War of 1812 Study Flashcards

The conflict, often referred to as the "Sequel" to the American Revolution, was driven by three primary causes known as the "3 I’s":
- Impressment: The practice of the British Royal Navy forcibly seizing American sailors and pressing them into service on British warships.
- Interfering with trade: The British disrupted American maritime commerce through various restrictions and blockades.
- Inciting Indian attacks: The British were accused of encouraging and supplying Native American tribes to attack American settlers on the western frontier.

The Embargo Act of 1807: In an attempt to address British and French interference with U.S. shipping without resorting to war, President Thomas Jefferson implemented this act.
- The act mandated that the U.S. could not trade with any foreign nation.
- Economic Consequences: The policy backfired significantly, resulting in severe harm to the U.S. economy. The shipping industry, particularly in the Northeast, was hit the hardest.

Profile: James Madison was a Democratic-Republican from Virginia.
Historical Milestone: He holds the distinction of being the first United States president to officially declare war.
Declaration of War:
- Madison cited the "3 I’s" (Impressment, Interference with trade, and Incitement of Indian attacks) as the justification for conflict.
- Congress was deeply divided over the decision: The South and West regions supported the war, while the New England region was staunchly against it.
- War was officially declared on June 1, 1812.
Missed Opportunity for Peace: Evidence suggests the war could have been avoided entirely, as the British had actually repealed the policy of impressment just before the declaration reached them.

U.S. Preparedness: The United States was not equipped for a major conflict at the start of $1812$ .
- The military consisted largely of young and inexperienced soldiers and officers.
- The U.S. lacked a functional navy to challenge British maritime supremacy.
- Conversely, the British Army was considered to be at its professional peak.
Operation: Attack Canada!:
- The American attempt to invade Canada ended in failure.
- The U.S. was unprepared to defend its own western boundaries.
- External Factors: Once the British defeated Napoleon in Europe, they were able to pivot their full military focus and resources toward the war in the United States.

The Burning of Washington D.C.: On August 24, 1814, British forces attacked the nation’s capital.
- They successfully burned the Capitol building and the White House.
The Siege of Baltimore: Following the attack on D.C., the British targeted Baltimore on September 13, 1814.
- Fort McHenry: This fort served as the primary defense protecting Baltimore Harbor.
- Defensive Tactics: American merchants took the drastic step of sinking their own ships to create a man-made reef, preventing British vessels from entering the harbor.
- Bombardment: The British Navy and the fort engaged in constant bombardment for a duration of $25$ hours.
- Cultural Significant: During the battle, Francis Scott Key wrote a poem titled "Defense of Fort McHenry," which later became known as "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Treaty of Ghent: The formal peace agreement was signed in Ghent, Belgium, on December 24, 1814.
- The treaty restored U.S.–British relations to "pre-war status" (status quo ante bellum).
- Notably, the treaty made no mention of impressment, one of the original primary causes of the war.
The Battle of New Orleans: Despite the treaty being signed, word had not yet reached the U.S. front.
- British Strategic Goal: To seize control of the Mississippi River to link up with Canadian forces and launch an attack on the West.
- American Defense: General Andrew Jackson led a force of $4,000$ troops to defend the city.
- The Battle: On January 8, 1815, American forces achieved an unusual and decisive victory.
Official Conclusion: The war was officially recognized as over on February 6, 1815.