10.4 War of 1812

1. 10.4 War of 1812

2. The War Begins • Congress approved Madison’s request for a declaration of war with Britain AFTERBritain signed an agreement that they would stop interfering with American shipping (why?). • The U.S. military was weak when war was declared because the Democratic-Republicans had reduced the size of the military.

3. First Phase of the War • The U.S. Navy had the fastest ships available (remember, we’ve been ship builders for generations by now). We just need to build ore of them. • U.S. Navy officers had gained experience fighting pirates in the Mediterranean (…to the shores of Tripoli…).

4. There was a shipyard on Lake Erie…… • One of the most important naval battles was in winter 1812-13 on Lake Erie. • In September, 1813 a small British force set out to attack American ships being built there.

5. “Don‘t Give Up the Ship!” • Oliver Hazard Perry took his ships out to meet the British forces and his banner said, “Don’t give up the ship!” • For two hours ships exchanged fire and Perry’s ship was put out of action so he took his banner and hopped on another ship from which he won the fight. • Perry’s other famous quote: “We have met the enemy, and they are ours.”

6. After getting word of Perry’s success, General Harrison took out after the British who had run back into Canada. • Harrison defeated the British IN Canada at the Battle of the Thames. • The Battle of the Thames put an end to the British threat in the Northwest. • Tecumseh was killed fighting with the British.

7. Second Phase of the War • Once the British defeated Napoleon (really it was the Russian winter), they turned their full force on the U.S. • The Brits burned the Capitol and White House, and attacked Ft. McHenry in Baltimore.

8. The commander at Ft. McHenry had asked the community for a flag “so large that the British will have no difficulty seeing it.” • This is the flag that Francis Scott Key wrote about in the Star Spangled Banner.

9. In the north the British sent a naval force across Lake Champlain trying to cut off New England. • This plan failed because they were defeated at the Battle of Lake Champlain in Sept., 1814. • In the south, the Brits moved against New Orleans.

10. Battle of New Orleans • To fight this off the Americans put an army together under Andrew Jackson. • The British attacked Jackson on Jan. 8, 1815. • Protected by earthworks, American riflemen mowed down the British redcoats. • Americans lost 71 men and the British lost 2000. • Sadly, this battle was fought AFTER the Treaty of Ghent (ended the war on 12/14/1814) had been signed.

11. Legacy of the War • People like Jackson, Perry, and Harrison increased patriotism. • It broke the strength of the Indians who had sided with the British. • When the war interrupted trade, Americans were forced to ramp up manufacturing for themselves. • The U.S. had proved it could fend off attacks from military gorillas.