What caused The War of 1812?

It all began about 30 years after U.S. declared independence from Great Britiain. Britain and France are at war. Britain is short on sailors. Britain is not allowing its subjects to become American citizens. British begin kidnapping American sailors. This is called Impressment

Two Bitter Enemies Great Britain and France had been fighting each other since The U.S. wanted to stay out of the war and trade with both countries. Neither country wanted the U.S. to help the other side. Doesn’t this sound like when two of your friends don’t like each other and don’t want you to be friends with the person they don’t like? How can you be friends with both and avoid picking sides?

Unfair trade laws Both countries made trade rules which were unfair to the U.S. American merchants, workers and sailors lost their income and jobs. In 1809 President James Madison tried to get Great Britain and France to make rules that were fairer. Napoleon claimed to agree but was actually tricking the U.S. so that the U.S. would end up fighting Great Britian. Hey! That’s not nice!!!

Meanwhile… back at the ranch…. America was moving west A Native American named Tecumseh was angry that settlers were coming into indian land. Tecumseh got guns and ammunition from the British in Canada. Tecumseh united the tribes so they would be large enough to fight the Americans.

The Battle of Tippecanoe Tecumsehs success in getting arms from the British and uniting the Indians made the Americans nervous. So in 1811 they sent soldiers to the Indian camp at Tippecanoe Creek. The American soldiers attacked and badly defeated the Indians.

The War Hawks In 1810 some men from the western U.S. who were elected to congress felt angry at both Great Britain and the Indians. They were called War Hawks and wanted to fight both sides. These men were tired of being pushed around by the British bully and were sure that the British were working with the indians to make trouble in the west.

Extra Extra!!!! Madison and Congress declare WAR!! Finally in 1812 President James Madison asks Congress to declare war agains Britain. The U.S. was eager to invade Canada. Some states did not send any soldiers. Others sent volunteers who had never fought. In 1812 and 1813 the U.S. tried several times to invade Canada but it didn’t go so well.

The British are coming!!! By 1814 the British had defeated the French and had many more soldiers to send to America to fight. The British marched into Washington on August 24, 1814 and burned down the White House. Dolly Madison saved a portrait of George Washington and a copy of the Declaration of Independence.

The Battle at Ft. McHenry After the British burned Washington, they headed up to Baltimore Maryland. Major George Armistead and his troops were ready at Ft. McHenry which guarded Baltimore Harbor. Major Armistead had ordered a flag large enough for the British to see. The stars were 2 ft. high and each stripe was 2 feet wide. The flag measured 30 x 42 ft.

Oh say can you see? Wellllll…..maybe but you’ll have to wait! This one is a lesson all on it’s own!!

The making of the U.S. Navy When the war of 1812 began, Americans thoughts they would have the advantage of fighting on land. But they were worried about fighting at sea. Turns out they did better than expected!

The U.S.S. Constitution Nickname - “Old Ironside” Helped secure many naval victories against the British Held up even when other ships didn’t. Can still be seen today in Boston Harbor.

You can’t win them all! June 11, 1813 The U.S.S. Chesapeake had been in port for repairs. Just outside of Boston Harbor, the British were waiting for and American ship to sail out and challenge them. Captain James Lawrence thought he could win but he was wrong. The battle did not last long. Captain Lawrence was badly wounded and as he was carried to his cabin he said, “Don’t give up the ship!” Then he died. The British captured the Chesapeake and it became part of the Royal Navy. Captain Lawrence’s cry of “Don’t give up the ship!” became the motto of the U.S. Navy and is still used today.

Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson was a giant in American history. In 1828 he would be elected the 7 th President of the United States. But Jackson first gained fame during the War of Jackson was the major general of the Tennessee militia. The soldiers liked him. One soldier said he was tough as hickory. Hickory is a hardwood tree that grows in Tennessee, so he became known as Old Hickory.

The End…! In most wars there are battles, and then the war ends. Not in the War of December 24, After several months of talks, the British and Americans agreed to end the war and The Treaty of Ghent was signed.

Oops…just kidding! In 1814 there were no telephones or television or computers. News moved at the speed of a sailing ship. It took three or four weeks to cross the Atlantic Ocean. So while the diplomats were talking, American and British soldiers were getting ready for the biggest battle of the war in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Battle of New Orleans January 8, Col Jackson and the pirate crew of Jean Laffite fought the British and won. The British had planned to seize New Orleans, control the Mississippi River and block American expansion to the west. News of the treaty arrived a few days after the battle. This was the last time that Americans and British ever fought each other.

To wrap it up… The British did not admit that they had done anything wrong by impressing American sailors before the war. The Americans didn’t get Canada. The Native Americans lost the most. They had been badly defeated on the battlefield and now the British wouldn’t help them anymore. The White House was quickly rebuilt. The Americans gained confidence and pride. They had fought the strongest army and navy in the world and held their own.

God Bless America In 1815, the United States was still a young nation. By surviving the war, it had announced to the world that it was a country that was going to be around for a long time.