War of 1812

The War of 1812

AKA Mr. Madison's War​

Why did we go to war?

TRADE

• The US just got independence from Britain, yet they kept antagonizing the states.

• Britain put high taxes on US merchant ships trying to trade with other countries.

• Britain passed the "Orders in Council" that required US ships to get permission from Britain to trade with other countries.

**Don't forget, we just gained independence from Britain...so why are they still trying to control us???

Poll

Did Great Britain have a right to influence American trade?

• Yes

• No

Why did we go to war?

Impressment

• British troops kept attacking US ships and forcing them to work as British soldiers so that they would have more troops to help fight the French

Impressment may sound nice....but it's not!

Why did we go to war?

Trouble in the Northwest

• Before the Revolution, Native Americans were promised land to the West of the Proclamation Line of 1763

• The Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War nullified the proclamation

• Americans were trying to expand into the northwest territory.

• Britain had several treaties with Native American Tribes in the area.

I would be mad if I were the Native Americans too

Why did we go to war?

Trouble in the Northwest

• ​Britain encouraged Native Americans to fight back against the settlers who were taking their land.

• Tecumseh and the Prophet led the fight against the US invaders

• ​Britain supplied them with weapons and supplies

• William Henry Harrison (Gov of Indiana Territory) led the army against Tecumseh and defeated them at the Battle of Tippecanoe​

Harrison would later go on to become President for the shortest period of time ever (just about 1 month!)

Poll

Do You think the Native American's had the right to attack American settlers in their land?

• Yes

• No

Why did we go to war?

Politics

• ​War hawks (Democratic Republicans in Congress who supported the war) convinced Madison to declare War.

• Most of the Federalist party was very against going to war.

Federalists didn't have enough clout to stop the war from happening

Poll

Would you have declared War if you were President Madison

• Yes

• No

• It depends

Major Events in the War

Losses for the U.S.

• Attempted Invasion of Canada

• Britain defeated Napoleon so the whole British Military could focus on the war with the U.S.

• The powerful British Navy attacks on East Coast

• Burning of the White House

Major Events in the War

Wins for the US

• Harrison takes Detroit

• Battle of Horseshoe Bend - Andrew Jackson defeated the Creek Indians

• Battle of Fort McHenry - British Navy attacks the fort all night, but the U.S. hang on - Inspired Francis Scott Key to right the Star Spangled Banner

The End of the War

Treaty of Ghent

• American and British diplomats meet in Ghent to talk peace

• ​They put everything back to the way it was before the war

• The British abandoned their Native American allies

Ghent is modern-day Belgium

British Naval Ships were heading to New Orleans. He leads a rag-tag army to the city and defeats the British.

Andrew Jackson

They didn't know the war was ending. They met to talk about seceding, but right before they were going to make it official, the news of the Treaty arrived.

Federalists

The End of the War that no one knew about

J​ackson beat the Brits in New Orleans after the Treaty was already signed.

Open Ended

How do you think our world would have been different today if they Federalists had officially seceded before the news of the Treaty arrived?