1. The War of 1812: The Beginnings
What Caused the War of 1812 and its Early Battles.

2. Bell Work - Plickers
The Embargo Act was put in place by which president against which action?
President Adams, against foreign trade
President Adams, against Democratic-Republicans speaking out against current laws
President Jefferson, against foreign trade
President Jefferson, against Democratic-Republicans speaking out against current laws
What was Jefferson’s moral dilemma in 1801?
He had to decide between his strict constructionist beliefs and helping his country gain the New Orleans port.
He had to decide between his loose constructionist beliefs and helping his country gain the New York port.
He had to decide between his strict constructionist beliefs and helping his country gain the New York port.
He had to decide between his loose constructionist beliefs and helping his country gain the New Orleans port

3. Connect the Dots…
After Thomas Jefferson’s Presidency ended, he was succeeded by James Madison.
Many people liked James Madison because he was the “father of the Constitution”.
He also had been given open support for the role of President by Thomas Jefferson as he was leaving.
When he became President in 1809, he (like his predessor Jefferson) had to deal with Britain as the Embargo Act had solved nothing.

4. Issues with England get Worse…
English ships were attacking American vessels after the Embargo Act.
The English (more so than France at this point) were Impressing our sailors into service in the British Navy.
They were forcing U.S. Sailors to serve in the British Navy after capturing them on ships.
Many Americans were fed up with this problem as Impressment had been around since Adams and nothing had been done really to stop it successfully.
Furthermore, The English were supporting a Native American named Tecumseh in his quest to wage a Native American War against the United States.
They were giving Tecumseh weapons and supplies to fight.
The English were also letting Tecumseh and his followers to run across the border into Canada were the United States could not go after them.

5. A New Group Rises…
Due to all the problems with England, a group of Young Southern and Western Representatives began to dominate Congress with their Pro-War-with-England views.
This group was known as the War Hawks.
Had also hoped to take British Lands (such as Canada) from England and Florida from Spain.
They pressed Madison to go to war with Britain, and finally Madison agreed. The U.S. Congress declared war on England in 1812.

6. Well that Could Have Gone Better…
When the U.S. declared war on Great Britain, the U.S. was not prepared for such a large conflict.
Congress and had not been funding a large military for some time (since Jefferson reduced it).
Not to mention, not all of the country supported the war, many Northern Federalists were completely against it (knew it would hurt trade with England and other European Countries).
As would be expected, due to an unprepared military and lack of complete support, the war would go badly for the United States.

7. Major Set Backs
In the beginning of the war, most the battles were fought around the border of the United States and Canada.
The United States made several attempts to take major cities in Canada, but each time were ultimately defeated.
In 1814, a British Army landed in the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, marched to Washington D.C., defeated any U.S. Military opposition along the way, took Washington D.C. and burned our Nations Capital to the ground.
Politicians had fled the city when they heard the British were marching.
Got as many important documents (like the Declaration of Independence) out of the city.
Even the white house was burned down.

8. The Bombs Bursting in Air…
The British had also sent their military to take the City of Baltimore.
At the Battle of Fort McHenry (Baltimore) the United States was able to hold off and defeat the British forces.
Witnessing the major Battle through the night and seeing the victory of the U.S., Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner to commemorate the victory.

9. How a Song tells a Story O say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watch'd were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bomb bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave