The War of 1812

America’s Second War for Independence?

Learning Targets: I will..

• Identify and explain the causes and events occurring during the War of 1812:–What were the conflicts with Britain,

France, and Natives?–What was the impact of political factions

on international diplomacy?–What was the outcome of the War of 1812

Causes of the War: #1

• French Revolutionary Wars continue – American merchants making large profits

• Britain and France looking for ways to weaken one another…easiest way was to cut off supplies

• The French and British continued seizing ships and supplies – 1803-1807• France seized 500 ships• Britain seized 1,000 ships

I TOLD YOU TO DANCE! Your moonwalk was

abominable and your dougie was laughable.

Jenkins, you told me you’d teach me how

to dougie! Thanks for nothing!

I CAN’T Moonwalk

without my Michael

Jackson glove!

T. Jeff’s Response• Embargo Act bans all trade with any

countryRationale: since both Britain and France were

in dire need of American goods, they’d stop attacking American ships…

Reality: American exports DECLINE1807: $109,000,0001808: $25,000,000Thousands of Americans out of work or strugglingSome Americans turned to smuggling

Illegally importing or exporting goods

I know what to do! If we don’t allow American ships to trade with anyone, then

we can’t get attacked!

American Merchant

True, but that’s not

what I had in mind!

Repeal of the Embargo Act

• Jefferson in a tough position - argued for as little government intervention as possible, but was exerting extraordinary powers in an attempt to enforce his policy.

• March 1809: repeals Embargo Act– Instead: Non-Intercourse Act– Opened American trade with all countries

except Britain, France, and their possessions

Causes of War #2

• The British were inciting the Native Americans! – British giving the Native Americans in Canada

and the West weapons and telling them to attack Americans who had settled in the western lands!

The Natives trick American frontiersmen by promising stylish haircuts!

I said just a little off the top, not the whole top!

I made the mistake of asking for a buzz cut!

Indian Nationalism

• Tecumseh, a Shawnee chief, attempts to unify Indian tribes that have been removed from the Ohio River Valley

• His brother, the Prophet preached that Indians should reject White ways and embrace their heritage

• After Fallen Timbers, they begin to organize to fight for their land again.

Causes of War #3

• The British still occupied forts in the west. Despite the agreement of the controversial Jay's Treaty, the British were still manning forts on American soil!

• Americans were still a little resentful going back to the Revolution which was only 35 years earlier.

Back to the drawing board!

Causes of War #4

• The United States has a desire to expand into more territory like British Canada and Florida

• If we could gain these territories, they believed we would remove European powers from American borders and open more land for the "liberty-loving-Americans".

Causes of War #5

• The United States wants to prove to Britain that the victory of the American Revolution was not luck.– Americans demand respect from the world and

a growing sense of nationalism leads to demand for war U-S-A

U-S-AU-S-A

The Embargo Act

Review…

1. What was the Embargo Act? What was its impact?

2. What legislation replaced the Embargo Act?

3. Who was Tecumseh? 4. Why might the US WANT to declare war on

Britain? What actions were inciting the US?

James Madison: Our Nations 4th President

Dolley Madison

James Madison Enters White House

• By 1809: Many American’s super angry at Britain– Rise of the WARHAWKS!– Led by Henry Clay of

Kentucky and John C. Calhoun of S. Carolina • John C. Calhoun is Miss

Weaver’s least favorite person in American History; she hates him…more on that later!

CAN YOU SAY BAD HAIR DAY?!?

John C. Calhoun

Henry Clay

1812

• Things have devolved even further:– Britain is continuing impressment and a rash of

attacks on American frontier settlements surged

– June 18, 1812: Congress declares war!– Britain’s response: Whatever…we’ll focus on

you later• British occupied with Napoleon and France• By 1813, France was weakened, so the British turned

their attention to America.

Hmmmm…We’ll show you! We

DECLARE WAR!!!

Ho hum…here we go again.

Those whiney Americans.

James Madison

Washington

Lord Liverpool

London

The War of 1812

Early Days of the War

• Ooops…remember Jefferson cut the military?– Only 16 warships and fewer than 7,000 men

• Britain's main strategy: Blockade of America’s coast– Shutting down a port or road to prevent people or

supplies from coming into an area or leaving it.– By 1814, 135 British warships blockading

American ports

British Blockade

Early Stages of War

• US plans quick invasion of Canada…assume that Canadians will welcome “liberation” – Quick & Dirty:• July 1812: We invade Canada with about 1,000 men

and have our butts kicked by British regulars• We lose Detroit and most of Michigan Territory• October 1813: We redouble our efforts and engage

British and Natives on Lake Erie and then at the Battle of Thames

Key Battles: The Battle of Thames

• October 5, 1813, British and Indian forces are defeated by American forces in Canada

• Tecumseh’s death ends Indian resistance in the Ohio River Valley

William Henry Harrison

Methinks one day I

will be President!

WHH is the General commanding all US troops in

the Northwest Territory

The Death of Tecumseh

There is no greater disgrace than to be

killed by a man wearing a top hat!

Noooooooo!

The British Burn the Capital

• August 1814, the British Army invades the United States and marches on Washington D.C.

• After a brief fight the city surrenders and nearly all government buildings are razed by fire including the White House & Capital

• Madison rallies the American public after this defeat

The White House

The Capitol Building

The War of 1812

HATE

Fort McHenry• British bombarded the fort through the

night on September 13,1814– Francis Scott Key, a prisoner on a British barge

witnessed the British bombardment of Fort McHenry, near Baltimore for 12 hours

– In the morning he observed that the American flag still flew over the fort and writes a poem called “The Defense of Ft McHenry” it eventually becomes a song “The Star Spangled Banner”

After the Battle of Fort McHenry

• Unsuccessful at Baltimore, damaged fleet limped to Jamaica for repairs, and made preparations for an invasion of New Orleans, hoping to cut off American use of the Mississippi River.

I’m on island time now!

Admiral Cochran

Ending the War

• The Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814 ends the War of 1812

• The war is considered staus quo ante bellum, which means everything goes back to the way it had been before the war…

• BUT, it took weeks for the news to actually reach the US…– In the mean time: The war continues to rage on!

The Treaty of GhentHmmm…I’m suspicious of any man who wears white after Labor Day!

Communication Breakdown

John, why didn’t you update your

facebook status…Or at least Tweet that

the war was over?!?

Sorry, I was playing Words with Friends

with the Secretary of War

The Battle of New Orleans

• January, 1815: The American forces are a multicultural, motley band of experienced soldiers and warriors

• The British, a trained army, are virtually mauled by American forces hiding behind earthworks and cannons

• American forces led by General Andrew Jackson, inflicts great casualties on the British army

• Andrew Jackson becomes synonymous with America’s winning the war.

The Battle of New Orleans

This is the best moment of my

life…

You realize this victory is completely

meaningless…

The Losses

British Casualties

• 386 killed• 1,521 wounded• 552 missing• Major General Edward

Pakenham killed in action

American Casualties

• 55 killed• 185 wounded• 93 missing

Impact of the War

1. A sense of nationalism sweeps America.– Nationalism is a belief and sense of pride in

one’s country based on it’s achievements.

2. The nation will embark on foreign trade and begin to build a transportation system in the United States.

3. Native American resistance will be removed from the Ohio River Valley permanently opening the Midwest for expansion.