1. The War of 1812
Lesson 5

2. I. Early Days of the War
A. Britain was surprised by the declaration of war by America.
1. Britain was already struggling to keep France at bay on several fronts.
2. America was not ready for war since Jefferson had cut spending on defense.
a. America only had 16 naval ships and our army was small and not well equipped
b. Officers knew little about warfare
3. Congress relied on volunteers, which they promised money and land.
4. Most deserted after a few months because of their inexperience in battle

3. B. Fighting at Sea
American ships could not break through the Blockade the British had around the American ports
August battle near Newfoundland gave a glimmer of hope to Americans.
a. Isaac Hull, captain of the USS Constitution defeated the British Ship the HMS Guerriere
b. The Constitution blew holes in the side of the ship and blew off both masts. British had to surrender
3. American sea captains won several victories

4. A. One goal of the War Hawks was to take Canada.
II. War in the West
A. One goal of the War Hawks was to take Canada.
1. Believed Canadians would welcome the chance to throw off British rule and join the US.
2 . General William Hull moved troops into Canada via Detroit.
3. Canadians had a few untrained troops to stop the invasion, but they were led by the clever British general, Isaac Brock.

5. B. Invasion of Canada 1. dressed the Canadians in Red coats to make it appear that experienced British troops were helping in the fight. 2. led the Americans to believe a large number of Indians were helping the effort. 3. Brock’s scare tactics worked, Hull retreated.

6. C. Battle of Lake Erie
1813, Americans set out to win control of Lake Erie led by Captain Oliver Hazard Perry
Perry had no fleet , so he and his men built their own ships.
Sept Perry sailed his tiny fleet against the British.
During the Battle, the British battered Perry’s ship and it was left helpless.
Perry got in a row boat and made his way to another ship to keep fighting, which paid off.
Americans won the Battle of Lake Erie.
“We have met the enemy and they are ours”

7. D. Native American Losses
After losing the Battle of Lake Erie, the British and their ally Tecumseh retreated to Canada .
General Henry Harrison followed them and won a decisive victory at the Battle of the Thames.
a. Tecumseh died in the battle
b. Without their leader, the Indian Confederacy fell apart
3. In the South, the Creek Indians continued to fight. Andrew Jackson took command of American troops in the Creek War.
with the help of the Cherokees, Jackson won a victory at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.

8. III. Final Battles
In 1814, Britain had won its war against France and now could focus all its attention on America.
August British ships landed in Chesapeake Bay and began an invasion 30 miles from Washington, DC.
1. President Madison watched as the British destroyed the untrained Americans.
2. British continued to march untouched toward the capital.

9. C. Burning of Washington
At the White House, Dolley Madison gathered up important Presidential papers and the portrait of George Washington.
The British burned the White House and other capital buildings to the ground. (Mrs. Madison had fled south)
The British marched north from Washington, DC to Baltimore.
The key to Baltimore’s Defense was Fort McHenry

10. D. Battle for Fort McHenry
From the Evening of September 13 until dawn of September 14, British rockets bombarded the harbor.
When the morning fog had lifted the American Flag was still waving over the fort.
The British withdrew
Francis Scott Key, a young American lawyer, witnessed the battle and wrote a poem about the battle.
“The Star Spangled Banner” was soon published all over the country and put to music.

11. E. Battle of New Orleans
Late in 1814, the British prepared to attack New Orleans then head up the MS River.
a. Jackson’s frontier fighters were now a strong army that included the Choctaw Indians.
b. Citizens of New Orleans took up arms and volunteered along side his troops .
2. January 8, 1815 the British troops attacked.
a. Again and again the British attacked.
b. More than 2,000 British fell and only 7 Americans died.
c. Americans won the battle even though they learned it was 2 weeks after the war had ended.

12. IV. Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent between the US and Britain was signed on December 24, 1814.
The treaty accomplished nothing. Nothing changed between either country.
Both countries went back to prewar conditions
It was not until 1818 that the two countries settled the dispute over the border of Canada and the US.
Belgium