The United States entered the War of 1812 at a disadvantage with a weak, unprepared military and few naval ships. While its goal was to conquer Canada, three separate invasions failed. In 1813, the Americans won some battles in Canada. As British troops fought in Canada, they invaded Washington D.C. and burned the city. They then moved to Baltimore but were repulsed. In 1815, British forces invaded New Orleans and were decisively defeated by Andrew Jackson, though the war had already ended due to slow communications. The Treaty of Ghent ended the war without territorial changes but the young nation gained new respect.

1. Chapter 11
Section 5 Notes

2. Lack of Preparation for War; the Campaign
for Canada
 The UNITED STATES entered the war at a great
disadvantage. Its military was weak and unprepared.
In addition, the nation had fewer than 20 SHIPS to
battle the powerful BRITISH navy.
 One of the major U.S. goals of the war was the
conquest of CANADA, Britain’s last holding in
NORTH AMERICA. The nation quickly launched
three separate invasions into CANADA. All three
campaigns FAILED.
 In 1813, however, the Americans won several battles
in CANADA that gave the nation a much-needed
boost.

3. The British Invasion; New Orleans
 As British troops battled the Americans in CANADA, a
regiment of British soldiers invaded the nation’s EAST COAST.
In August 1814, they captured WASHINGTON, D.C. AND SET
FIRE TO THE CITY.
 The British moved on to BALTIMORE, where American troops
held them off and forced them to retreat.
 In January 1815, British forces invaded the UNITED STATES
from the south at NEW ORLEANS. They met an American
force led by ANDREW JACKSON. The BATTLE OF NEW
ORLEANS was a great victory of the UNITED STATES. More
than 2,000 British soldiers were killed, while only about 20
Americans died.
 The BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS was actually fought after the
war had ended. Due to SLOW COMMUNICATIONS, neither
side learned until after the battle that the UNITED STATES
and BRITAIN had signed a peace treaty.

4. Burning of Washington, D.C.

5. Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland

6. Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland

7. Francis Scott Key

8. The Star-Spangled Banner (Our National
Anthem)

9. Andrew Jackson

10. Battle of New Orleans

11. The War Ends
 The war divided the nation. Many people in NEW
ENGLAND opposed the war. These people, mostly
FEDERALISTS, believed that the war would ruin their
LOCAL ECONOMIES. In 1814, NEW ENGLANDERS
even met to discuss forming a SEPARATE
CONFEDERATION.
 News of the war’s end caused them to abandon their
plans. After that, not much more was heard from the
FEDERALIST PARTY.
 The TREATY OF GHENT, signed on CHRISTMAS EVE
1814, ended the WAR OF 1812, but it did not end the
harassment of American ships. In addition, neither side
gained or lost territory.
 However, most Americans felt proud and self-confident at
the end of the war. The young nation had GAINED NEW
RESPECT FROM OTHER NATIONS IN THE WORLD.