War of 1812

Causes of the War of 1812

•        Impressment – Forcing foreign sailors into service in the British navy

•        Embargo Act (1807) – Congress banned all imports to England. It was intended to hurt England, but actually hurt the U.S. because other nations stopped trading with us. England just found other countries to deal with. It was repealed in 1809.

•        Trouble with Native Americans – Angry that Americans were moving into their lands, Native Americans began attacking settlers on the frontier. The British helped by proving weapons and instigated many battles.

Vocabulary Terms

Embargo – prohibits trade with another country

Warhawks – people who pressured Madison to declare war against the British

Nationalism – loyalty to one’s country

The War of 1812

•        Things get rougher – By 1814, the British had defeated Napoleon and the French and could now concentrate on the war. In August, British troops marched into Washington, D.C. and burned down the capital, including the White House

•        Star-Spangled Banner  -- After burning Washington, British troops attack Baltimore, but are held off at Fort McHenry outside the city. Francis Scott Key writes what would become our national anthem while watching the battle.

•        Battle of New Orleans – The British decide the war is too costly and unnecessary and signed the Treaty of Ghent to end the war in December 1814. However, word didn’t reach the U.S. in time to prevent the Battle of New Orleans. Forces led by Jackson won the battle, which helped him become our 7th President in 1827.

•         End of the Federalists – Federalists in New England had been against the war. They were called unpatriotic and fell out of favor after Jackson’s victory.