By Mark Davison

War of 1812 &

The Niagara Frontier

My Thesis 

Neither side; not the Americans or the British claimed total victory of the War of 1812. However it was good for the Canadians that the British did not lose, for it would have been their independence which was lost.

Historian’s Thesis 

Canada (Britain) won the war, or to put it more precisely did not lose, by successfully repulsing the armies that tried to invade and conquer British North America.

-Pierre Berton (The Invasion of Canada 1812-1813)

  Wesley Turner:- The war that both sides won.

 

Unrest on the Niagara Frontier

Continued occupation of Great Lakes forts by the British

British officials including Gov. John Simcoe of Upper Canada (Ontario) support Indian claims to Ohio River valley. – sought buffer zone

Chesapeake – Leopard incident prompts calls for war against Britain

Canada seems the place where British are most vulnerable to retaliation

William Henry Harrison - troublemaker 1809 Gov. Harrison wins

cession of @ 3,000,000 acres of land on Wabash River

Chief Tecumseh urged Indians to refuse to surrender land

Late 1811 Harrison makes war on the Indians

Ambushed he looses 200 men but prevails

Burned Indian settlements

Indian Opposition

The Prophet

War talk from a Kentucky newspaper

“we must wipe out the threat of the tomahawk and scalping knife which for many years past, and at this very moment the inhuman bloodthirsty cabinet of St. James has incessantly endeavored to bring on the women and children of our western frontiers.”

Who Were the War Hawks?

Expansionists in U.S. Congress – believed U.S. could gain from a war with England.

War would offer an excuse to take Florida from Spain (England’s Ally in Europe)

Leaders were Henry Clay – Kentucky John C. Calhoun – South Carolina Peter B. Porter – Western New York

John C. Calhoun

Henry Clay

Gen. Peter B. Porter

Causes of the War

Impressments of American Sailors Violation of American territorial

waters Interference with American trade Blockade Indian attacks instigated by Britain.

Causes of the War I. Breakdown of Peaceful Coercion

A. America dropped its embargo with France, only to be tricked by Napoleon and losing more ships.

B. Britain, stung by food shortages and an economic recession due to lack of cotton for mills, attempted to make concessions in June 1812.

C. British support of Shawnee Confederation led by Tecumseh and the Prophet proved at battle of Tippecanoe (1811).

D. War Hawks call for war. Issues: 1) Land hunger 2) British impressments 3) Indian atrocities

E. Despite pleas from New England to remain calm, Madison asked Congress for a war declaration on June 18, 1812.

Causes contd.

II. Military Campaigns of 1812-13 A. Three-pronged attack of Canada failed

due to American incompetence. B. US burn York (now Toronto), leading to

later British burning of Washington, D.C. C. Naval victories on Lake Erie and Lake

Champlain prevented British counterattack.

D. Sea action 1) American privateers damaged British

shipping in early months 2) British navy overwhelmed US ships and blockaded coast from New England to Georgia.

A Chronology of Events in the War of 1812

Year Political/Military Events

1807 December 22: Embargo Act passed by U.S. Congress stopping trade with Foreign Countries (repealed in 1808)

1809 March 4: James Madison becomes President of the United States

1811 September 30: Brock becomes Lt. Governor of Upper Canada

1811 October 12: Prevost becomes Governor-in-Chief and Commander of all British North American forces

1811 November 7: Battle of Tippecanoe where U.S. defeat Indians

1812 June: Baltimore Riots start against anti-war Federalists (political party of Alexander Hamilton)

June 1: Madison’s recommendation to Congress to declare war

June 19: U.S. President Madison declares war on Great Britain

General William Hull

Gen. William Hull – revolutionary war hero and governor of Michigan Territory was to collect the Kentucky and Tennessee militias and enter Upper Canada from Detroit

General Henry DearbornSoldierSecretary of

WarCongressman

Stephen Van Rensselaer1764-1839

Was to invade Canada across the Niagara Frontier

He is an amateur but had with him Solomon Van Rensselear a trained professional

Commanded N.Y.S. militia troops at battle of Queenston Heights

8,000 men under his command by October 1812

Van Rensselaer’s Plan

Built Batteaux to carry 30 men each on Tonawanda Creek

These carried “secretly” overland to Lewiston Attack village of Queenston from Lewiston October 13, 1812 4,000 men were to attack about 1,500 were

actually landed in Canada Gen. Brock’s troops numbered less than

2,000 – experienced men

Sir Isaac Brock

1769 -1812

Sir Isaac Brock

Brock Monument – Queenston Ontario

General Winfield Scott

A Soldier’s letter Home

1813 War is Serious Business

Commodore Isaac Chauncey carries 1700 Americans to attack Canadian Capital of York

When Victorious Americans leave they burn all public buildings and many private residences and stores

1813, May 27 – Chauncey attacks guns near Ft. George. 5,000 American v. 2,000 British Commander Gen. Vincent retreats to Burlington Ontario

British counter attack that night at Battle of Stony Creek

Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry(1785 – 1819)

Important Words – Even today!

Strategy shifts to capture of Montreal

1813 October – Wm. H. Harrison’s army and most regulars on Niagara Frontier head east

Brigadier Gen. George McClure headquartered at Ft. George left with about 1,000 men to defend entire Niagara Frontier

½ of his force leaves in December 1813 – enlistments expired

McClure leaves Ft. George for safety of Ft. Niagara but orders the burning of Newark (Niagara – on - the - Lake) 150 houses destroyed – women and children turned out into the cold

Major Gen. James Wilkinson

“the burning of Newark (Niagara-on-the-lake) is a deed abhorrent to every American Feeling”

Governor of the Louisiana Territory (1805 -1806)

Failed to take Montréal & Relieved of command

Fort George

Ft. Niagara

Ft. Erie – Ontario Canada

Fort George, watercolor by Edward Walsh 1805 (Clements Library, University of Michigan)

British Strike Back

19 December 1813 – Lt. Gen. Sir Gordon Drummond began an attack on Ft. Niagara

Ft. Commander – Capt. Nathaniel Leonard was at his home THREE MILES AWAY!

65 Americans died and the Fort is lost! Village of Lewiston destroyed in retaliation for

burning of Newark Indians join Drummond as they move on

villages of Black Rock & Buffalo

Port of Buffalo - 1813

The Burning of Buffalo

Militia forces from Genesee and Chautauqua arrive to defend Buffalo

Maj. Gen Amos Hall put in charge overall Lt. Col. (Dr.) Cyrenius Chapin commands militia 30 December 1813 British forces under Maj. Gen.

Phineas Riall land at foot of what is now Amherst Street.

Gen. Hall moves forces from Buffalo to Black Rock Many desertions leave hall with as few as 600 men Panicked Buffalo residents flee Chapin tries to save the city but fails By 3 PM Buffalo was a mass of smoldering ashes

Battle of Lundy’s Lane

July 25, 1814

Major General Andrew Jackson

Treaty of Ghent

The treaty of Ghent was signed December 24th 1814. The treaty outlined the terms for peace between Britain and the United States. Of the eleven articles in the treaty, 3 often deal with war. The remaining 8 deal merely with land division and borders.Setting most of the land borders back to the peace treaty of 1783. New borders were also set to be surveyed and drawn up.

Articles of War

Universal peace between Britain and the U.S. and all their colonies and territories.

End of all hostilities. Immediately after ratification, orders to

be sent to every squadron, armoire, officers etc… to end all hostilities.

All prisoners - land and sea shall be returned when it is practicable after ratification.

Articles of Land All islands and land returned as they were

at the signing of the treaty of peace in 1783.

Commissioners to clarify borders around areas where borders are unclear.

Division of the Great Lakes finalized. Final articles moving towards abolishment

of slavery. ( Note: Strange article for peace treaty.)

Conclusion

III. War's Conclusion A. Attack on Washington--4000 British troops burn White

House, other buildings. B. Napoleon abdicates in April 1814, leaving America alone

to fight the British. C. At Treaty of Ghent, American and British negotiators

agree to end fighting on December 24, 1814 D. British invade New Orleans, only to be defeated by

American troops under Andrew Jackson's command in January 1815

Conclusion The war of 1812 was of great

significance to Canada’s emergence as an independent nation. Had the United States been successful in their mission it is quite possible that Canada would not have become a separate country from Britain. It just might have become the 51th state of America.

Uncle

Sam

Was He Real?

The End!

Thank You

Questions?

Interesting Facts 

-United States made many disappointing errors in the war-They needed to attack Montreal or Quebec in order to cut off scattered settlements of Upper Canada from the support of the British Navy’s base at Halifax if they really wanted to win the war, but they didn’t!-This would have required support of state officials and citizens of New York and New England states-In April of 1812, Massachusetts elected anti-war Governor, Federalist Caleb Strong-New Englanders didn’t send funds to the U.S. but did to Britain-The farmers also sold supplies to the British army

Notes on Fort Erie

Notes: “Conway Cabal”

Notes Page – War’s Chronology

Notes Page – War’s Chronology