Chapter 6.2 War of 1812

Leading to War: Maritime Tensions

●British and French conflict threatens American shipping

●Both nations seize American merchant vessels

●British policy of impressment begins- the forcible seziure of American seaman to serve in the British Navy.

●By 1811, approximately 10,000 American sailors forced into British service

The Chesapeake Incident and Economic Response

●1807: British attack on USS Chesapeake

●American response: Embargo Act of 1807- a law that prohibited all exports from the United States to Britian and limited imports from Britian

●Jefferson's trade restrictions

●Impact on American economy- AWFUL!

Question: Why did Jefferson's embargo hurt America more than Britain?

●Economic sanctions prove ineffective

Native American Relations and Tecumseh

●Growing tensions with Native Americans

●Tecumseh's Confederacy forms

●British support of Native Americans

●Territory disputes in the Northwest

Question: How did Native American alliances affect U.S.-British relations?

●Impact on frontier settlements

Path to War

●War Hawks in Congress push for conflict- group of congressmen who wanted war with Great Britian

●President Madison's war message

●Declaration of War: June 18, 1812

●American military preparedness

Question: What were America's primary reasons for declaring war?

●Initial military objectives

Major Land Battles

●Failed invasion of Canada

●Battle of Detroit

●Battle of Thames

●Battle of Horseshoe Bend

●Key military leaders and strategies

The British Offensive

●Burning of Washington D.C.

●Defense of Baltimore

●Battle of Fort McHenry

●Creation of "The Star-Spangled Banner"

Question: What was the significance of the British attack on Washington?

The Treaty of Ghent

●Peace negotiations begin

●Terms of the treaty

●Battle of New Orleans

●Andrew Jackson's rise to fame

●Status quo ante bellum

Question: Why is the Battle of New Orleans significant despite occurring after the
treaty?

Legacy and Impact

●American manufacturing growth

●Rise of nationalism

●Native American consequences

●Military improvements

●"Era of Good Feelings" begins

Final Question: How did the War of 1812 shape American identity?