The War of 1812 Causes

The War of 1812

  • two separate sets of conflicts:

  

  1. US vs Britain in east and atlantic
  2. US vs Native confederacies in west
  • most in US saw Native people as British puppets
    • British forts in northwest supplied their Native allies
    • but, didn’t control them

The War of 1812: Western Causes

  • social crisis led to religious and cultural revivals across many Native societies
  • 1809 Treaty of Fort Wayne ceded more Native land on Ohio Country
  • two Shawnee brothers became most influential of many similar leaders:
    • Tenskwatawa, “The Shawnee Prophet”
    • called for rejection of European ways
    • Pan-Indian resistance to US expansion
    • Tecumseh
    • Shawnee war chief
    • brilliant orator and diplomat
  • rebuilt and expanded Western Confederacy
    • founded new multi-ethnic towns in land ceded under Treaty of Greenville
    • new to the south and the west, especially Red Stick Creeks
  • November 1811, Battle of Tippecanoe sparks war

The War of 1812: Atlantic Causes

  • impressment of about 30% of US merchant fleet sailors were British
    • british navy desperate for manpower (fighting Napoleon)
    • boarded US merchant ships to reclaim British sailors
    • many US sailors also seized: about 6,000, 1803-1812