Learn
War with Britain...Again?
As we learn about the events of James Madison's administration, open and read the War of 1812 Timeline of Major Events.
Madison for President
When Thomas Jefferson chose not to seek a third term, he gave his support to his longtime friend James Madison. Known as the "Father of the Constitution," Madison was already a skilled politician, and in 1808, he easily defeated his Federalist opponent, Charles Pinckney. Throughout his presidency, Madison spent much of his time dedicated to foreign relations. As we will discuss, he faced the task of guiding the nation through another war with Great Britain!
Impressment
As you learned in previously, Great Britain had been attacking US vessels at sea and impressingforcing into service US sailors into the Royal Navy as they attempted to defeat the French.
Watch the video 1800-1810 Prelude to War (3:37) to learn how impressment and the USS Chesapeake incident were causes of the War of 1812.
Open 1800-1810 Prelude to War in a new tab
Clashes with Native Americans
In addition to impressing US sailors, the British had also been supplying weapons to the Native American Confederacy, led by the Shawnee chief Tecumseh. The confederacy had been attacking settlers along the frontier. Tecumseh had been traveling throughout the Midwest and South trying to win support for his cause.
In his absence, Tecumseh's younger brother Tenskwatawa, who was called The Prophet, led the Shawnee in an attack on General William Henry Harrison and his troops.
Harrison then retaliated and burned the Shawnee capital known as Prophetstown to the ground. Since this capital was located on the banks of the Tippecanoe River, this event became known as the Battle of Tippecanoe.
Watch the video 1810-1811 Calls for War (7:34) to learn about Tecumseh, William Henry Harrison, the relationship between the Native Americans and the Americans at this time, and the Battle of Tippecanoe.
Open 1810-1811 Calls for War in a new tab
Although the Battle of Tippecanoe made General Harrison a famous war hero, his troops suffered heavy losses. Read Native American Resistance in the Trans-Appalachian West to learn more.
The War Hawks' War Cries
When it was discovered that the Native American Confederacy was using arms supplied by the British, Congressmen Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun led others in demanding war, and they became known as war hawks.
Declaring War
Although many attempts had been made at peace over the years, a lasting resolution was never achieved. In 1812, Madison petitioned Congress to declare war on Great Britain, hence the name, War of 1812. Madison's declaration of war was approved by Congress in June of 1812.
The Americans were badly outnumbered at sea with only 16 ships, including the USS Constitution, which scored victories against the British. However, the British blockaded the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay, eventually extending the blockade all along the east coast. Read The Second War for American Independence to learn more about the War of 1812.
Raiding the Capital
In 1814, the British ended their war with the French and turned their full attention to war with the United States. They began raiding and burning towns along the Atlantic coast. The British troops easily made it past the American troops guarding Washington, D.C. On August 24, 1814, they set fire to the White House, the US Capitol building, and other government buildings. Madison and other federal officials were forced to flee the capital.
Watch the video Summer 1814 The American Capital Burns (10:23) to learn about the British invasion of Washington, D.C., as well as how Black American men joined the British army after fleeing enslavement.
Open Summer 1814 The American Capital Burns in a new tab
Fort McHenry
Americans proved they would stand strong and persevere in other key battles of the War of 1812. One notable battle was the Battle of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland. Read Fort McHenry from the American Battlefield Trust to learn more.
Poet Francis Scott Key observed the battle and described it in the lyrics that would later become our national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".
Horseshoe Bend
Another important battle took place in central Alabama at Horseshoe Bend. General Andrew Jackson of Tennessee defeated the Creeks and virtually destroyed the Native Americans' military power in the South. Read Battle of Horseshoe Bend from the Encyclopedia of Alabama to learn about the Creek Civil War and the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. It is also known as the Battle of Tohopeka.
New Orleans
Ironically, Jackson's greatest military victory came at the Battle of New Orleans. After defeating the Red Stick Creeks, led by Tecumseh, to end the Creek War, Andrew Jackson led 4,500 soldiers and volunteers to defend the city of New Orleans against 11,000 British redcoats. On January 8, 1815, Jackson won an outstanding victory at the Battle of New Orleans in just over an hour of fighting. The British suffered 2,036 casualties while Americans had only 21 casualties and 50 wounded or missing.
Watch the video Winter 1814 New Orleans (6:58) to learn about this battle, including the army Jackson built up, the importance of the battle site, and the legend surrounding the battle.
Open Winter 1814 New Orleans in a new tab
Treaty of Ghent
Because communication was slow, Jackson and his troops were unaware that the Treaty of Ghent. This peace treaty ended the War of 1812. It had already been signed in Ghent, Belgium, on Christmas Day a few weeks prior to the Battle of New Orleans.
The War of 1812 essentially ended in a drawneither side truly won and no money or land was exchanged.
Watch the video The Treaty of Ghent (6:14) to see how the Treaty of Ghent was decided, including how it affected Native Americans.
Open The Treaty of Ghent in a new tab
Effects of the War
The nation suffered the destruction of its newly completed capital. New Englanders, who relied upon trade for a living, experienced the brunt of the war with the loss of trade and the destruction of their land from battle.
However, despite such devastation, the war marked an important turning point for the United States and its position in the world. First, the US reaffirmed its independence in a second war with Great Britain. Secondly, the war had created a sense of nationalism, or pride in one's country, in the citizens of the United States. People started to think of themselves as "Americans" first instead of citizens of their individual states, and the country gained a new national hero in Andrew Jackson. This newfound sense of nationalism would impact American policy for years to come.
Recap and Additional Resource
Read Claiming Victory from Defeat for an overview of the War of 1812.
If you'd like to dive more in-depth into this war, explore The War of 1812: A Guide to Battlefields and Historic Sites from PBS.