Introduction of The War of 1812

Table of Contents Diana Keo & Kathy Ly

Homepage

(1) Introduction of The War of 1812

(2) Battles of The War

(3) Effect of The War

(4) Key Figures & Events

(5) Sources

The war, also known as the Second War of American Independence, was first started by Great Britain, who wanted revenge on the Americans for defeating them in the Revolutionary War. The British planned their revenge by provoking the Americans enough to force them to declare war.

• • The first way they provoked the Americans was by raiding the U.S. ships and would force sailors to join the British Navy against their will.

  • The second way was by trying to not allow the Americans to trade with the French.

  • The third, most crucial, way they bothered the Americans was by becoming allies with the Indians that were against American settlement in the West. Indians were allowed to kill American citizens by providing them with guns.

These horrible actions infuriated the Americans, and although the representatives of Great Britain said it was all a misunderstanding, the British continued to annoy the Americans, until finally the Americans proclaimed war on the British June 18, 1812. The war occurred along the Canadian border, in the Chesapeake Bay region, and along the Gulf of Mexico.