HUSH1 Quiz War of 1812

Causes of War of 1812

There was impressment of U.S. sailors, stealing of cargo, and England aided Native Americans; rising tension over trade restrictions and frontier conflict.

Embargo Act

U.S. ban on all foreign trade meant to punish Britain and France but ended up severely hurting American businesses.

Impressment

British practice of seizing American ships, kidnapping U.S. sailors, and forcing them into the Royal Navy.

Chesapeake incident

1807 attack where a British ship fired on the USS Chesapeake after being denied permission to search for deserters, killing Americans and increasing calls for war.

Continental System (Napoleon)

Napoleon’s blockade that cut off trade with Britain and pulled the U.S. into European economic conflicts.

Thomas Jefferson

Democratic-Republican president who passed the Embargo Act and set the stage for rising tensions before the war.

James Madison

President elected in 1808 who asked Congress for a declaration of war against Britain in 1812.

Oliver Perry (Battle of Lake Erie)

U.S. naval commander who won the Battle of Lake Erie and helped secure control of Canada’s waterways.

Tecumseh

Shawnee leader who formed a Native confederacy, allied with the British, and was defeated at Tippecanoe and the Thames.

Andrew Jackson

U.S. general nicknamed “Old Hickory” who became a national hero after winning the Battle of New Orleans.

Francis Scott Key

Witnessed the Battle of Fort McHenry and wrote the poem that later became the Star-Spangled Banner.

Star Spangled Banner

Poem written during the Battle of Baltimore that later became the U.S. national anthem.

Treaty of Ghent

Treaty that ended the War of 1812, reopened trade, and restored prewar conditions without addressing impressment.

Hartford Convention

Meeting of New England Federalists who opposed the war, damaging the party’s reputation.

Rush-Bagot Treaty

Agreement between the U.S. and Britain limiting warships on the Great Lakes.

Federalists

Political party mostly in the North that opposed the War of 1812 and favored stronger trade ties with Britain.

War Hawks

Young Southern and Western congressmen who pushed for war to defend national honor and possibly gain Canada.