years, and it ended much like it started, in stalemate. However, it was in fact a war that once and for all confirmed American Independence.

Still Having Troubles with Britain?? The British never really left America after the Revolutionary War. The Americans and the British fought over the borders with Canada. The British wanted to have control of Baltimore, New Orleans and Washington, D.C.

Still Having Troubles with the Native Americans?? The Native Americans continued to fight against the Americans and their westward growth towards lands in the Northwest Territory Today’s Ohio and Indiana The British deserted the tribes after the Treaty of Greenville gave the Americans more land They reacted in 4 distinct ways

Native American Reactions Accepted White culture Little Turtle lived peacefully with the Americans Blended White and Native American cultures Handsome Lake settled differences and lived peacefully Returned to Indian Traditions Tenskwatawa (the Prophet) opposed assimilation Later joined his brother, Tecumseh in open warfare Took military action Tecumseh led tribes in open warfare Fought Wm. Henry Harrison at the Battle of Tippecanoe Joined the British in the War of 1812 and died in battle

Embargo of 1807 Instead of going to war with England, President Thomas Jefferson asked Congress to pass an embargo. American trade with any foreign country was restricted. The Embargo outlawed almost all trade with foreign countries Result: Americans smuggled goods to Europe The Embargo was EXTREMELY unpopular with Americans Ruined Jefferson’s second term and his popularity

USS Chesapeake In 1807 the British ship Leopard attacked the American ship, USS Chesapeake. Americans are outraged…many demand war!

Election of 1808 James Madison was elected as the 4th American president Jefferson retired to his home Later makes peace with Adams Madison inherited the problems with the British Congress was anxious to settle these differences

War Hawks In 1810 a new Congress was elected. In the new Congress there was a group known as War Hawks. They wanted to go to war with England and invade Canada. On June 18, 1812, President James Madison declared war on England even though the United States was not ready for war.

The Specific Causes of the War of 1812 The British had previously attacked the USS Chesapeake and nearly caused a war two year earlier. Disputes continued with Great Britain over the Northwest Territories and the border with Canada. Finally, the attempts of Great Britain to impose a blockade on France during the Napoleonic Wars was a constant source of conflict with the United States.

Indirect and Direct Causes Indirect Cause The War was declared as a result of long simmering disputes with Great Britain. Direct Cause The central dispute surrounded the impressment of American soldiers by the British.

1812 Hostilities between the two countries began with an invasion of British held Canada. But the entire campaign failed and ended with the British occupation of Detroit. The U.S. Navy, however, scored successes and restored confidence. In addition, American privateers, swarming the Atlantic, captured 500 British vessels during the fall and winter months of 1812 and 1813.

The USS Constitution Cruising off the Gulf of St. Lawrence on August 19, 1812 the USS Constitution encountered the Guerriere, a fast British frigate mounting 49 guns. Twenty minutes later the Guerriere was a dismasted hulk, so badly damaged that she was not worth towing to port. The American ship sent the British ammunition rebounding harmlessly off its hull.

Thus the name… “Old Ironsides” It was a dramatic victory for America and for USS Constitution . In this battle of only half an hour the United States "rose to the rank of a first-class power“ The country was fired with fresh confidence and courage; and union among the States was greatly strengthened.

1813 The campaign of 1813 centered on Lake Erie. The general was William Henry Harrison who would later become president of the United States. He led an army of militia, volunteers and regulars from Kentucky with the object of retaking Detroit. The entire region now came under American control.

General Harrison On September 12, while he was still in upper Ohio, news reached him that Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry had annihilated the British fleet on Lake Erie. Harrison occupied Detroit and pushed into Canada, defeating the fleeing British and their Indian allies on the Thames River.

1814 Another decisive turn in the war occurred in 1814 when Commodore Thomas McDonough won a point-blank gun duel with a British flotilla on Lake Champlain in upper New York. Deprived of naval support, a British invasion force of 10,000 men retreated to Canada. At about the same time, the British fleet was harassing the Eastern seaboard with orders to "destroy and lay waste."

The White House Burns On the night of August 24, 1814, the British burst into Washington, D.C., home of the federal government. American morale was at an all-time low when the British captured the City of Washington and burned the White House.

The President Flees President James Madison and his wife Dolley Madison fled to Virginia. She is credited with saving several priceless papers and a picture of George Washington from the flames

From Dolley Madison’s Journal Dolley packed state papers and wondering how she might save Gilbert Stuart's priceless full-length portrait of George Washington. I have had [a wagon] filled with plate and the most valuable portable articles belonging to the house; whether it will reach its destination, the Bank of Maryland, or fall into the hands of British soldiers, events must determine." She then supervised servants as they wrenched Washington's portrait from the wall. "It is done... the precious portrait placed in the hands of the gentlemen for safe keeping. And now, dear sister, I must leave this house or the retreating army will make me a prisoner in it by filling up the road I am directed to take. When I shall again write to you, or where I shall be tomorrow, I cannot tell."

The Star-Spangled Banner In 1813 the commander of Ft. McHenry asked for a flag so big that "the British have no trouble seeing it from a distance." He asked Mary Young Pickersgill to make the flag for him. Her thirteen year old daughter helped her. She used 400 yards of fine wool. They cut 15 stars that were two feet across. There were 8 red and 7 white stripes. The stripes were each two feet wide. When it was finished it measured 30 by 42 feet and cost $405.90.

Ft. McHenry Attacked! Baltimore Harbor was attacked and Ft. McHenry was bombarded by British bombs- A lawyer, Francis Scott Key watched from an American ship in the harbor and wrote a poem to that expressed his feelings after seeing the American flag still flying during the battle.

National Anthem Key’s poem, “The Defence of Fort M'Henry”, was later added to the existing music “To Anacreon Heaven”, by the English composer John Stafford, but the combination came to be known as the “Star Spangled Banner”. Under this name, the song was adopted as the American national anthem in 1931.

Do you know the Lyrics?? Work with a small group and see if you know the lyrics…

Here they are…. Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Cool Website The Star Spangled Banner: The Flag that Inspired the National Anthem http://americanhistory.si.edu/ssb/2_home/fs2.html

The End of the War… As the war continued, British and American negotiators each demanded concessions from the other. The British envoys decided to concede, however, when they learned of McDonough's victory on Lake Champlain. Urged by the Duke of Wellington to reach a settlement, the negotiators for Great Britain accepted the Treaty of Ghent negotiated in Belgium on December 24, 1814.

Oops! There was a treaty??? Unaware that a peace treaty had been signed, the two sides continued fighting in New Orleans, Louisiana. Led by General Andrew Jackson, the Americans scored the greatest land victory of the war. The battles with British troops are among the most decisive in American military victories in our history.

Battle of New Orleans In 1814 we took a little trip, Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip. We took a little bacon, and we took a little beans. And we fought the bloody British near the town of New Orleans.

We fired our guns and the British kept a comin' There wasn't quite as many as there was a while ago. We fired once more and they began a runnin’ on down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

We looked down the river and we seen the British come, An there must have been a hundred of them beatin on the drum. They stepped so high & they made their bugles ring, we stood beside our cotton bails & didn't say a thing.

We fired our guns and the British kept a comin' There wasn't quite as many as there was a while ago. We fired once more and they began a runnin’ on down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

Old Hickory said we could take 'em by surprise if we didn't fire our muskets 'til we looked them in the eye. We held our fire 'til we see'd their faces well, then we opened up our squirrel guns & really gave 'em WELL....

We fired our guns and the British kept a comin' There wasn't quite as many as there was a while ago. We fired once more and they began a runnin’ on down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

They ran thru the briars and they ran thru the brambles and they ran thru the bushes where a rabbit couldn't go. They ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch 'em on down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

We fired our cannon till the barrel melted down, then we grabbed an alligator & we fought another round. We filled his head with cannon balls, & powered his behind 'n when we touched the powder off the gator lost his mind.

We fired our guns and the British kept a comin' There wasn't quite as many as there was a while ago. We fired once more and they began a runnin’ on down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

They ran thru the briars and they ran thru the brambles and they ran thru the bushes where a rabbit couldn't go. They ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch 'em on down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

What’s next for the young country??? Americans now turned their energies to exploring and settling the American continent in a fury of westward expansion.

The Balance of Power Congress had a balance of free and slave states But…new lands mean new states Will they be slave or free states?? The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 said that no state north of the Ohio River could be a slave state Missouri did not fit the definition Bitter debate followed in Congress

The Missouri Compromise A compromise was reached in 1820 Slavery would be permitted in the new state of Missouri Maine would also admitted as a free state Any new state above 36’ 30” N would be free The balance of power was preserved….FOR NOW!!

More to come... MANY, MANY more!!