1. Forgotten, yet Important!!
War of 1812
Forgotten, yet Important!!

2. Setting the Stage: 1803-Britain and France were at war again.
United States remained neutral, and continued trading with both countries.
As a war strategy, both Britain and France tried to cut off each other’s shipping.

3. Causes of the War US shipping was being harassed,
and cargo was seized by the British
American sailors were being
“impressed” (kidnapped) and
forced to join (or rejoin) the British
Navy
1807, Thomas Jefferson convinced Congress to pass the Embargo Act—forbidding foreign trade.

4. Causes of the War cont…
The Embargo Act backfired-US exports fell, crop prices declined, and many lost jobs.
The Embargo Act was repealed in 1809, foreign trade was reopened with every country except Britain and France.
Americans angry at Britain for arming
Native Americans in the Northwest

5. Goodbye, TJ!—Hello, James!
Jefferson did not seek a 3rd term
James Madison becomes 4th
President (1809) (had been
Jefferson’s Secretary of State)
most important contributor to the
Constitution.
shortest President
James’ wife, Dolley, was from NC

6. To War or Not to War?
War Hawks wanted WAR!!!-wanted to go westward and wouldn’t mind getting their hands on CANADA!!
Angry with British for arming Native Americans
Resented continued Impressment of US Sailors.
Others didn’t want war—they remembered the long and bloody Revolution and didn’t want “Round 2” with England
NC was sharply divided on the question

7. Benefits to War with Britain
To allow reopening of trade
National Pride
(“We whipped the British
again!”)
To stop the Impressment
of sailors
CANADA!!

8. Drawbacks to War
The country was divided on the question (political problem)
Military was still small (less than 7,000 men and only 16 warships.)
Would be hard to defend coastline (NC was worried about this)
England was still England and was a Superpower that could crush us into dust!! (Possibly lose territory gained in Treaty of Paris and Louisiana Purchase.)

9. War is Declared!
June 1812—Madison asked Congress for a declaration of war. “Mr. Madison’s War”
Vote is split along regional lines (Northeasterners didn’t want war—they
wanted to trade /$$$$)
The US invasion of Canada is
only mildly successful.

10. Attack the Capital!! Britain invades DC!! (August 1814)
The British destroy much of Washington,
burning the Capitol and the White House
Dolley Madison barely escapes from the
White House but saves a valuable
painting of George
Washington
(Dolley becomes a
hero, You go girl!!!)

11. Other “Key” People and events
Andrew Jackson (from NC) becomes a war hero at the Battle of New Orleans in January of 1815 (after the treaty to
end the war had been signed)
Francis Scott Key wrote a poem “The Star Spangled Banner” while watching the Battle of Fort McHenry in
Baltimore’s harbor.

12. Treaty of Ghent
War “ends” with treaty signed on Christmas Eve of 1814.
Returned things to how
they were before the war.
Showed we could go against
the British.
STALEMATE!!— No one
gained or lost territory
The issue of Impressment
wasn’t even addressed! (faded on its own)

13. If it’s a tie, who cares?! It gave the US a great sense of national
pride
Started us thinking about continuing
westward expansion.
Started a wave of ideas and new energy.
(NC was an exception)
Andrew Jackson becomes a hero and goes on to the US Presidency a few years later– and changes ideas about politics.