1. What caused the War of 1812 and what exactly happened, anyway?
“Mr. Madison’s War”

2. Causes
British navy seizing American ships and impressing American sailors (forcing sailors into the British navy)
Americans pressing for more land in the west blamed the British in the west for instigating a Native American rebellion and providing aid to Tecumseh, leader of a Native American movement to form a confederacy in the west.
War Hawks: young Republicans in Congress who were eager to go to war with Britain.
Led by Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun
Argued that war with Britain would defend American honor, gain Canada, and destroy Native American resistance on the frontier

3. Opposition to War
Congress and the people of the US were divided about going to war
New York, New Jersey, and New England states voted against going to war
New England merchants, Federalist politicians, and “Quids” (old Republicans) were the most vocal about their opposition to the war

4. Notable Battles Battle of New Orleans Summer of 1814
In Late 1812, US warship Constitution (Old Ironsides) sank a British ship off of Nova Scotia
British merchant ships captured
British navy blockaded US coast, crippled trading and fishing
Summer of 1814
British burned the White House
British did NOT capture Baltimore because Fort McHenry held out (Star Spangled Banner)
Battle of New Orleans
Took place after the peace treaty
British troops fail to control Mississippi River=American victory
troops led by Andrew Jackson = war hero

5. Why was the War of 1812 significant
Why was the War of 1812 significant? How did it impact the United States?
Impacts of the War of 1812
Complete the Do Now…this is being COLLECTED and GRADED! Use your notes to help you!
Write down the above question on your new notes sheet

6. Treaty of Ghent
American peace commissioners and British diplomats met in Ghent, Belgium to discuss terms of peace on Christmas eve, 1814
Halt to fighting
Return of all conquered territory to prewar owners/claimants
Recognition of prewar boundary between Canada and the US.

7. Hartford Convention
New England almost seceded from the Union because of their opposition to the war and the Republican government in Washington
Special convention held in Hartford, Connecticut in December of 1814 to decide the issue of secession
Did not vote to secede, but called for a 2/3 vote of both houses for any future declaration of war
After the convention, victory at New Orleans ended criticism of war and labeled Federalists as “unpatriotic”

8. Consequences of the War of 1812
US survived 2 wars with Britain = international respect
US accepts Canada as a neighbor and part of the British empire
Federalist party came to an end as a national force
Talk of nullification and secession in New England set a precedent that would later be used by the South
Native Americans in the west forced to surrender large areas of land to white settlement
Naval blockade during the war forced the US to develop own factories, moved toward self-sufficiency
War heroes emerged: Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison
Strong US nationalism…Americans began looking west for the future of the country and away from Europe