1. War of 1812
Events leading to war
Jefferson was very popular & won second term in 1804
War between Britain and France
Blockade – block trade – prevent ships from entering ports
Issues with Great Britain
Impressments = practice of seizing Americans at sea & drafting them into the British navy
Chesapeake Incident (June 1807) – British open fired on the Chesapeake because the captain would not led British on board
Embargo Act of 1807– Jefferson’s response; banning exports to Britain and France in order to avoid war
Hurts northern businessmen
France later agreed to U.S. terms while Britain continued to violate freedom of seas

3. War Hawks and Native Americans
William Henry Harrison persuaded many natives to sign away their lands
Tecumseh’s Confederacy – protect & stop white settlers from intruding on their lands; failed to recruit other tribes
Battle of Tippecanoe – turning point in fighting with natives; victory for Harrison
War Hawks – support war with Britain; John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay
Reason: Native Americans receiving guns from Great Britain

4. New President, New War James Madison won Presidency in 1808
By Spring, decided to declare war = “Mr. Madison’s War”
Believed Britain was stopping trade, crippling the economy
Causes of War of 1812
Violations of freedom of Seas
Impressments
Chesapeake incident
blockades
Native relations
War Hawks

5. Protests in New England
Mixed results
American military unprepared for war
Different native groups sided with U.S. or G.B.
Next year went better; Tecumseh was killed, natives stopped fighting
By end of 1813, British navy stopped US navy via a blockade
Aug. 1814, low point– White House burned
Battle at Fort McHenry (Sept 1814) – saved Baltimore and Francis Scott Key wrote “Star Spangled Banner”
Protests in New England
Hartford Convention (1814) – New England Federalists opposed to the war discussed possible secession = to leave the union; wanted to increase political power

6. Video Ending the War of 1812 Era of Good Feelings
Treaty of Ghent, 1815 – declared armistice = cease fire
Andrew Jackson – General in TN, gathered troops to protect New Orleans (after treaty – delayed news)
Successfully kept the British out, w/o help of foreign power
Video
Era of Good Feelings
Period of increased Nationalism – focus on the nation as a whole, increased patriotism
Federalist party lost power – no longer a major force in U.S. politics because of opposition to war
Increased strength of U.S. industry and businesses
U.S. became less dependent on European markets