Untitled Flashcards Set

A Divided Nation

• The U.S. declared war on Britain in June 1812, but support for war was not unanimous.

• Regional Divide:

  • Supported by: Southern and Western states, along with Pennsylvania and Vermont.

  • Opposed by: Most of New York, New Jersey, and New England.

• Election of 1812:

  • James Madison (Democratic-Republican) won reelection, defeating DeWitt Clinton (Federalist & antiwar Dem-Rep candidate).

  • War remained unpopular in the Northeast, where trade with Britain was critical.

Opposition to the War

• Many called it “Mr. Madison’s War”, believing it was pushed by War Hawks in Congress.

• Who opposed it?

  • New England merchants – Trade with Britain had rebounded, and they saw impressment as a minor issue.

  • Federalist politicians – Feared the war was a ploy to conquer Canada, increasing Democratic-Republican power.

  • “Quids” (Old Democratic-Republicans) – Criticized the war for violating the party’s principles of limited government and peace.

II. Military Defeats and Naval Victories

A. Invasion of Canada (1812-1813)

• U.S. launched a three-part invasion from Detroit, Niagara, and Lake Champlain.

• All three attacks failed, as British and Canadian forces, often aided by Native American allies, repelled U.S. troops.

• Only success: In 1813, U.S. forces burned York (Toronto), but this provoked British retaliation.

B. Naval Battles and Blockades

• Despite Britain’s powerful navy, the U.S. had some victories:

  • The USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”) sank a British ship, boosting American morale.

  • American privateers captured British merchant ships.

  • British retaliated with a naval blockade, severely damaging U.S. trade.

• The Great Lakes & Northwest Theater (1813-1814):

  • Battle of Lake Erie (1813) – U.S. victory led by Oliver Hazard Perry.

  • Battle of the Thames (1813) – William Henry Harrison defeated British and Native forces; Tecumseh was killed, weakening Native resistance.

  • Battle of Lake Champlain (1814) – Thomas Macdonough defeated a British fleet, forcing Britain to abandon its invasion of New York.

III. British Offensives and the Burning of Washington (1814)

A. Chesapeake Campaign (1814)

• After Napoleon’s defeat in Europe, Britain increased forces in North America.

• British troops invaded Washington, D.C., burning the White House and Capitol in retaliation for York.

• Attack on Baltimore:

  • Fort McHenry held firm, preventing British forces from taking the city.

  • Inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

B. The Southern Campaign (1814-1815)

• Battle of Horseshoe Bend (1814):

  • Andrew Jackson defeated the Creek Nation, removing them as a British ally and opening Southern lands to white settlers.

• Battle of New Orleans (1815):

  • Jackson led a mixed force of frontier militia, free African Americans, and Creoles to a major victory against British forces.

  • Fought after the Treaty of Ghent was signed, but before news of peace reached the U.S.

  • Made Jackson a national hero, boosting his political future.

IV. The Treaty of Ghent (1814)

• Signed on December 24, 1814, in Ghent, Belgium.

• Key terms:

  • All prewar boundaries restored; no land was gained or lost.

  • No concessions were made on impressment or maritime rights.

• Outcome:

  • War ended in stalemate, with no clear winner.

  • U.S. gained diplomatic respect by surviving a second war against Britain.

V. The Hartford Convention (1814-1815) & Federalist Decline

• New England Federalists met in Hartford, Connecticut, to discuss their grievances.

• Proposals included:

  • A two-thirds vote requirement for war declarations to prevent future unpopular wars.

  • Some radicals proposed secession, but it never gained widespread support.

• Impact:

  • The convention’s timing was disastrous—news of Jackson’s victory at New Orleans and the Treaty of Ghent made the Federalists look unpatriotic and treasonous.

  • The Federalist Party collapsed as a national force.