The War of 1812 Americas Second War with

The War of 1812 America’s Second War with Great Britain

Events in Europe Impact the United States • Fighting between Britain and France threatened American shipping.

Grievances Against Britain: Impressment • France and Britain blockaded foreign goods from reaching each other. • Britain was much more aggressive by impressing American Sailors. • Impressment – Seizing Americans at sea and drafting them into the British navy.

Grievances Against Britain: Alliances with Native Americans • American settlers were pushing westward, trying to gain more land. • British Canada was supplying Native Americans with weapons that they were using in battles with American settlers. • The War Hawks, a group of congressmen from the south and west, called for war. • Great Britain continued to occupy forts along the frontier.

The War of 1812 • American Victories were few and far between. • The Americans welcomed the peace Treaty of Ghent. • General Andrew Jackson of Tennessee went on to protect New Orleans without knowledge of the treaty. • Jackson defeated the British at New Orleans, which made him a folk hero. • The war confirmed American Independence and nationalism.

The Monroe Doctrine • In 1823, President James Monroe stated no European powers should intervene in the Western Hemisphere. • If they did, the United States would consider it a, “dangerous to our peace and safety”. • This is still observed today.