War of 1812 Causes Free seas and trade

War of 1812

Causes Free seas and trade n n Stopping American ships Impressment Frontier pressures n Desire for land British Canada Spanish Florida n Conflicts with Indians Tecumseh and Prophet Battle of Tippecanoe n William Henry Harrison War Hawks n n Henry Clay, Kentucky John C. Calhoun, South Carolina Argued that war w/Britain only way to defend American honor, gain Canada, & destroy Indian resistance Declaration of war n Passed after Britain agreed to suspend its naval blockade

A Nation Divided n Pro-war – Southern & western states incl. PA & VT – Republicans n Anti-war – NY, NJ, & New England states – Federalists – New England merchants – “Mr. Madison’s War”

War of 1812 l Invasion of Canada l 3 -part invasion l l Detroit, Niagara, & Lake Champlain Americans burned York (Toronto) Easily repulsed by superior British forces Naval Battles l l l USS Constitution “Old Ironsides” l Sank British ship l Success offset by British naval blockade l l Most important naval battle of the war Captain Oliver Hazard Perry l Prepared the way for William Henry Harrison’s victory at Battle of Thames R. American privateers Lake Erie, 1813 l “We have met the enemy and he is ours” l Tecumseh was killed

• Chesapeake Campaign, 1814 • British defeated Napoleon increased troops in U. S. • British burn White House, Capitol, & other buildings • Attempt to take Baltimore • Francis Scott Key-”Star Spangled Banner”

• Southern campaign – Gen. Andrew Jackson – Battle of Horseshoe Bend, 1814 • Creek Indians defeated – British ally – Opened new lands to white settlers – Battle of New Orleans, Jan. 8, 1814 • 700 British killed, 1400 wounded • 8 US killed, 13 wounded • Fought 2 weeks after the war had ended

Treaty of Ghent § Both sides tired of the war § Britain had fought Napoleon over a decade § America recognized it could not win § Treaty of Ghent, Dec. 24, 1814 § Terms § A halt to fighting § Return of all conquered territory § Recognition of prewar boundary of US & Canada § Britain made no concessions about impressment, blockades, or other prewar grievances § War ended in stalemate

Hartford Convention, December 1814 n New England states opposed to war & Republican government – Radical Federalists wanted Constitution amended & secession as last resort – Secession was rejected – Proposals were adopted to limit power of Republicans – Jackson’s victory & Treaty of Ghent made Federalists appear unpatriotic – Federalists weakened

Legacies of War of 1812 US gained respect of other nations US accepts Canada as part of British Empire Federalist party no longer a national force New England sets precedent of talk of secession & nullification Indians loss of British allies forces them to surrender lands

American industry grew due to British blockade War Heroes n Future political leaders Andrew Jackson William Henry Harrison American nationalism n Belief that the future of the US lay in the West away from Europe