The War of 1812

This article is adapted from our classrooom textbook, AMERICA: History of our Nation by Davidson and Stoff (Prentice Hall). 

Previously, we learned about how Thomas Jefferson hoped to avoid war with the French by negotiating the purchase of the Louisiana Territory. By the year 1809, James Madison had been elected President of the United States and tensions had once again become high with another country... this time, GREAT BRITAIN.

The Americans were angry at Britain for arming Native Americans in the Northwestern parts of the country. In addition, American sailors were being imprisoned by the British overseas, which furthur upset citizens back home.

Most American's felt that the country's honor was in jeapordy and began to feel a new sense of American NATIONALISM- which means to have pride in one's country. In the year 1810, two strong American nationalist's, Henry Clay (from Kentucky) and John C. Calhoun (from South Carolina) became leaders in the House of Representatives.

Henry Clay, one of the War Hawks

Clay and Calhoun and their supporters were called WAR HAWKS- those who were eager for a war with Britain. New England had the strongest opposition to war. They felt that going to war with the British would harm American trade.

Relationships with the British got worse by the year 1812. In the spring, the British told the U.S. that they would continue to imprison sailors, and Native Americans in the Northwest (who, remember, got their weapons from the British), were attacking new settlements. In June of 1812, Congress declared war on Great Britain.

Early Days of the War

The British were already at war in Europe, so the War of 1812 did not come at a good time. Still, the British were not willing to meet American demands for avoiding war. Providing Native Americans with support helped the British to protect Canada from American invaders.

 

When the war began, Americans were confident that they would win. It become apparent the the U.S., however, was not prepared for war very quickly. Thomas Jefferson had made spending cuts that weakened the American military's strength during his presidency, and the American navy only had 16 warships ready for combat. The size of the American army was very small at only 7,000 men.

 

In the first days of the war, the British set up a blockade. A BLOCKADE is the action of shutting a port or road to prevent people or supplies from coming into an area or leaving it. By the year 1814, the British navy had 135 warships blockading American ports. After they reinforced their troops, the British closed off all American ports by the war's end.

 

**WHY WOULD CLOSED ACCESS TO PORTS BE BAD FOR THE AMERICANS??**

 

A major sea battle took place at the beginning of the war in August of 1812. The USS Constitution defeated the British warship, Guerriere, in a very fierce battle. The Constitution  ship was famously nicknamed "Old Ironsides" because British fire and cannons bounced off the ship's thick wooden hull.

 

War in the West and South

Meanwhile, Americans were continuing to fight the war with the British for control of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. Both sides had Native American allies.

 

Even before the war began, war hawks were demanding to invade Canada. They expected that the Canadians (who were controlled by the British) would want the chance to get rid of British rule.

 

In July of 1812, American troops invaded Canada from the city of Detroit. General William Hull, who led the troops, was unsure of himself and his soldiers and soon retreated from the battle. The British took advantage of this by surrounded Hull's army and forcing them to surrender. It was a very serious defeat for the U.S.

 

Americans had better luck, though, when it came to control of Lake Erie. Eventually the Americans defeated the British for control of this great lake.

 

Eventually, the Americans defeated the British and their Native American allies in Canada. However, the year 1814 would prove to be the key year that decided the outcome of the War of 1812.

 

Final Battles

 

 

In 1814, the British attacked the nation's capital of Washington D.C., setting fire to several government buildings, including the White House! The Americans were shocked- their armies could not defend the city of Washington D.C.

The British moved on to Baltimore in an attempt to take over an American army fort. The Americans, however, beat the attack and were victorious. A young man named Francis Scott Key witnessed this battle, which inspired him to write "The Star Spangled Banner", now used as our famous national anthem.

 

By 1814, Britain grew tired of war. Peace talks were taking place between the Americans and the British, and by Christmas Eve of 1814, the two sides signed a treaty to end the war. Things went back to the way they were before the war of 1812.

 

Because the treaty was signed overseas in Belgium, it took weeks for the Americans to learn of the end of the War of 1812. As a result, more battles were fought between the Americans and the British. The Americans proved victorious when they defeated the British in the Battle of New Orleans.

 

Peace talks and protests followed the war's end. Several Americans disliked the fact that the war was drug on for two years too long, while others considered it "America's second independence." Either way, the War of 1812 gave the Americans confidence and unity. America was now allowed to continue expanding even further.