1. By: Mary Montgomery

2. How Did it Start and When? The War of 1812 started when Britain and France started impressing our sailors and wouldn’t stop. We tried making a deal with them, if we stopped trading with your enemy than you stop impressing our sailors (at that time Britain and France hated each other). France accepted the deal while Britain did not. Americans where outraged, also because they where also… Stopping and searching American ships and vessels that were used for trade which lead to the embargo act British ships where doing a naval blockade British was using Amerindians(American/Indians) against the United States The Embargo Act was a law that stopped all trade between America and all other countries. The goal was to get Britain and France, who were fighting each other at the time, to stop getting in the way of American trade. The Act backfired, and hurt Americans more than the British and French.

3. Should We Go to War? Americans Most coastal settlers and farmers didn’t want to go to war because the ports would be blocked off and their trade would be postponed. The South-West where tired of Native American difficulties and wanted the war to be an excuse to go to war with the Natives also. Congress Members of Congress from the South and West who desperately wanted war with Great Britain and with Native Americans, in order to protect the interests of America and where also known as War Hawks. The leader of the War Hawks was Henry Clay, who was Speaker of the House for the months leading up to the War of 1812. Another leading War Hawk was John C. Calhoun. On July 17 th, 1812, Congress declared war on Britain

4. In 1812 we had few resources, a sad excuse for an Army and Navy, which would be by Britain's so, why did we still go to war? James Madison was defiantly under a lot of pressure especially with the nation split in half over the thought of war. There where two choices : either choose to risk it and try to go to war with Britain or get picked on by them and have other countries think that we are weak and have our trading be soiled. In the end he choose risking it by going to war.

5. How Many Battles Where There? We all know the War of 1812 had many battles, but how many? There is much more than 17, but these are some of the more remembered ones: In The USA Battle of Tippecanoe Battle of Lake Erie Capture of Fort Niagara Battle of Washington Battle of Baltimore Battle of New Orleans In Canada Battle of Queenston Heights Battle of Frenchtown Canada (Continued) Battle of York (Toronto) Capture of Fort George Battle of Stoney Creek Battle of Beaver Dams Battle of the Thames Battle of Chateauguay Capture of Crysler's Farm Battle of Chippawa Battle of Lundy's Lane

6. The End of the War The War of 1812 was also called the second war of independence because we where fighting for out independence again and we were fighting against Britain again. The War of 1812 was a major turning point for our young nation. It proved to the world that we could beat Britain again and we weren't a country to mess with and we were not to be treated like the young nation we truly were. The war ended up lasting from 1812-1814 leaving America as an independent country once again.

7. What Was the Total Death Toll? Many men and women have died defending this nation on the field of battle or "on duty" under the colors of our Flag. The war of 1812 approximately had a death toll of around 2,500 and a total of around 4,500 wounded. (The death toll might be a little off)

8. Resources Websites http://www.42explore2.com/1812war.ht m http://www.42explore2.com/1812war.ht m http://library.thinkquest.org/22916/exmai n.html http://library.thinkquest.org/22916/exmai n.html http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/ww ww/us/warhawksdef.htm http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/ww ww/us/warhawksdef.htm http://www.u-s- history.com/pages/h503.html http://www.u-s- history.com/pages/h503.html Books http://books.google.com/books?id=Vx6B6 CD9vFsC&printsec=frontcover&dq=war+of +1812&cd=9#v= onepage&q=&f=false (e- book) http://books.google.com/books?id=Vx6B6 CD9vFsC&printsec=frontcover&dq=war+of +1812&cd=9#v= onepage&q=&f=false History Alive Book