THE WAR OF 1812

Jemmy Madison’s War

Focus Question:

Identify three reasons nations have used to declare war on another nation. Which reason is most valid?

Tensions mounted in the Atlantic World

Napoleonic Wars taxed the United States Both Britain and France involved the

nation Both seized American shipping Britain impressed American sailors

Little seemed to work

Failure of the Embargo

Jefferson’s policies reflected his worldview Felt that cutting away American food would force

changeFailed entirely

Britain and France did not depend on American food Devastated the American economy

Madison Administration

Attempted “peaceable coercion” of Britain and France Lifted embargo, but set up a Non-

Intercourse Act of 1809 Set embargo only on Britain and France

Hampered U.S. trade Sponsored American manufacturing

Rivalry turned to Britain

Orders in Council (1807) Set up blockades of France

Impressment of U.S. sailors Chesapeake Incident

Could U.S. maintain its sovereignty?

Indian Troubles

Tecumseh and the Prophet looked to form a Northwestern confederacy Shawnee leadership Composed of Great Lakes Natives

Defeated at Tippecanoe in 1811 Sparked greater Indian War in the

Great Lakes Some indication of British guns

among the Shawnee

Election of the War Hawks

Young generation of Congressional leaders Saw Britain as insulting the U.S. Looked to prove themselves Soon took leadership in Congress

War of 1812

Madison sought a declaration of war Reaction of British policies Saw a chance to unify the nation Saw a chance to capture Canada

Orders in Council repealed two days before war was declared

Mixed results

U.S. saw some early naval victoriesInvasion of Canada failed disastrously

U.S. unprepared for war Militia did not perform as expected

Demonstrated a failure of Jeffersonian policies

Widespread discontent Federalists opposed to the war Hartford Convention of 1814

War against Native Americans

U.S. forces performed well against Native Americans Defeated the Creek at Horseshoe Bend Native power broken in the Southwest Tecumseh killed at the Battle of the Thames

Great Lakes confederacy collapsed

Treaty of Ghent

Peace signed on December 24, 1814Essentially an armisticeStatus quo ante bellumSenate approved the treaty in February 1815

Battle of New Orleans

American victory on January 8, 1815U.S. troops under Andrew Jackson defeated

British regularsSignature victory for the U.S.Led many to believe we won the war

Results of the War of 1812

Sparked unity within the U.S.Federalist opposition led to the party’s

collapse“Second American Revolution”Led to a rapproachement with BritainFuture boundary disputes put to mediation

So, Who Won?