War of 1812

UNIT 6: Young Nation

Lesson: The War of 1812 Begins

Tennessee State Standard:

8.31 Explain the causes, course, and consequences of the War of 1812, including: Roles of Andrew Jackson and William Henry Harrison & Significance of the Treaty of Ghent.

The Battle of Tippecanoe

American settlers in the Northwest Territory, believed that the British were encouraging the Indians to launch attacks on their settlements. Many American Indians feared that if they did not stop these settlements, they would lose their lands entirely.

Tecumseh, a well known Shawnee Indian Chief, gathered together a confederation of Indian tribes to oppose American settlement on their lands.

On November 7, 1811, Tecumseh's warriors fought US soldiers on the banks of the Tippecanoe River in the Northwest Territory in the area that would become the state of Indiana. This battle became known as the Battle of Tippecanoe.

William Henry Harrison, the governor of the Indiana Territory, led the US forces in the Battle of Tippecanoe. Harrison's soldiers overwhelmed Tecumseh's forces and burned their encampment to the ground. The United States won the Battle of Tippecanoe. The battle made William Henry Harrison a hero to the American public.

Convinced that Britain had provided weapons to Tecumseh's Indian Confederation, settlers in the Northwest Territory demanded the U.S. government punish British Canada. Canadians accused Americans of using these disputes with Indian tribes as an excuse to gain more territory. Tensions between the United States and Britain rose. Many Americans began to fear a British invasion.

William Henry Harrison

The War of 1812 Begins

President Madison called upon Congress to declare war against Great Britain. On June 18, 1812, Congress issued the first formal declaration of war in its history. The War of 1812 had begun.

The War of 1812 did not begin well for the Americans. The British scored several victories. They seized Fort Detroit from American soldiers. US attempts to invade Canada ended in failure.

Not all Americans supported the war. Many people in the New England states thought that the United States was risking its independence just to protect western territories. Some New England merchants even sold grain and supplies to British ships.

BATTLES ON THE GREAT LAKES

The first major US victories came in naval battles as both sides fought for control of the Great Lakes. The lakes were essential for trade. They also help link the east coast with the western territories. The U.S. Navy defeated British warships in several key battles on the Great Lakes. Once US forces had proven they could win, more men began to volunteer for the military.

Still, the Americans struggled. The Royal Navy blockaded several important American ports, preventing US ships from leaving the United States. The British extended their blockade from New England all the way to Georgia.

THE BRITISH BURN WASHINGTON D.C.

The British marched on Washington D.C. in August 1814 and burned several government buildings, including the United States Capitol and part of the White House. The loss of the Capitol building was a devastating blow to the United States. U.S. soldiers eventually drove the British out of Washington, DC.

Fortunately, several more US victories changed the course of the war. In September of 1814, US forces drove the British from the Great Lakes and the city of Baltimore successfully defend itself against a British invasion.

THE WAR ENDS

Britain realized a victory would not be easy. Both sides had grown tired of war and wanted peace. In Europe, representatives from the United States and Britain met to settle the conflict.

THE TREATY OF GHENT

By the end of 1814, both United States and Britain had become tired of war. The British still needed to defeat the French in Europe. They no longer wanted to devote their resources to a war in America. The war had drained the United States too. The government wanted to rebuild the capital city. Volunteers soldiers needed to return to their families. The US economy could not survive a long conflict.

When representatives from both sides met in Ghent, Netherlands, each side agreed to give up any territory it had seized. The border between the United States and Canada returned to what it had been before the war. Neither side declared victory. On December 24, the representatives signed the Treaty of Ghent. The War of 1812 was officially over.

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