Transcript War of 1812 PPT

United States vs. Great Britain
Causes for WAR
After 30 years of independence, the United States found themselves
drawn into a second war with Great Britain. How did this happen?????
• British ships were stopping American ships and impressing
(seizing) U.S. sailors and supplies, claiming that many were
deserters from the British Navy. One such event was the
Chesapeake Affair in 1807.
•
The British in Canada were also supplying weapons to Native
Americans in the Ohio River valley, encouraging them to
attack American settlers.
•
President Jefferson decided against war, but wanted to use
trade as a weapon to avoid bloodshed.
•
Jefferson and Congress passed the Embargo Act of 1807.
1.
American ships were not allowed to sail or
trade in foreign ports.
2. It also closed American ports to the British ships
•
Jefferson’s policy was a disaster. It was more harmful to
the U.S. than to the British or French. One New Englander
said the embargo act was like “cutting one’s throat to cure
a nosebleed.”
James Madison becomes President in 1809 with the support of a
group of young Congressmen from the south and west (Henry Clay,
John C. Calhoun) known as the War Hawks.
The War Hawks wanted the British to stop all seizing of U.S. ships
and to stop aiding the Native Americans.
They also had ideas of conquering Canada and creating a vast new
American empire.
Urged by the War Hawks, Congress declared war on Great Britain
on June 18, 1812.
From 1812-1814 Britain
paid little attention to the
war and try to focus and
their war with France
United States forces
tried to capture
Lower Canada (18121813) but failed due
to inexperience.
"We have met the enemy and they are ours."
Battle of Lake Erie (1813)
U.S. naval commander
Oliver Hazard Perry
defeated the British
force at the Battle of
Lake Erie
In 1814, the British invaded the United States.
August 1814, British troops captured Washington D.C.
burning down
the White House and many Federal buildings.
As the British burn the city and march towards the White House,
Dolly Madison saves many important national artifacts minutes before
the British arrive and destroy the White House
At the Battle of Fort McHenry, near Baltimore, Francis Scott
Key watched the all night British bombardment.
At dawn he noticed
the US flag was
still there!!!
Key expressed his
pride in a poem that
later became the US
National Anthem
Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Battle of New Orleans
In January 1815, the British attacked New Orleans. An outnumbered
U.S. General Andrew Jackson defeated the British invasion.
However the battle was unnecessary, due to slow
communications the war had ended with the Treaty of
Ghent in December 1814.
The Treaty left things as they were before the war, no
new land was acquired by either side.
1. Proved Americans could protect their
independence.
2. Created unity and pride in the U.S.
3. U.S. forced to make their own products
4. U.S. and Great Britain entered a period of peace
and friendship that still exists today.