1. The
War
of 1812

2. America's
Second War for
Independence?

3. Causes
of the
War?

4. Napoleonic Wars
Warfare existed between France and England. Both nations attempted to blockade the other.
By 1807, 1,500 US ships had been seized and their cargo confiscated.
England began to impress US sailors into the British navy.

5. Chesapeake-Leopard “Affair”
June 21, 1807
British ships on duty in Chesapeake Bay guarding against the French
British sailors deserted and were given sanctuary by the Americans
Some of the British deserters joined the crew of the USS Chesapeake
The captain of the British ship Leopard was ordered to board and search US ships for British deserters

6. Chesapeake-Leopard “Affair”
The crew of Leopard pursued, attacked, and boarded the American frigate
British Captain fired on the USS Chesapeake
USS Chesapeake was caught unaware and could not fight back
Three died, and 18 were wounded

7. EMBARGO ACT
Dec. 1807
Embargo Act forbade trade with other nations. This devastated New England trade and shipping.

8. Presidential Election of 1808

9. James Madison Becomes President

10. The Non-Intercourse Act (1809)
Replaced the Embargo Act.
Lifted ban on trade with all nations except Britain and France.
Unexpected Consequences:
N. Eng. was forced to become self-sufficient again [old factories reopened].
Laid the groundwork for US industrial power.

11. British Instigation of Indians

12. Battle of Tippecanoe, 1811
General William Henry Harrison  governor of the Indiana Territory.
Invited Native Indian chiefs to Ft. Wayne, IN to sign away 3 mil. acres of land to the US government.
Tecumseh organized a confederacy of Indian tribes to fight for their homelands.
Tecumseh’s brother fought against Harrison and was defeated at Tippecanoe.
This made Harrison a national hero! [1840 election  Tippecanoe & Tyler, too!]

13. “War Hawks”
John C. Calhoun [SC]
Henry Clay [KY]

14. American Problems The US was unprepared militarily:
Had a 12-ship navy vs. Britain’s 800 ships.
Americans disliked a draft  preferred to enlist in the disorganized state militias.
Financially unprepared:
Revenue from import tariffs declined.
Regional disagreements.

15. War Starts Congress declared war in 1812 Not fully supported
New England states feared a negative impact on trade

16. 1812-1814 US met with failure Britain tightened its blockade
US trade was ruined
Britain planned a three prong attack
NY along Lake Champlain and the Hudson
New Orleans to block the Mississippi
Chesapeake Bay as a diversion

17. 1814
US was weakened as New England discussed leaving the Union at the Hartford Convention of 1814
White House burnt by the British

18. Battle of Fort McHenry, 1814
Oh Say Can You See By the Dawn’s Early Light… Francis Scott Key

19. Battle at Lake Champlain

20. Treaty of Ghent December 24, 1814

21. The Battle of New Orleans, 1815

22. Results of the War Nationalism increases.
US enters a period of growth and prosperity.
The Democratic Republican Party dominated the government as the Federalists faded out of existence.
The Second Bank of America was created in 1816.
The Bank, as well as federal land laws, encouraged Americans to move west.
Commerce continued at a steady rate with Europe.

23. Negatives
In 1819, the US experienced its first depression, known as the Panic of 1819.
The crisis started when banks in London demanded that the banks in the US pay back the money they had borrowed.
This in turn made it necessary for US banks to call in their loans from the American public.
Americans who had borrowed too much were ruined.