War of 1812 (1)

The War of 1812

The War of 1812Background

• Britain and France are at war and attacking our ships and impressing our men

• The British are also arming the Native American tribes in the Ohio River Valley who are attacking our settlers there.

• Congress (filled with War Hawks) wants to defend our honor and gain more territory to boot

• In June of 1812, President Madison declares war on Britain

The War of 1812

At Issue• The US has no real

Army – only 7000 trained troops

• There are only 50 – 100,000 untrained militia on reserve

• Most of the Revolutionary War military leaders are either dead or too old to fight

Thank

you

Thomas

Jefferson!

The War of 1812At Issue (continued)

• The US Navy has very few ships, but does have a number of frigates which are much faster and more maneuverable than the traditional warship

• There is not unified support for the War. Federalists in the Northeast oppose it very loudly (this will come back to haunt them!)

Thanks againMr.

Jefferson!

The War of 1812So, here’s what happens in

aJune-July 1812• First move is to

invade Canada

• Madison sends William Hull into Canada, but it failed

• British blockade the US coast

nutshell!

The War of 1812William Hull

• Hull was a Revolutionary War hero

• He was tried for cowardice and convicted after he failed to attack the British fort and retreated (saving his men from sure defeat and annihilation)

• The sentence would have been a hanging

• Eventually, he was pardoned by Madison. He died many years later, all the while trying to reclaim his honor (unsuccessfully).

BACK TO THE WAR!

The War of 1812

WAR AT SEA

War at Sea• We are up against the most powerful Navy in the

world

• The first concern is breaking the blockade

• The second concern is to protect from the invasion through the Great Lakes

The War of 1812

The USS Constitution

A Side Picture Show!

Rear of the ship

Part of the Officer’s Quarters

Here’s where you would sleep

Another view of your bedroom

A couple of looks up the masts

It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock ‘n’ roll

Back to why it was afloat

Looks good from here

Eli’s ready for duty

Tending to the ammo

The USS Constitution was known as Old Ironsides

Cannon balls bounced off her, but it was wood

The USS Constitution is still a commissioned Naval ship

The War of 1812

War on the Water

• Oliver Hazard Perry defeated the British in Lake Erie in 1813

• The USS Constitution defeated the HMS Guerriere and the HMS Java along the way

• Americans also keep the British out of upper New York with their victory at Lake Champlain (1814)

• But the blockade is still in force and Britain is still able to get troops in

Oliver HazardPerry

The War of 1812

1813 - 1814• War is going our way! US

troops march into York (Canada’s capital) and burn the Parliament building. (This will come back to haunt us)

• US Forces defeat British and Native American fighters at Thames (where Tecumseh is killed) and Horseshoe Bend (where Andrew Jackson gets his start)

The War of 1812

1814-1815• The British defeat France

– now they concentrate on US

• Britain plans a three part invasion up the Chesapeake Bay, down Lake Champlain and at the mouth of MS River

• In August 1814, they march up to DC and take over burning much of the city. Madison is forced to flee.

The War of 1812

1814-1815 (cont.)

• The Brits then move up to Baltimore

• The city is guarded by 13,000 militia at Fort McHenry

• Although the British bombard the fort overnight, they are turned back

• Francis Scott Key is so moved by the event, he wrote what would become our National Anthem

The Stars and Bars flown at Fort McHenry

The War of 1812

1814-1815 (cont.)

• British suffer another defeat at Plattsburgh and decide the war over here isn’t worth it

• December of 1814, the Treaty of Ghent is signed – no real changes occurred

• Battle of New Orleans is fought in Jan. 1815

• Andrew Jackson’s forces defeat British and he becomes a national hero