War of 1812

​War of 1812

What was it?

The War of 1812 was the second war between the United States and Great Britain. The United States won its independence in the first war—the American Revolution. Neither country won anything important in the War of 1812.

Background

In the early 1800s ,Great Britain was fighting a war against France. The United States did not take part in this war, but Britain tried to keep U.S. ships from stopping at French ports. The British also took sailors away from U.S. ships and forced them to join the British Navy. These actions angered many people in the United States.

Multiple Choice

According to the text, why were many people in the United States angry with Great Britain in the early 1800s?

• Britain closed its ports to all trade.

• Britain forced U.S. sailors to join the British Navy and tried to stop U.S. ships from visiting French ports.

• Britain sent settlers to live on U.S. land.

• Britain gave weapons to the United States.

People who lived in newly settled areas of the United States were also angry with Britain. They accused the British of getting Native Americans to attack settlers. This made President James Madison sign a declaration of war against Britain on June 18, 1812.

Declaring War

Early Battles

The United States first tried to take Canada, which belonged to Britain. The attacks failed. Britain struck back by taking Detroit, Michigan. The ships of the U.S. Navy were more successful at first. The USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”) won several battles in the Atlantic.

Early Battles

U.S. forces won two notable victories in 1813. On September 10, the U.S. defeated British ships on Lake Erie. Then, they recaptured Detroit. In October, the U.S. chased the British into Canada. There, the U.S. forces defeated the British in the Battle of the Thames.

Multiple Select

Which two important events occurred in 1813?

• The British burned Washington and captured Baltimore

• The U.S. defeated British ships on Lake Erie

• The United States signed a peace treaty

• The U.S. won the Battle of the Thames

The Native American leader Tecumseh died while helping the British. After this battle, most of the Native Americans abandoned their association with the British.

Early Battles

Later Battles

These victories did not stop the British, however. In August 1814 British troops sailed up Chesapeake Bay and entered Washington, D.C. They burned the White House and other government buildings. They then tried to capture Baltimore, Maryland, but failed. Francis Scott Key wrote the words to “The Star-Spangled Banner” after this battle.

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In August of ​

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, British troops sailed up​

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and entered ​

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They burned down ​

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1814

Chesapeake Bay

Washington D.C.

The White House

Later Battles

On January 8, 1815, British soldiers attacked troops led by Andrew Jackson at New Orleans, Louisiana. Jackson’s forces defeated the British. Both sides fought this battle without knowing that their countries had signed a peace treaty in Ghent, Belgium, on December 24, 1814.

Multiple Choice

True or False: The U.S. and British troops fought the battle of New Orleans before they knew a peace treaty was signed.

• True

• False

The End of the War

The war was over, but there was no clear winner. The boundaries returned to where they were before the war. Andrew Jackson and William Henry Harrison were considered heroes because of the battles that they won. Both were later elected president of the United States. Another result of the war was that the United States became more independent from Europe. The country developed more of a sense of national identity.

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​

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became a national hero during the ​

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Andrew Jackson

Battle of New Orleans

Battle of Thames

Thomas Jefferson

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The War of 1812 was between the U.S. and ​

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. We fought the war because Britain was impressing Americans and ​

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with shipping. The War ended with the Treaty of ​

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and benefitted the U.S. because it contributed to us improving our ​

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