Introduction to US History/War of 1812

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The War of 1812 took place because the British impressed more than 5,000 American sailors and the USS Chesapeake was attacked by the British HMS Shannon close to the Virginian coast. In this attack, American captains were killed which invoked John Calhoun & Henry Clay to demand revenge for the losses. War Hawks joined in as well.

President James Madison is the one who has to deal with all the problems which inevitably led to war. His wife, Dolly Madison, is famous for saving an original copy of the Declaration of Independence and a portrait of George Washington.

Was America ready?

America was not ready to go to war with England. From the Jeffersonian era, their navy and army was reduced and the economy was recovering from the Embargo Act. Also, not everyone was passionate about going to war. The North, the wealthiest region of the US, refused to purchase war bonds while the South and West were eager.

The North refused to go to war because they feared the economic impact. The South and West, inadvertently creating an alliance, wanted to go to war for revenge of the USS Chesapeake, teach the British a lesson, and wanted Canadian land.

What was America's reasoning?

A painting of the USS Chesapeake

Historians debate between two reasons.

Maritime Rights - The US wanted their freedom to ship and trade in the sea without fear.
Land - America wanted Floridian and Canadian territory to expand.

The War

The British invaded through the Chesapeake Bay and burned the city of Washington DC, causing the entirety of the US government to abandon the capital. Dolly Madison is credited with saving many historical artifacts from destructon while the British set the house on fire. Surprisingly, a thunderstorm came by and took out the flames.

The Creation of the Star Spangled Banner

A wealthy attorney named Francis Scott Key watched the Battle of Baltimore from a distance, which was ensuing at Fort McHenry (the guard to the entrance of Baltimore). Here, he composed a poem known as the "Defence of Fort McHenry".

O say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there; O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream: 'Tis the star-spangled banner, O long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion, A home and a country, should leave us no more? Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved homes and the war's desolation. Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.' And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

100 years later from its original creation, it became our national anthem. The original Star Spangled Banner lies in the Smithsonian Institute.

The Role of the Natives

An "alleged" potrait of Tecumseh, who died the same year as his brother

Tecumseh was an Indian chief who co-ruled with his brother, Tenskwatawa, dubbed "the prophet" and served as the spiritual leader. They both organized the Western Confederacy, a nation of Native American tribes in the Great Lakes region that turned into a threatening power. They defended their land against invading Europeans and joined the War of 1812, siding with the British.

Tenskwatawa was killed in the Battle of Tippecanoe, led by future president William Henry Harrison. In the same year of 1813, Tecumseh died by another future-president Andrew Jackson's militia in the Battle of the Thames, leading to the downfall of the Western Confederacy.

Battle of New Orleans

The British attack a sensitive American region: the opening of the Mississippi River Valley. In response to the British' 8k troops, Andrew Jackson ("Old Hickory", as he is heorically recalled) rounded up 7k pirates, citizens, frenchman, and sailors to fight. Surprisingly, the 30 minute battle ended up in an American victory.

The End

The Treaty of Ghent ends the war in 1814. The czar of Russia came up with the treaty and it was signed on Christmas Day in Belgium. Russia was involved because they needed English to help them fight Bonaparte. Despite the dramatic win at the "last second", the war was declared an armistice.

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