The War of 1812

The War of 1812: Round Two with the British

A. New President: James Madison

  • James Madison's Leadership

    • Described as "not a charismatic guy" by contemporaries.

    • A comment from the wife of a colleague described him as:

    • “A gloomy, stiff creature.”

    • Not engaging or bearable in social situations.

    • Labeled as the "most unsociable creature in existence."

    • Source: Timothy Shenk, Realigners, p.16

B. American Grievances

  • Geographical Context

    • The transcript includes an outline of American territories and Indian land claims.

    • Major geographical references include:

    • Ohio River

    • Great Lakes: Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario

    • Various Indian tribes including the Delaware, Iroquois, Miami, Kickapoo, Chippewa, Ottawa, and others.

  • Historical Context

    • Mention of the Treaty of Fort Wayne (Fall of 1809) leading to tension with Native American tribes and settler expansion.

    • The Battle of Tippecanoe (Nov. 1811), which highlighted conflicts between settlers and Native Americans.

    • Tecumseh's resistance to land encroachment.

C. Tecumseh and the Prophet

  • Philosophy of Land Ownership

    • Native American perspective on land ownership advocated by Tecumseh:

    • “We were once a happy race, since made miserable by the white people.”

    • Belief in the need for unity among Native American tribes to claim equal rights to the land.

    • Position: “The white people have no right to take the land from the Indians.”

  • Rallying Cry to Arms

    • Tecumseh's passionate call for uprising:

    • “Let the white race perish. They seize your land; they corrupt your women.”

    • Advocates for driving white settlers back to their origins, emphasizing the violence they had inflicted.

  • Tecumseh’s Curse

    • A superstition surrounding Tecumseh’s perceived curse on U.S. presidents:

    • Harrison (1840) - died

    • Lincoln (1860) - assassinated

    • Garfield (1880) - assassinated

    • McKinley (1900) - assassinated

    • Harding (1920) - died

    • Franklin D. Roosevelt (1940) - died

    • John F. Kennedy (1960) - assassinated

    • Ronald Reagan (1980) - survived term

    • George W. Bush (2000) - survived term

D. War Hawks

  • Key figures pushing for war against Britain included:

    • John C. Calhoun

    • Henry Clay

E. War Highlights

  • Territorial Overview

    • The layout of the American territories and the key battles of the War of 1812 illustrated with a detailed map showing major locations of conflict:

    • Michigan Territory: Fort Mackinac, Fort Detroit

    • Key battles such as Chippewa, Lundy's Lane, and Fort McHenry

    • Major rivers: St. Lawrence, Mississippi, Ohio

  • Battle Events

    • Detroit's surrender (Aug. 16, 1812)

    • Battle of Lake Erie (Sept. 10, 1813), with Commadore Oliver Hazard Perry

    • Capture of York (Toronto) (Apr. 27, 1813)

    • The battle of Lundy’s Lane (July 25, 1814)

    • Final showdown at New Orleans (Jan. 8, 1815) led by Andrew Jackson.

F. The Creek War (1813-1814)

  • Map Overview

    • Shows key locations:

    • Significant events such as the Battle of Horseshoe Bend (March 27, 1814)

    • Territory interactions including Fort Mims, Fort Jackson, and various Creek villages

  • Criminal Acts by Creeks

    • Descriptions detailing atrocities committed during the wars by both sides against civilians.

  • Jackson's Relationship with Native Americans

    • Jackson’s post-verbal commitments and subsequent actions that contradicted previous promises, according to figures like Junaluska.

G. The British Attack on Washington, D.C.

  • A notable incident recounted from a British soldier's perspective:

    • Reference to troops enjoying a lavish meal in the city before setting fire to the White House.

    • George Robert Gleig’s quote describes their experience during the occupation.

H. The Battle of New Orleans

  • Context as a significant victory despite happening after the peace treaty had been signed, not widely known at the time.

I. The Hartford Convention

  • Details of the convention and discussions among New England Federalists opposed to the war, signifying political divides in the conflict.