War of 1812

War of 1812’s Roots Adams Administration

Quasi War with France Jefferson Takes Office

Trade with Britain and France was $60 annually France and Britain are at WAR in Europe –

Remember Napoleon

Jefferson Responds Why did he avoid war?

Lack of army and navy Nonimportation Act 1806

America will not import from Britain All this did was create a lucrative black market

and smugglers

Chesapeake - Leopard Clash between American Chesapeake and

British Leopard resulted in 4 Americans dead, 18 wounded and 4 impressed

Jefferson Responds In order to avoid war he passes Embargo Act of

1807 Non-exportation plus Non-importation America cannot trade with any foreign country

until France and Britain buckle

Results of Jefferson’s Foreign Policy

Economic downturn Revival of Federalist opposition (temporary

revival) Perception by both France and Britain that the

US is weak

Madison Gives it a Try Enter James Madison Nonintercourse Act 1809 – replacing Jefferson’s

Embargo Let’s Try That Again – Macon’s Bill No. 2 (1810) War becomes the only alternative

Party Politics Federalist Party was dying a slow death Expansion of the Republicans should have been

great, right? Broader base means less ideological purity

New Forces within the Republican Party Quids War Hawks

These are the forces that Madison has to deal with

War Declaration of War June 4 and June 18 1812

The vote is remarkably close: House: 79-49 Senate: 19-13 This doth not bode well for Mr. Madison’s War

Military Side of the War

At first America enjoys the same advantages we had during the Revolution Defensive position Britain is distracted by European War

Some Disadvantages Just reduced the army and navy

Embarrassment Three Canadian Campaigns Three Embarrassments End to the dream of adding Canada to America 1813 Napoleon loses Battle of Leipzig in October –

suddenly Britain can focus her attention in America – uh, oh, spaghetti-Os Britain leads a three pronged attach to divide America Initially works well – they invade Washington and

Burn the Capitol and White Hous

Those Pesky Federalists

Wartime opposition breathed a flicker of life into the Federalist Party

Key New England areas refused to support calls for militia’s to defend against attacks from Canada

Hartford Convention – Dec. 1814

Ending the War Negotiations were underway in December 1814

to make peace between Britain and America The Deal- The Treaty of Ghent:

Americans agreed not to push forcing Britain to accept their neutral rights – it was now a moot point

Territorial boundaries (Canada) were left to be argued in Committees

Enter Andrew Jackson Battle of New Orleans (Jan. 8, 1815) – Happens

technically after the peace but before news of the treaty had spread

Jackson was leading an army of veterans from the Creek Indian theater of the war

Details of the battle really don’t matter – key takeaway: Jackson becomes an overnight celebrity

Effects of the War Foreign Policy – Begrudging respect from France and

Britain – in the future they would be more likely to negotiate than resort to war

Native Americans Ohio Valley tribes are utterly defeated making way for a

new settlement push and demand for Indian removal Domestic Politics

Death of the Federalist Party – the Hartford Convention spelled disaster for the part and ensured its death

Also the death of Jefferson’s Old Republicans – leading to a younger more aggressively “democratic” brand of Republicanism

How Do We Tell The Story?

In 1812, the U.S. declared war on the United Kingdom, officially beginning the War of 1812. What started the war? Did it play a signficant role in history? The answers depend on who tells the story.

Below are excerpts from textbook descriptions of the War of 1812. Select the country where the textbook was written.

"Little was resolved for the future by the Peace of Ghent which ended the official hostilities. . . . Many Americans still harboured grudges against Britain going back to the War of Independence.”

A.Canada B.United States C.Great Britain D.Caribbean

"The Americans treated the War of 1812 as a second War of Independence, a necessary struggle to complete the process of separation from the mother country. National survival was taken as victory. From the British perspective, the war had been little more than a sideshow to the major struggle, which was against Napoleon in Europe. Only in the Canadas did the War of 1812 have any great impact.”

A.Canada B.United States C.Great Britain D.Caribbean

"Between 1812 and 1814 Britain and the United States fought a war over [trade with Latin America].”

A.Canada B.Great Britain C.United States D.Caribbean

"After the War of 1812, Americans felt a new sense of patriotism and a strong national identity. The young nation also gained new respect from other nations in the world.”

A.Canada B.United States C.Great Britain D.Caribbean