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The War of 1812
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Why? Humiliation—failure of embargo of 1807
Frustration—persistent British abuses Exasperation—continued Native American Indian resistance in the West Shawnee Indian brothers, Tenskwatawa and Tecumseh 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe, Prophetstown, IN US blamed Britain for these problems, so declared war on Britain
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War Hawks Young Southerners and Westerners elected to Congress in 1810 were ready for war with Britain Resented American economic issues that resulted from impressments and the embargo Resented national humiliation that resulted from impressments and failure of embargo to break Britain Resented British encouragement of Native American Indian hostilities
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Strengths and Weaknesses
Despite predictions by the War Hawks the war was not quickly won Americans were unprepared Poorly trained army Limited naval presence Government provided little leadership Underestimated British strength & Native Americans resolve
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Battle to take Canada Jefferson, consultant to Madison, urged attack on British in Canada US pop. 8 million; British (Canada) 250,000 Invade over land; no need to build navy Didn’t need a professional army; use state citizen militias “…a mere matter of marching” Not quite that easy
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Battles Reliance on militias disastrous—untrained troops broke rank and ran US army almost as sad July 1812, General William Hull led the Army from Detroit to Canada Hull met Tecumseh on the way Scared of massacre by the Natives, Hull surrendered Detroit to a much smaller British force
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Battles Surprisingly, little US Navy performed well
Captured 4 British ships in 1812
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Battles—Lake Erie Sept. 10, 1813 British sailed on Lake Erie to meet Americans in battle Americans Defeated British after a long battle Oliver Hazard Perry, commander of Lake Erie naval force sent message “We have met the enemy and they are ours.”
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The War Continues After Lake Erie was taken, the Americans pushed toward Canada Oct. 5, 1813 Battle of the Thames Tecumseh was killed Americans sacked York (Toronto) Burned Parliament buildings Canada remained unconquered
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Ships To lower national debt Dem-Rep cut the size of the Navy
Navy had 3 frigates Constitution destroyed 2 British vessels Nicknamed “Old Ironsides” American Privateers armed their ships to fight the British
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Native American Setback
After Tecumseh died in 1813 hopes for a Native Confederacy faded Andrew Jackson attacked the Creek tribe in Battle of Horseshoe Bend Killed more than 550 Forced Creeks to surrender land to US Jackson then invaded the Spanish colony of Florida defeating the Seminole Indians and seizing Pensacola
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British Offensive Britain ended their War with France in 1814 which allowed them to send more troops to America Britain planned an offensive which proved more successful than earlier ventures in the war.
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Battles—Washington D.C.
August 1814, British sailed into Chesapeake Bay Overpowered American militia Marched into Washington D.C. Burned everything to do with US government The Capitol, The President’s mansion A thunderstorm put out the flames before the city was completely destroyed
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Dolley Madison The First lady, Dolley Madison refused to leave the mansion before she gathered valuable goods Government Documents Painting of George Washington Priceless national treasures
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Battles—Baltimore British did not try to hold Washington D.C.
Sailed to Baltimore 13,000 American Militiamen were waiting for them Blockaded roads, and the harbor British were prevented from entering the city * Intense battles
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“Star-Spangled Banner”
Francis Scott Key, a young attorney watched the Battle of Baltimore In the morning Key saw the American Flag still waiving over Fort McHenry in Baltimore. He was Deeply moved by what he saw Wrote the “Star-Spangled Banner” Congress designated it as the national anthem in 1931
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Battles—Plattsburgh General Sir George Prevost led 10,000 British soldiers into NY from Canada. Goal was to take Plattsburgh, city on Lake Champlain American Navy defeated British Navy on Lake Champlain in Sept 1814 British retreated into Canada
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The End Britain decided the war in North America was too costly and unnecessary Peace agreement, Treaty of Ghent signed in December 1814 No borders were changed No mention of impressments
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Battle of New Orleans December 1814, before word of a treaty reached all territories, the British Army marched to New Orleans January 8, 1815 British attacked Andrew Jackson & his men shot from behind cotton bails 100’s of British were killed Andrew Jackson became a hero
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Nationalism Americans felt a sense of pride in their country
Gained the respect of foreign nations A new sense of Nationalism emerged Strong central government Western expansion Economic development Strong Army and Navy
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Federalists Federalists had opposed “Mr. Madison’s War”
1814, Unhappy New England Federalist’s gathered at New Hartford Convention Some wanted to secede and make peace with Britain Most wanted to remain in union but amend The Constitution Once news of Jackson’s New Orleans and the Treaty of Ghent came, Federalists were viewed as unpatriotic traitors Party lost favor in America once again
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US Continues to Grow War of 1812 ended most Native American Indian resistance east of the Mississippi River As Indians were defeated and forced to move on, land opened up for settlement Establishment of new states: Indiana 1816 Mississippi 1817 Illinois 1818 Alabama 1819
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Spanish Florida American settlers poured in Spanish Florida
Conflicts between Settlers Seminole Indians Spanish Runaway slaves sought refuge causing further conflict Eventually, Spain would cede Florida to US
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