Transcript War of 1812: “tHE FORGOTTEN WAR” & “2ND AMERICAN REVOLUTION”

War of 1812: “tHE FORGOTTEN
WAR” & “2ND AMERICAN
REVOLUTION”
American Studies II
Before we begin…
• Think about a time
when you have
been “stuck in the
middle”
• What is the best
way to handle it?
• If you stay neutral,
is it easy or hard?
bACKGROUND:
• America was “stuck in the middle” between Great
Britain & France after American Independence
• Situation was made worse when Napoleonic Wars
began in 1803
• American Presidents desperately tried to keep US out
of Europe’s war without hurting America
• Washington: neutrality
• Adams: peace treaties
• Jefferson: Embargos (but sided more with France/LA
Purchase; angered GB)
• Madison: tries, but is unable to
Causes:
• 1. US stuck in the middle & both France & GB are upset, so they
disrupt American trade…hurts pocketbooks of Americans
• 2. GB begins to aid Native Americans resisting American
expansion out west
• 3. GB begins to humiliate American by impressing/
“kidnapping” American sailors on the high-seas
• Over 10,000 impressed
• Reasons: needed sailors for Royal Navy since such bad conditions &
revenge
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PHASE OF WAR OF
1812
• June 18th, 1812: President James Madison asks
Congress for a declaration of war upon GB and
is granted the request. Begins “Mr. Madison’s
War”
The US was unprepared militarily:

Had a 12-ship navy vs. Britain’s
800 ships.

Americans disliked a draft  preferred
to enlist in the disorganized state
militias.
Financially unprepared

Revenue from import tariffs declined.
Regional disagreements.
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August
1812:
battle of Detroit
• Surrender of Detroit/ Fort Mackinac.
• The first major battle of the War of
1812 ends in disaster for the United
States when General William Hull,
leading an American army of 2200
men, surrenders to British forces at
Detroit without firing a shot. Hull will
be court-martialed for cowardice and
sentenced to death, but the 61-year-old
Revolutionary War veteran will be
pardoned by President James Madison.
August 19th, 1812: battle OF
“old Ironsides”
Old Ironsides Captain
Isaac Hull,
commanding the USS
Constitution, destroys
HMS Guerriere off the
coast of Nova Scotia.
British artillery fire fails to
damage the Constitution's
oak hull during the battle,
earning the American
frigate its famous
nickname, "Old
Ironsides."
November 1812:
invasion of Canada
• Americans attempt
a 3-pronged
attack/invasion of
Canada. See map of
the cities
• Fails miserably. Is
an embarrassment
for the Americans
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10
Sept.
1813: battle
of lake erie
• Captain Oliver Hazard Perry leads
a squadron of ten ships against a
British fleet of six vessels on Lake
Erie. A fierce ten-hour naval battle
ends with American defeat of the
British, giving the United States
control over Lake Erie for the
duration of the war. Perry
announces the American victory in
a memorable dispatch to
headquarters: "We have met the
enemy and they are ours."
Sept. 20th & oct. 13th:
battle of Thames & Tecumseh
• General William Henry Harrison
leads a force of 4500 Americans
across the recently secured Lake
Erie in pursuit of British troops
forced to abandon Detroit. On 5
October, Harrison will overtake the
enemy at Moravian Town to defeat
the British and their Indian allies in
the Battle of the Thames.
Tecumseh, the Shawnee leader of
the Pan-Indian confederation earlier
defeated at Tippecanoe, will be
killed in the battle, leading many of
Britain's Indian allies to abandon
the alliance.
March 1814: battle OF
HORSESHOE BEND
• American general, Andrew
Jackson, “Old Hickory”
defeats the British & the
Creek Indians in the
Mississippi Territory
• The victory discourages other
Natives from allying with the
British and makes Andrew
Jackson a key-figure in the
war
May 1814: Napoleon
Abdicates
•
Napoleon Bonaparte as Emperor
of France, abdicates or gives up the
throne after his humiliating defeat
in the last battle of the Napoleonic
Wars. The Napoleonic Wars end
with the signing of a peace treaty
between France and the European
coalition of Great Britain, Russia,
Prussia, and Austria.
• Great Britain can now focus solely
on the war against America
• King George III of England
desperately seeks to recover the
American Colonies and sees his
chance
June 1814: great
Britain attacks
• King George III
orders an ambitious,
3 prong attack of
America: Great
Lakes, Chesapeake
Bay, & Mouth of
MS River
August 1814: capture
of the capital
• British forces capture Washington,
D.C. The White House, the Capitol,
and executive department offices
are burned. Secretary of War John
Armstrong, blamed for the poor
planning and intelligence that left
America's capital poorly defended,
is forced to resign.
• James Madison & Dolly Madison
barely escape.
• Dolly Madison saves portrait of
George Washington
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SUMMARY OF
PHASE
OF WAR OF 1812:
September 1814: battle
of ft. mchenry
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December
1814:
treaty of Ghent
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January
1815: battle
of new Orleans
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4 ,
February
1815:
congress ratifies treaty
Legacy of the war of
1812
• 1. US proved itself to the
world and especially, GB
• Worthy of being an
independent Republic
• Can compete against the
most powerful
2. Increased American
patriotism, pride, &
nationalism
New Heroes: Jackson,
Madison, Monroe, Clay,
Calhoun, Polk, & Harrison
• 3. Increased American
manufacturing & economic
power. Advancements of the
Industrial Revolution in
America
• 4. Ushered in an idea of a
“Manifest Destiny” &
increased power
REVIEW TIME!!!
• Causes of the
war?
•
1st
Phase of the
War?
• Battle of Fort
McHenry/2nd
Phase of War?
• Treaty of Ghent?
• Battle of New
Orleans?
• Legacy of the
War of 1812?
The story is over!!!
• End of American
Studies I
• Next year in American
Studies II…
• World Before
Columbus to
changing, more
powerful America
• Pick-up the story with
“Industrial Revolution”
in America & James
Monroe-Chapter 11
• Will discuss some of
the same characters:
Jackson, Clay,
Calhoun, Polk, &
Harrison