“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