HOW DID THE

WAR PROGRESS?The War of 1812 was fought on land and on water. However, the United States was at a disadvantage at sea. Britain had one of the largest and most impressive naval forces in the world. Because of this, the Americans needed to find another way to launch their attacks against British forces. They decided to focus on the colonies in Canada.

THE AMERICANS SEND A WARNING Brigadier General William Hull was a high-ranking officer in the American military during the War of 1812. On July 12, 1812, he issued a proclamation to the colonists in Upper Canada. Read an excerpt from his proclamation in Figure 6.14. Like many Americans, Hull believed that the colonists in Upper Canada would not resist the American invasion, because the Americans would free and protect the colonists from British control. At the same time, he warned the colonists against joining the British soldiers in fighting against the Americans.

NEW BRITISH MILITARY STRATEGYMajor-General Sir Isaac Brock was a British military commander in Upper Canada during the War of 1812. Strengthening Upper Canada’s defences was Brock’s first priority. Read the quote in Figure 6.15. It is an excerpt from a letter Brock wrote to Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Baynes, four months before the Americans declared war. Baynes was the assistant to Commander-in-Chief Sir George Prevost. What is Brock’s main message to Baynes?

Brock believed that the only way that Upper Canada could defend itself from an American invasion was to control Michilimackinac, an island in present-day northern Michigan. As you learned in Chapter 3, this was the location of a battle between First Nations and the British in 1763. Brock believed that controlling the island meant controlling the Upper Great Lakes. This would fend off an American invasion. Brock was right. A large group of 400 First Nations warriors, 200 fur traders, and 46 British officers gathered together as a show of British force. When they reached the island, the American commander was offered a chance to surrender before a full-on attack. He accepted. When Hull learned of this victory, he abandoned his invasion of Upper Canada and retreated to Detroit. Figure 6.16 shows British troops and their allies preparing for battle. How would you feel if a window in your home overlooked this scene?

FIGURE 6.14 This excerpt is from Hull’s proclamation to Canadians on July 12, 1812, in Sandwich (present-day Windsor), Upper Canada. Analyze: How do you think the Loyalists felt about the invasion and proclamation?

FIGURE 6.15 This excerpt is from a letter written by Brock to Baynes on February 12, 1812. Analyze: Why does Brock believe that most of the country would need to be evacuated?

FIGURE 6.16 This 1997 painting by Keith Rocco, entitled British Troops at Michilimackinac, shows the rallying of British troops at Michilimackinac on July 17, 1812. Analyze: What evidence do you see in this painting that places the British at an advantage?

“Inhabitants of Canada!

After thirty years of peace and prosperity, the United States have been

driven to arms. The injuries and aggressions, the insults and indignities

of Great Britain have once more left no alternative but manly resistance

or unconditional submission. The army under my command has invaded

your country; the standard of the Union [the American flag] now waves

over the territory of Canada. To the peaceful unoffending inhabitants, it

brings neither danger nor difficulty. I come to find enemies, not to make

them; I come to protect, not to injure you ... I have a force which will

break down all opposition, and that force is but the vanguard of a much

greater—If, contrary to your own interest, and the just expectations of

my country, you should take part in the approaching contest, you will

be considered and treated as enemies, and the horrors and calamities of

war will stalk before you.”

— Brigadier General William Hull

“I set out with

declaring my full

conviction, that

unless Detroit and

Michilimackinac be

both in our possession

immediately at the

commencement of

hostilities, not only the

district of Amherstburg,

but most probably the

whole country as far

as Kingston, must be

evacuated.”

— Major-General

Sir Isaac Brock

If you were Hull, how would you have communicated to the Canadians to

persuade them to join the American side in the

fight against the British?

174 UNIT 2: Conflicts and Challenges in Canada: 1800–1850 NEL CHAPTER 6: The War of 1812 175NEL

Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25, 1814

Siege of Fort Erie August 13, 1814

KEY EVENTS IN THE WAR OF 1812 Most of the battles in the War of 1812 took place in Upper and Lower Canada. The people in Upper Canada suffered the most because many key battles were fought on their soil, as the map and photos in Figure 6.17 show. In total, there were over 170 battles, raids, skirmishes (unplanned fighting between small armies or fleets), and campaigns (series of military operations) during the War of 1812. Figure 6.18 shows a timeline of some of the important events from the start of the war to its end in January 1815.

FIGURE 6.18 This timeline shows several significant battles and events from the War of 1812. American victories are in blue, British victories are in red, and events are shown in black. Analyze: What do you notice about the progression of the war?

1807 1814 18151812 18131811

Siege ofDetroit

Battleof York

Battle ofTippecanoe

Battle ofLake Erie

Battle of the Thames

Battle ofCrysler’sFarm

Burning ofWashington, D.C.

Battle ofPlattsburgh

Battle ofLundy’s Lane

Battle ofChâteauguay

Battle ofQueenston Heights

Siege ofFort Erie

Battle ofBeaverDams

L O W E R C A N A D AU P P E R

C A N A D A

ATLANTICOCEANLake Erie

LakeHuron

LakeSuperior

Lake Ontario

Lak

e M

ichi

ga

n

ChesapeakeBay

St. Lawrence River

90 km0

N

British victory

American victory

unclear victory

British territory

American territory

present-day Canadaand United Statesborder

u02-c06-f01-his7sb

Crowle Art Group

4th pass

History 7 SB

0-17-671053-1

FN

CO

Pass

Approved

Not Approved

Battle of Plattsburgh September 11, 1814

Battle of Lake Erie September 10, 1813

Battle of Tippecanoe November 7, 1811

Battle of York April 27, 1813

Treaty of Ghent December 24, 1814

Battle of Châteauguay October 26, 1813

Declaration of War June 18, 1812

Creation of Coloured Corps

August 1812

Battle of New Orleans January 8, 1815

Battle of the Thames (Moraviantown) October 5, 1813

Burning of Washington, D.C. August 24, 1814

Battle of Crysler’s Farm November 11, 1813

Battle of Beaver Dams June 24, 1813

Battle of Queenston Heights

October 13, 1812

Siege of Detroit August 16, 1812

Chesapeake–Leopard Affair June 22, 1807

Select Battles from the War of 1812

FIGURE 6.17 To this day, we still see many monuments in commemoration of the War of 1812. Cities like Toronto have been built around the war’s historic remains. Analyze: What do these photos tell you about the importance of the War of 1812? Why are memorials such as these important today?

Battle of Crysler’s Farm

Battle of York

Battle of Beaver Dams Battle of Queenston Heights

176 UNIT 2: Conflicts and Challenges in Canada: 1800–1850 CHAPTER 6: The War of 1812 177NEL NEL

A story map uses a combination of words and multimedia, such as photos

and videos, to tell a story. A story map might be suitable to document

and describe places you have visited, damage caused by natural disasters,

current world affairs, or historical events, such as major battles in a war.

You can make a story map using online mapping technologies, such as

ArcGIS Online. In the following activity,

you will choose a battle from the War

of 1812 and use ArcGIS Online to create

a story map about this battle. You

can choose one of the battles listed in

Figure 6.19 (referenced in the timeline on

pages 176 and 177) or another battle that

interests you. You will gather primary and

secondary sources to help you document

and describe your chosen battle in your

story map.

A STORY MAPCREATING SIGNIFICANT BATTLES IN THE WAR OF 1812

The British, Americans, and allies from both sides, which included First Nations, fought to gain or defend territories. What were the human costs of this two-and-a-half-year war? There is no way to know exactly. Official records are vague. Thousands were killed in the battles and thousands more were killed due to diseases and other factors stemming from the battles. Some sources estimate a total of about 35 000 British soldiers, American soldiers, and First Nations warriors died in battle and from other causes related to the War of 1812.

The following are some of the key battles that took place during the War of 1812.

At the outset of the war, the Americans focused on Detroit

as a key location from which to invade Upper Canada. Detroit

lay between the British forces and their First Nations allies. By

setting up camp in Detroit, the Americans hoped to interrupt

communications between the British and their allies.

Hull’s strategy of scaring colonists in Upper Canada into

surrendering to the Americans (see Figure 6.14) did not work. In

August 1812, under the leadership of Brock, a few hundred soldiers

from Britain, British colonists from Upper and Lower Canada and

the Maritimes, and First Nations allies, crossed the Detroit River

to attack. Hull’s 2500 troops vastly outnumbered Brock’s forces.

Despite this, the Americans believed Brock’s forces were much

larger than they actually were. Hull surrendered after heavy fire

from British ships along the Detroit River. Figure 6.20 shows the

important role of the navy in the British victory.

This early win for the British helped to solidify alliances

between the British and First Nations, especially between Brock

and Tecumseh.

The Siege of Detroit

FIGURE 6.20 The Bombardment of Fort Detroit, 1812 was painted in 1997 by artist Peter Rindlisbacher. Rindlisbacher is known for his historically accurate portrayals of naval battles. Analyze: How do you think fighting a battle on the water differs from fighting on land?

The Americans considered Niagara in Upper Canada another

strategic place to launch an invasion. If they conquered Niagara,

they could cut off British access to Detroit.

The Americans invaded the town of Queenston in Niagara

on October 13, 1812. Brock was awakened by the sound of guns

being fired. He did not have the forces he needed to deal with

such an invasion, but he gathered a small number of troops. As

he led the troops up the hill (called the Heights), Brock was shot

in the chest and killed. His troops withdrew. A few hours later,

with a new major-general in place, more British troops arrived,

along with Haudenosaunee Six Nations and Delaware warriors.

The American forces were reduced when some members of the

American militia, who were not strong supporters of the war,

refused to fight on the Canadian side of the border. Figure 6.21 shows the American forces crossing the Niagara River and

scrambling up the embankment. British troops are assembled at

the top of the hill, ready to face their attackers. The British won

this battle, giving them a significant victory.

The Battle of Queenston Heights

FIGURE 6.21 This is a colourized image of an 1836 painting entitled The Battle of Queenston Heights. The original artist is unknown. Analyze: How does seeing this depiction of the battle help you to understand how the British won the battle?

STEP 1

STEP 3

STEP 5

STEP 2

STEP 4

STEP 6

Choose a battle from the War of 1812. Research information about the battle. Then decide what you would like to document in your story map and develop a plan. For example, you could include a list of key dates and locations leading up to the battle, the names of important people, and the perspectives of different people and groups involved in the battle.

Start ArcGIS Online. Click on Map on the top toolbar to open the ArcGIS Online map viewer. Use the search box or zoom in to focus your map on the area of the battle. Choose a suitable basemap, such as the National Geographic basemap.

Save your map. Give your map a title and appropriate tags.

Gather primary and secondary sources to include in your story map. You could include images of people, places, or artifacts from the battle, quotes from people involved in or affected by the battle, or links to modern-day connections.

Add key locations and data to your map using Add Map Notes. You could add points to show the location of the battle and the locations of key events leading up to it. You could also add descriptions and images from your primary and secondary sources, as well as website links.

Click Share. You can now create your story map by clicking the Create a Web App button and using the Story Map Tour template. Create your story map, and share it with your classmates.

HOW TO CREATE A STORY MAP

Battle Location Coordinates

Siege of Detroit Detroit, Michigan 42.33°N, 83.05°W

Battle of Queenston

Heights

Niagara-on-the-Lake,

Ontario

43.26°N, 79.07°W

Battle of York Toronto, Ontario 43.70°N, 79.40°W

Battle of Châteauguay Très-Saint-Sacrement,

Québec

43.70°N, 79.40°W

Battle of Lundy’s Lane Niagara Falls, Ontario 43.12°N, 79.07°W

Siege of Fort Erie Fort Erie, Ontario 42.92°N, 79.02°W

Burning of

Washington

Washington, District

of Columbia

38.91°N, 77.02°W

FIGURE 6.19 This table lists some of the War of 1812’s important battles, and their present-day location and coordinates.

CHAPTER 6: The War of 1812 179NEL178 NELUNIT 2: Conflicts and Challenges in Canada: 1800–1850

1. CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCE What were some

intended and unintended consequences of

some of the significant battles in Upper and

Lower Canada?

2. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Which battle do you

think was most significant, and why? What

criteria did you use to come to this conclusion?

3. COMMUNICATE Choose a battle from pages 179 to

181. Imagine you are a journalist reporting from

the front lines of that battle. Create a news report

covering the significant events of the battle.

Remember to include a headline and answer the

5Ws in your report.

CHECK-IN

York (present-day Toronto) was the capital of

Upper Canada. Its location was strategic since

it was a site where weapons and gunpowder

were stored. It also had a massive ship—

HMS Sir Isaac Brock—under construction. The

Americans thought that control of this ship

would mean control of the Great Lakes.

Approximately 1700 American troops and

a fleet of ships attacked York on April 27, 1813.

The Americans beat the British and a group

of Ojibwe and Mississauga warriors. They took

the town, Fort York, and the dockyard. As

the British retreated, however, they set off an

explosion. The explosion blew up much of the

fort and caused many deaths and casualties

on both sides. The British also burnt HMS Sir Isaac Brock to prevent the Americans from

capturing it.

In August 1814, the British retaliated for

the loss of York. They attacked Washington,

the capital of the United States. The British

set fire to the White House, the Capitol

building that held the Library of Congress, the

treasury building, and the navy yard. When

the fires were put out the next day, only one

government building was left standing.

Figure 6.22 depicts the burning of

the White House. Why would this be an

important building for the British to destroy?The Americans planned to invade Montréal

and cut off British supply ties between

Montréal and Kingston. Their goal was to

hinder British war efforts in Upper Canada.

However, leadership and communication

were poor on the American side. Although

American forces outnumbered the British by

about eight times, they overestimated how

large the British forces were.

The Battle of Châteauguay, shown in

Figure 6.23, happened on October 26, 1813.

The British forces in Lower Canada consisted

of British soldiers, Canadian Voltigeurs

(largely French-speaking soldiers from

Québec), local militia, and Mohawk, Huron,

and Abenaki warriors. The British blew

horns in the woods as a tactic to trick

the Americans into thinking they were

outnumbered. The Americans were fooled

and retreated. Montréal remained under

British control. Of greater significance was

that soldiers from both Upper Canada and

Lower Canada joined forces in the battle.

This meant that, for the first time in North

America, the French and the English fought

alongside each other.

The Battle of York and the Burning of Washington, D.C.

The Battle of Châteauguay

FIGURE 6.22 This image, entitled The Burning of the White House, 1814, was created by Tom Freeman in 2004. Analyze: How do you think both the British and the Americans felt as they watched the White House burn?

FIGURE 6.23 This image, entitled Bataille de Châteauguay, 1813, was created by Henri Julien around 1884. Analyze: Would a colourized version of this image enhance your understanding of the Battle of Châteauguay? Why, or why not?

In the darkness of July 25, 1814, the Battle of Lundy’s Lane began. Examine

Figure 6.24. What does it tell you about this battle that took place near

Niagara Falls? The lack of light led to much confusion on the battlefield. Both the

British and the Americans accidentally killed some of their own men. The Americans

withdrew and decided to build their defences at Fort Erie.

The British forces attacked Fort Erie on August 13, 1814. Their goal was to

lay siege to the fort and force the Americans out of their defensive stronghold.

Haudenosaunee Six Nations, Ojibwe, Mississauga, Odawa, Wyandot, and Delaware

warriors fought alongside the British. Despite intense fighting, the British and their

allies were unable to defeat the Americans and withdrew on September 21.

The Americans later decided to abandon the fort due to a shortage of supplies.

They retreated across the Niagara River to American territory in Buffalo. Before

leaving on November 5, 1814, they blew up the fort so that the British could not

use it.

Because both the Americans and the British retreated, there was no clear winner

in the battle. The British claimed victory from Lundy’s Lane and the Americans

claimed victory from Fort Erie.

The Battle of Lundy’s Lane and the Siege of Fort Erie

FIGURE 6.24 This colourized image of an 1859 painting entitled Lundy’s Lane by Alonzo Chappel depicts the Battle of Lundy’s Lane on July 25, 1814. Analyze: Does this painting support the view that there was no winning side in this battle? Why, or why not?

180 UNIT 2: Conflicts and Challenges in Canada: 1800–1850 CHAPTER 6: The War of 1812 181NEL NEL