2. The War of 1812
Background
• Britain and France are at war and attacking
our ships and impressing our men
• The British are also arming the Native
American tribes in the Ohio River Valley who
are attacking our settlers there.
• Congress (filled with War Hawks) wants to
defend our honor and gain more territory to
boot
• In June of 1812, President Madison declares
war on Britain
3. The War of 1812
Thank
you
Thomas
Jefferson!
At Issue
• The US has no real
Army – only 7000
trained troops
• There are only 50 –
100,000 untrained
militia on reserve
• Most of the
Revolutionary War
military leaders are
either dead or too
old to fight
4. The War of 1812
At Issue (continued)
• The US Navy has very few ships, but does
have a number of frigates which are much
faster and more maneuverable than the
traditional warship
• There is not unified
support for the War.
Federalists in the
Northeast oppose it
very loudly (this will
come back to haunt
them!)
Thanks again
Mr. Jefferson!
5. The War of 1812
So, here’s what happens in a
nutshell!
June-July 1812
• First move is to
invade Canada
• Madison sends
William Hull into
Canada, but it
failed
• British blockade
the US coast
6. The War of 1812
William Hull
• Hull was a Revolutionary War hero
• He was tried for cowardice and
convicted after he failed to attack the
British fort and retreated (saving his men
from sure defeat and annihilation)
• The sentence would have been a hanging
• Eventually, he was pardoned by Madison.
He died many years later, all the while
trying to reclaim his honor
(unsuccessfully).
BACK TO THE WAR!
7. The War of 1812
WAR AT
SEA
War at Sea
• We are up against the most powerful Navy in the
world
• The first concern is breaking the blockade
• The second concern is to protect from the
invasion through the Great Lakes
8. The War of 1812
The USS Constitution
A Side Picture Show!
22. The War of 1812
War on the Water
• Oliver Hazard Perry
defeated the British in
Lake Erie in 1813
• The USS Constitution
defeated the HMS
Guerriere and the HMS
Java along the way
Oliver Hazard
Perry
• Americans also keep the
British out of upper New
York with their victory at
Lake Champlain (1814)
• But the blockade is still in
force and Britain is still
able to get troops in
23. The War of 1812
1813 - 1814
• War is going our way!
US troops march into
York (Canada’s capital)
and burn the Parliament
building. (This will
come back to haunt us)
• US Forces defeat
British and Native
American fighters at
Thames (where
Tecumseh is killed) and
Horseshoe Bend (where
Andrew Jackson gets
his start)
24. The War of 1812
1814-1815
• The British defeat
France – now they
concentrate on US
• Britain plans a three
part invasion up the
Chesapeake Bay, down
Lake Champlain and at
the mouth of MS River
• In August 1814, they
march up to DC and
take over burning much
of the city. Madison is
forced to flee.
25. The War of 1812
The Stars and Bars
flown at Fort
McHenry
1814-1815 (cont.)
• The Brits then move up
to Baltimore
• The city is guarded by
13,000 militia at Fort
McHenry
• Although the British
bombard the fort
overnight, they are
turned back
• Francis Scott Key is so
moved by the event, he
wrote what would
become our National
Anthem
26. The War of 1812
1814-1815 (cont.)
• British suffer another
defeat at Plattsburgh
and decide the war
over here isn’t worth it
• December of 1814, the
Treaty of Ghent is
signed – no real
changes occurred
• Battle of New Orleans
is fought in Jan. 1815
• Andrew Jackson’s
forces defeat British
and he becomes a
national hero
