The War of 1812: Cause & Effects

Cause: Shipping and commerce begins to suffer in the United States

Effect: British impresses the sailors in the U.S. navy

Cause: Embargo Act of 1807 gets passed

Effect: American trading gets hurt and British impressment continues

Cause: President Madison explains to Congress that Great Britain is doing the following: interfering with trade, supporting Indian attacks on the frontier, and impressment of sailors

Effect: Congress declares war for the first time on June 18, 1812

Cause: The U.S. is completely unprepared for war and has no real navy

Effect: Britain has a well trained, experienced army and navy

Cause: Napolean is defeated in Europe in 1814

Effect: Britain now sends a full military against America

Cause: British land 25 miles south of Washington D.C.

Effect: A frenzy surrounds D.C. and all important U.S. documents get removed

Cause: British overrun all 3 lines of American defense in one hour

Effect: British are on a days march form D.C. and it becomes a ghost town

Cause: Dolly Madison remains at the White House

Effect: She saves George Washington's portrait painted by Gilbert Stuart for prosperity

Cause: British burns down the White House and Washington D.C.

Effect: James Madison begins to connect with the people

Cause: Baltimore is rallied to fight a British invasion

Effect: Citizens of all color work together to stop the British

Cause: British were thought to attack fort McHenry

Effect: Baltimore merchants sink ships in the harbor to prevent British from sailing in

Cause: Major General Robert Ross is killed at the beginning of battle

Effect: British army loses a great leader and leadership

Cause: Flag above Fort McHenry is still waving in the morning

Effect: Francis Scott Key writes "Defense of Fort McHenry" (Star Spangled Banner)

Cause: Americans celebrate the saving of Baltimore

Effect: Peace talks began in Ghent, Belgium

Cause: Anti-War federalists meet in Hartford, Connecticut

Effect: Talk of secession begins

Cause: Andrew Jackson has great hatred for the British and want revenge

Effect: James Madison does not want Jackson to lead

Cause: Andrew Jackson is seen as a dynamic leader

Effect: He creates the greatest diverse force of 4,000 in New Orleans

Cause: Britain wants to take New Orleans by surprise

Effect: Jackson decides to attack the British first

Cause: Peace at Ghent, Belgium is signed, taking four to six weeks for news to travel

Effect: Bloodiest battle of the war is being prepared for during this time

Cause: British assault becomes a major snafu (chaos)

Effect: Americans decimate the British troops

Cause: American trounce the British in about 2 hours

Effect: More than 2,000 British soldiers dead or wounded; 13 Americans dead and several dozen wounded

Cause: News of victory reaches D.C.

Effect: Sense of national pride emerges

Why was the War of 1812 significant?

Turning point in American History proves the U.S. was ready to stay as a functioning government and nation

Cause: Madison and Jackson emerge as heroes

Effect: They bring America together to get through a difficult time