War of 1812

Impressment British War ships would stop and draft by force American sailors from American ships. The British were fighting Napoleonic France and needed sailors to replace the dead ones.

British Blockade The British were fighting an epic war with Napoleonic France when the United States declared war in The British blocked all shipping from and to American Ports with their superior Navy.

War Hawk These were Americans living in the West who were tired of the British in Canada supplying and encouraging Indians to attack Americans. They wanted to defeat the Indians and attack the British in Canada.

Battle of Lake Erie An American fleet on Lake Erie under Oliver Perry defeated a British fleet. Later Captain Perry sent a message to General Harrison… “We have met the enemy, and they are ours.” General Harrison then attacked and took Detroit. The British and their Indian allies under Tecumseh were defeated.

The Battle and Burning of Washington D.C. In retaliation of American forces under General Harrison burning the Canadian Capital of York, British forces invade and burn Washington D.C. That very night the city was hit by a Hurricane and a Tornado. The British retreated to the coast.

Battle of Baltimore The British attacked Baltimore because it was a base for many American Privateers (ships who raid British merchant ships). The British land forces are defeated and Fort McHenry does not fall. The British retreat.

The Star Spangled Banner Francis Scott Key watched the bombardment of Fort McHenry while he was being held on a British warship. He wrote a poem that later became our national anthem.

Treaty of Ghent Was signed at the end of It ended the fighting but solved nothing. There was no clear winner and trade and border disputes were settled with later talks.

The Battle of New Orleans The British invaded and hoped to capture the City of New Orleans so they could control trade on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. General Andrew Jackson led a force that defeated the British.