1. The War of 1812
Chapter 11 lesson 4
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2. Objectives Explain why the United States declared war on Britain
Describe what happened in the early days of the war
Discuss the American invasion of Canada and the fighting in the South
Identify the events leading to the end of the War of 1812

3. Focus Question
What were the causes and effects of the War of 1812?

4. President James Madison
Took office in 1809
Tension with Britain was high
Why were Americans angry at Great Britain?
Impressment of sailors
Arming Native Americans in the northwest

5. Nationalism What is nationalism?
A strong sense of devotion to one’s country
To most Americans, the country’s honor was at stake
In 1810, two strong nationalists (Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun) became leaders in the House of Representatives

6. The Result: War Hawks
Clay, Calhoun, and supporters were called War Hawks
Those who were eager for war with Britain
Opposition to war was strongest in New England
Believed war with England would harm trade
Who does
John Calhoun look like?

7. Beginnings of 1812 Relations with Britain worsened
In the spring, Britain told the U.S. they would continue impressing sailors
Native Americans continued to attack settlers in the Northwest
By June, Madison asked Congress to declare war on Great Britain

8. Early Days of the War
For the British, the war did not come at a good time
They were already at war in Europe
Americans were confident that they would win
Do you think Americans were prepared for war?

9. The United States was NOT Prepared
Jefferson’s spending cuts had weakened American military strength
Commanders from American Revolution were too old to fight
The army and navy were both small
16 warships (navy)
Fewer than 12,000 men (army). 5,000 were new recruits.

10. Invasion of Canada What do you think happens as a result?
Canada was still under British rule
General William Hull invaded Canada from Detroit
Hull was unsure of himself and retreated
What do you think happens as a result?

11. Great Britain took Advantage
British commander, General Isaac Brock took advantage of Hull’s confusion
British army along with Native Americans forced Hull to surrender
British captured 2,000 soldiers: it was a SERIOUS DEFEAT for the U.S,

12. US Naval Strength The U.S. had 3 of the fastest frigates, or warships.
Naval Battle Between The USS Constitution and. The HMS Guerriere
The U.S. had 3 of the fastest frigates, or warships.
The USS Constitution, “Old Ironsides,” destroyed two British vessels
The Battle of York was fought April 27, 1813, during the War of Sailing across Lake Ontario, American forces landed and captured York, Canada.

13. Controlling Lake Erie
A 3 hour battle took place at Put-In-Bay, a western part of the lake
American commander Oliver Hazard Perry won the battle
With control of the lake, the British were forced to leave Detroit and retreat back to Canada

14. As the British retreated from Lake Erie…
William Henry Harrison pursued them along with their Native American allies
Followed the British into Canada and defeated them in the Battle of the Thames
Tecumseh was killed in battle

15. Meanwhile, overseas… In 1814, the British finally defeated Napoleon
What could Britain do as a result?
Send many more troops to the United States

16. Attack on Washington
New British strategy was to attack Washington, D.C.
In August of 1814, the president’s wife fled the White House
British set fire to many buildings, including the White House
* Luckily a thunderstorm put out the fires before they could completely destroy the buildings
Americans shocked that we could not defend Washington

17. Brief History of the White House
“As the British troops got close to Washington, Madison's wife, Dolley, ordered a carriage to pick her up and take her to safety. But she would not leave the house until two men agreed to take down the famous portrait of George Washington. The troops set fire to the Capitol Building and the White House. Today, the picture that Dolley saved is the only thing that has been in the White House since it first opened. When the war was over, the house was rebuilt and repainted white to cover the smoke marks. People began to call it the White House.”

18. Britain’s Next Move Baltimore – Fort McHenry
British bombarded the fort throughout the night of September 13, 1814
Francis Scott Key watched the attack
What do you know about Francis Scott Key?
Key saw the American flag sill flying over the fort at dawn; Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner as a result

19. The War “Ends” By 1814, Britain was tired of war
The two sides met in Ghent, Belgium
signed the Treaty of Ghent, ending the war
News of the treaty took several weeks to reach the U.S., so another battle was fought

20. The FINAL Battle… after the war ends…
In January 1815, American forces under General Andrew Jackson won a stunning victory over the British at the Battle of New Orleans
Jackson becomes a national hero.

21. New England Protests
Federalists didn’t like Madison, and they didn’t like the war that dragged on
New England in particular disliked the war
In December 1814, New Englanders talked of seceding, or withdrawing, from the United States at the Hartford Convention in Connecticut
When the war ended, this talk ended
The Federalists party lost support and declined after the war

22. Nationalism and Economic Growth
European nations would now have to treat the young United States with respect
Americans became less reliant on Europe for products
The war increased building of canals and roads making good easier to move around the region
Pride at this achievement brought the confidence of Americans to a new height

23. Focus Question re-visited
What were the causes and effects of the War of 1812?
Causes: British aggression; ineffectiveness of embargo; American nationalism
Effects: increased worldwide respect and recognition; increased American nationalism; crushed Native American Resistance