“Mr. Madison’s War”The War of 1812
Causes of the War• Napoleonic War with the British
• The “Warhawk” Congress of 1812
• Impressment
• Indian Attacks
• Desire for Canadian territory
Indian Troubles• Alliance between Tecumseh and the
BritishCreation of an Indian alliance under Tecumseh; threatens American move west
Aided by his half-brother, “the Prophet”; proclaims Tecumseh new Indian Messiah with mystical powers
Indian TroublesNovember 11, 1811 – Battle of Tippecanoe
Tecumseh’s confederation
defeated by William Henry
Harrison
Prophet killed; myth of Tecumseh destroyed
The Congress of 1812New leadership in Congress:
Henry Clay – SpeakerJohn C. Calhoun
Influence of Western and Southern members
More aggressive against Indians and British
Expansionist, nationalist
Macon’s Bill #2“Sec. 4. That in case either Great Britain or France shall,
before the third day of March next, so revoke or modify her edicts as that they shall cease to violate the neutral commerce of the United States, which fact the President of the United States shall declare by proclamation, and if the other nation shall not within three months thereafter so revoke or modify her edicts in like manner… the restrictions imposed by this act shall, from the date of such proclamation, cease and be discontinued in relation to the nation revoking or modifying her decrees in the manner aforesaid.”
Madison and Napoleon
JM fooled by Napoleon
into accepting provisions
of Macon #2, implying
new alliance with the
French was created;
British now regard
America as an enemy
Congress Declares War!An “unnecessary war” British concessionsLack of American
preparedness: military weakness financial weakness (no
BUS) divided country lack of support in the
Northeast mostly supported in
the South and West
Naval Actions• defeat of the “mosquito fleet”• Use of privateers (pirates)• The Great Lakes Battles
– Lake Ontario (fall, 1813)– Lake Erie (Sept. 10, 1813)
Oliver Hazard Parry prevents
British invasion of the Midwest
War Against the TribesNorth: Harrison vs. Tecumseh at the
Battle of the Thames (Canada)Tecumseh killed; Indian alliance destroyed
Indian threat in the North ended
War Against the TribesSouth: Andrew Jackson vs. the Creeks at the
Battle of Horseshoe Bend (AL)
Ends Indian threat in the South
Andrew Jackson
British Victories
• Increased attention paid to US conflict due to temporary peace with French
• More manpower and better officers sent to US conflict
• Strategy: divide New England from rest of US (similar to American Revolution but for different reasons)
The Burning of DCAugust 1814: British burn
much of DC, including White House
Madison and the government barely escape with documents and historical heirlooms
“Government in exile”Federalists in NE began
secret negotiations with Britain
Ft. McHenry and the Star-Spangled Banner
British defeated at Ft. McHenry;
Inspires Francis Scott Key to write the famous poem
British Invasion of New York
Fails at the battle of Plattsburg, Sept., 1814British begin negotiations to end the war
Thomas MacDonough
The Treaty of Ghent• Negotiated by John Quincy Adams• Signed December 26th, 1814• “status quo antebellum”
– Same deal that was offered in
June, 1812
The Hartford Convention • Purposes
to propose radical changes to the Constitution
to consider secession from the US
The Hartford Convention
Proposed changes:Removing 3/5ths compromise and not count
slaves at all in representation
2/3 in both houses of Congress to admit new States
2/3 needed to call an embargo
2/3 needed to declare war
Only American born citizens could hold office
One four year term for president, cannot have consecutive presidents from same State
The Battle of New Orleans• Jan. 8th, 1815: Andrew Jackson destroys the
British at New Orleans
• Casualties: Britain – over 2,000, US – 21• Perceived by Americans as the cause for the
end of the war
Timing of the End of the War• Perceived ending of
the war:
Hartford ConventionBattle of New OrleansTreaty of Ghent
Results in discrediting the Federalists for good; gave Americans the perception of victory over the British
• Real ending of the war
Treaty of GhentHartford ConventionBattle of New Orleans
All three events unrelated to each other
Impact of the War of 1812• Increased nationalism• Western expansion• Decreased Indian threat• New relationship with the British• End of the Federalists and beginning of one-
party government for two decades