Topic #2: The War of 1812

Essential Question: To what extent was the War of 1812 a second war for independence?

Impressment

• The British impress American sailors on the Atlantic

  • American sailors are forced to work on the British side/siege cargo.

Embargo Act

• Jefferson responds to the impressing with the Embargo Act of 1807

• It puts a ban on trading with Great Britain.

• It was intended to punish Britain, but instead it hurts the American economy.

British Aligning with Native Americans

• The British aid the Shawnee tribe led by Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa.

  • They were trying to join the Native American tribes to fight against America.

• Leads to the Battle of Tippecanoe.

Second War for Independence

Madison asks Congress to declare war:

• The House of Reps vote: 79-49 / Senate vote: 19-13

• Supporters: Democratic-Republicans: South/West

• War Hawks: Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun

War of 1812

Battles:

• Washington D.C. - burned by British

• Thames (Detroit) - Tecumseh dies

• Fort McHenry - September 1814 in Baltimore Harbor. The British bombard the fort. Francis Scott Key is inspired by the attack to write the Star Spangled Banner.

• New Orleans - 1815. Jackson becomes a war hero.

Treaty of Ghent

• 1814

• Neither side of the war wanted to fight anymore, so they sign a treaty.

• Status Quo - everything goes back to how it was before the war.

Battle of New Orleans

• January 8, 1815

• The last battle of the War of 1812

• It was fought after the Treaty of Ghent was signed, but prior to the news reaching America.

• Andrew Jackson led the victorious troops and becomes a war hero.

Impact of the War

1. National Pride

2. More settlers move West

3. Jackson = War hero

4. Federalist party ends:

• Now there is only 1 party left putting America into the Era of Good Feelings (1814-1824).

Hartford Convention

• 1814

• Meeting of New England Federalists to protest the War of 1812 which poorly affected New England harbors.

• They proposed seven constitutional amendments to take away power from the South and West.

• Congress never responds and after Jackson’s victory, they look unpatriotic.

• They start losing support and eventually dissolve.

Monroe Doctrine

• Created by James Monroe

• It says that no new European colonization in the Americas.