1. Essential Question:
What were the significant causes & effects of the War of 1812?

2. The Road to War: Renewed Conflict with England & France

3. The Embargo of 1807
When England & France resumed war in 1803 & violated U.S. neutrality, Jefferson approved the unpopular Embargo of 1807
To enforce the embargo, Jefferson contradicted his principles of individual liberty & weak gov’t:
He mobilized the military to enforce the blockade
He declared regions of NY (near Canada) in a state of insurrection 19

5. Congress repealed the embargo just 3 days after Jefferson left office
For 15 months the embargo proved ineffective; Congress repealed the embargo in 1809
Jefferson’s decision to not run for a third term meant that these problems fell to his hand-picked successor, James Madison
In 1808, Madison was elected president & the Republicans maintained control of the gov’t
The Embargo of 1807
But it produced economic hardship, smuggling, & political dissent in America
“Never did a prisoner, released from his chains, feel such relief as I shall on shaking off the shackles of power.”—TJ
just 3 days before Jefferson left office
In effect for 15 months,. But it had produced economic hardship, evasion of the law, and political dissension at home. :
Congress repealed the embargo just 3 days after Jefferson left office

7. The Road to the War of 1812
The focus of Madison’s presidency was foreign policy:
In 1809, the Non-Intercourse Act promised the U.S. would resume trade with England & France once U.S. neutrality is respected
In 1810, Congress replaced this with Macon’s Bill #2 offering exclusive trade to whichever nation 1st honored U.S. neutrality 21

8. Which region would have supported a declaration of war the most?
NE Federalists thought a war with Britain would be a mistake: they feared the us could not defeat England and it would bankrupt the country
By 1810, War Hawks in Congress, led by Henry Clay (KY) and John Calhoun (SC) demanded war the England
Most calls for war centered on British interference with US Trade rights
“Free Trade and Sailors’ Rights!”
Madison eventually gives in and asks Congress for declaration of war in June 1812. 23

9. Main Causes of the War of 1812
British interference with American shipping- naval blockade
Impressment
British provoking Native American Attacks
War Hawks, from South and West, pushing for war and expansion – want Canada
GB and France were at war with each other. GB did NOT want the US to provide the French with food and supplies, so they set up a partial blockade.
British “impressed” or kidnapped American sailors and forced them to work on British ships. Between 1803 to 1812, the British impressed about 6,000 American sailors.
Many American settlers believed that the British were stirring up the Native resistance to frontier settlement.
Leaders such as Congressman Henry Clay angrily demanded war against Britain. These “war hawks” wanted British aid to Natives Americans stopped, and they wanted the British out of Canada.

10. The War of 1812

11. War of 1812
Despite increased patriotism, the U.S. was unprepared for war:
Congress refused to raise taxes
The army was small
The government was incapable of directing a full- scale war
The U.S. goal for the war was to attack British Canada & force England to respect U.S. rights
The U.S. navy was a little more successful but only because the bulk of British navy was still fighting Napoleon in Europe 24

12. In 1814, the British took the offensive in a 3-pronged attack
The American army under Andrew Jackson defeated the British at New Orleans (after a peace treaty was drawn up ending the war)
The War of 1812
British were turned back at Plattsburg on Lake Champlain & gave up their Canadian offensive
The British attacked the undefended Chesapeake & burned Washington, DC & laid siege to Baltimore
In 1814, the British took the offensive in a 3-pronged attack

13. The British invaded Washington, D.C. in 1814
The War on Land
Battle for Washington
The British invaded Washington, D.C. in 1814
British soldiers burned the Capitol, the White House, and other public buildings
Before the British burned the White House, Dolly Madison saved a famous painting of George Washington

14. Battle at Fort McHenry
Francis Scott Key: an American lawyer and prisoner of the British
Saw an American flag flying over Ft. McHenry after the battle
The flag inspired Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner”

15. Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland

17. The Battle of New Orleans (1815)
The most famous/important battle of the War
Americans were lead to victory by General Andrew Jackson. Made him a national hero
The battle continued even after the war ended because word did not reach the Americans for several weeks
British suffered casualties; US 60

18. “Battle of New Orleans”—Johnny Horton (1959)
In 1814 we took a little trip Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip. We took a little bacon and we took a little beans And we caught the bloody British in the town of New Orleans. [Chorus:] We fired our guns and the British kept a'comin. There wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago. We fired once more and they began to runnin' on Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. We looked down the river and we see'd the British come. And there must have been a hundred of'em beatin' on the drum. They stepped so high and they made the bugles ring. We stood by our cotton bales and didn't say a thing. [Chorus] Old Hickory said we could take 'em by surprise If we didn't fire our muskets 'til we looked 'em in the eye We held our fire 'til we see'd their faces well. Then we opened up with squirrel guns and really gave 'em ... well

19. Hartford Convention
Federalists opposed the war by not paying taxes or sending troops
In 1814, Federalists met at the Hartford Convention to discuss altering the U.S. Constitution to:
restrict Congress’ war powers
supported a one-term president
abolish the three-fifths clause
They discussed seceding from the USA if they did not get their way
While the war still going on
In order to reduce southern control of Congress
And break the Virginia presidential dynasty 26

20. Treaty of Ghent Treaty of Ghent ended the war Establishes Status Quo
Things go back to how they were before the war
Signed in Dec 1814, ratified by US Congress Feb. 1815 27

21. Results of the War National Pride and confidence
2nd time US had defeated Britain
Andrew Jackson seen as National Hero
Destruction of the Federalist Party
Fell apart
Period of European Peace
American Isolationism
Period leads to boom in American industry
Native Americans the main losers
Had sided with the British