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HOW DID THE
WAR PROGRESS?The War of 1812 was fought on land and on water. However, the United States was at a disadvantage at sea. Britain had one of the largest and most impressive naval forces in the world. Because of this, the Americans needed to find another way to launch their attacks against British forces. They decided to focus on the colonies in Canada.
THE AMERICANS SEND A WARNING Brigadier General William Hull was a high-ranking officer in the American military during the War of 1812. On July 12, 1812, he issued a proclamation to the colonists in Upper Canada. Read an excerpt from his proclamation in Figure 6.14. Like many Americans, Hull believed that the colonists in Upper Canada would not resist the American invasion, because the Americans would free and protect the colonists from British control. At the same time, he warned the colonists against joining the British soldiers in fighting against the Americans.
NEW BRITISH MILITARY STRATEGYMajor-General Sir Isaac Brock was a British military commander in Upper Canada during the War of 1812. Strengthening Upper Canada’s defences was Brock’s first priority. Read the quote in Figure 6.15. It is an excerpt from a letter Brock wrote to Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Baynes, four months before the Americans declared war. Baynes was the assistant to Commander-in-Chief Sir George Prevost. What is Brock’s main message to Baynes?
Brock believed that the only way that Upper Canada could defend itself from an American invasion was to control Michilimackinac, an island in present-day northern Michigan. As you learned in Chapter 3, this was the location of a battle between First Nations and the British in 1763. Brock believed that controlling the island meant controlling the Upper Great Lakes. This would fend off an American invasion. Brock was right. A large group of 400 First Nations warriors, 200 fur traders, and 46 British officers gathered together as a show of British force. When they reached the island, the American commander was offered a chance to surrender before a full-on attack. He accepted. When Hull learned of this victory, he abandoned his invasion of Upper Canada and retreated to Detroit. Figure 6.16 shows British troops and their allies preparing for battle. How would you feel if a window in your home overlooked this scene?
FIGURE 6.14 This excerpt is from Hull’s proclamation to Canadians on July 12, 1812, in Sandwich (present-day Windsor), Upper Canada. Analyze: How do you think the Loyalists felt about the invasion and proclamation?
FIGURE 6.15 This excerpt is from a letter written by Brock to Baynes on February 12, 1812. Analyze: Why does Brock believe that most of the country would need to be evacuated?
FIGURE 6.16 This 1997 painting by Keith Rocco, entitled British Troops at Michilimackinac, shows the rallying of British troops at Michilimackinac on July 17, 1812. Analyze: What evidence do you see in this painting that places the British at an advantage?
“Inhabitants of Canada!
After thirty years of peace and prosperity, the United States have been
driven to arms. The injuries and aggressions, the insults and indignities
of Great Britain have once more left no alternative but manly resistance
or unconditional submission. The army under my command has invaded
your country; the standard of the Union [the American flag] now waves
over the territory of Canada. To the peaceful unoffending inhabitants, it
brings neither danger nor difficulty. I come to find enemies, not to make
them; I come to protect, not to injure you ... I have a force which will
break down all opposition, and that force is but the vanguard of a much
greater—If, contrary to your own interest, and the just expectations of
my country, you should take part in the approaching contest, you will
be considered and treated as enemies, and the horrors and calamities of
war will stalk before you.”
— Brigadier General William Hull
“I set out with
declaring my full
conviction, that
unless Detroit and
Michilimackinac be
both in our possession
immediately at the
commencement of
hostilities, not only the
district of Amherstburg,
but most probably the
whole country as far
as Kingston, must be
evacuated.”
— Major-General
Sir Isaac Brock
If you were Hull, how would you have communicated to the Canadians to
persuade them to join the American side in the
fight against the British?
174 UNIT 2: Conflicts and Challenges in Canada: 1800–1850 NEL CHAPTER 6: The War of 1812 175NEL
Battle of Lundy’s Lane July 25, 1814
Siege of Fort Erie August 13, 1814
KEY EVENTS IN THE WAR OF 1812 Most of the battles in the War of 1812 took place in Upper and Lower Canada. The people in Upper Canada suffered the most because many key battles were fought on their soil, as the map and photos in Figure 6.17 show. In total, there were over 170 battles, raids, skirmishes (unplanned fighting between small armies or fleets), and campaigns (series of military operations) during the War of 1812. Figure 6.18 shows a timeline of some of the important events from the start of the war to its end in January 1815.
FIGURE 6.18 This timeline shows several significant battles and events from the War of 1812. American victories are in blue, British victories are in red, and events are shown in black. Analyze: What do you notice about the progression of the war?
1807 1814 18151812 18131811
Siege ofDetroit
Battleof York
Battle ofTippecanoe
Battle ofLake Erie
Battle of the Thames
Battle ofCrysler’sFarm
Burning ofWashington, D.C.
Battle ofPlattsburgh
Battle ofLundy’s Lane
Battle ofChâteauguay
Battle ofQueenston Heights
Siege ofFort Erie
Battle ofBeaverDams
L O W E R C A N A D AU P P E R
C A N A D A
ATLANTICOCEANLake Erie
LakeHuron
LakeSuperior
Lake Ontario
Lak
e M
ichi
ga
n
ChesapeakeBay
St. Lawrence River
90 km0
N
British victory
American victory
unclear victory
British territory
American territory
present-day Canadaand United Statesborder
u02-c06-f01-his7sb
Crowle Art Group
4th pass
History 7 SB
0-17-671053-1
FN
CO
Pass
Approved
Not Approved
Battle of Plattsburgh September 11, 1814
Battle of Lake Erie September 10, 1813
Battle of Tippecanoe November 7, 1811
Battle of York April 27, 1813
Treaty of Ghent December 24, 1814
Battle of Châteauguay October 26, 1813
Declaration of War June 18, 1812
Creation of Coloured Corps
August 1812
Battle of New Orleans January 8, 1815
Battle of the Thames (Moraviantown) October 5, 1813
Burning of Washington, D.C. August 24, 1814
Battle of Crysler’s Farm November 11, 1813
Battle of Beaver Dams June 24, 1813
Battle of Queenston Heights
October 13, 1812
Siege of Detroit August 16, 1812
Chesapeake–Leopard Affair June 22, 1807
Select Battles from the War of 1812
FIGURE 6.17 To this day, we still see many monuments in commemoration of the War of 1812. Cities like Toronto have been built around the war’s historic remains. Analyze: What do these photos tell you about the importance of the War of 1812? Why are memorials such as these important today?
Battle of Crysler’s Farm
Battle of York
Battle of Beaver Dams Battle of Queenston Heights
176 UNIT 2: Conflicts and Challenges in Canada: 1800–1850 CHAPTER 6: The War of 1812 177NEL NEL
A story map uses a combination of words and multimedia, such as photos
and videos, to tell a story. A story map might be suitable to document
and describe places you have visited, damage caused by natural disasters,
current world affairs, or historical events, such as major battles in a war.
You can make a story map using online mapping technologies, such as
ArcGIS Online. In the following activity,
you will choose a battle from the War
of 1812 and use ArcGIS Online to create
a story map about this battle. You
can choose one of the battles listed in
Figure 6.19 (referenced in the timeline on
pages 176 and 177) or another battle that
interests you. You will gather primary and
secondary sources to help you document
and describe your chosen battle in your
story map.
A STORY MAPCREATING SIGNIFICANT BATTLES IN THE WAR OF 1812
The British, Americans, and allies from both sides, which included First Nations, fought to gain or defend territories. What were the human costs of this two-and-a-half-year war? There is no way to know exactly. Official records are vague. Thousands were killed in the battles and thousands more were killed due to diseases and other factors stemming from the battles. Some sources estimate a total of about 35 000 British soldiers, American soldiers, and First Nations warriors died in battle and from other causes related to the War of 1812.
The following are some of the key battles that took place during the War of 1812.
At the outset of the war, the Americans focused on Detroit
as a key location from which to invade Upper Canada. Detroit
lay between the British forces and their First Nations allies. By
setting up camp in Detroit, the Americans hoped to interrupt
communications between the British and their allies.
Hull’s strategy of scaring colonists in Upper Canada into
surrendering to the Americans (see Figure 6.14) did not work. In
August 1812, under the leadership of Brock, a few hundred soldiers
from Britain, British colonists from Upper and Lower Canada and
the Maritimes, and First Nations allies, crossed the Detroit River
to attack. Hull’s 2500 troops vastly outnumbered Brock’s forces.
Despite this, the Americans believed Brock’s forces were much
larger than they actually were. Hull surrendered after heavy fire
from British ships along the Detroit River. Figure 6.20 shows the
important role of the navy in the British victory.
This early win for the British helped to solidify alliances
between the British and First Nations, especially between Brock
and Tecumseh.
The Siege of Detroit
FIGURE 6.20 The Bombardment of Fort Detroit, 1812 was painted in 1997 by artist Peter Rindlisbacher. Rindlisbacher is known for his historically accurate portrayals of naval battles. Analyze: How do you think fighting a battle on the water differs from fighting on land?
The Americans considered Niagara in Upper Canada another
strategic place to launch an invasion. If they conquered Niagara,
they could cut off British access to Detroit.
The Americans invaded the town of Queenston in Niagara
on October 13, 1812. Brock was awakened by the sound of guns
being fired. He did not have the forces he needed to deal with
such an invasion, but he gathered a small number of troops. As
he led the troops up the hill (called the Heights), Brock was shot
in the chest and killed. His troops withdrew. A few hours later,
with a new major-general in place, more British troops arrived,
along with Haudenosaunee Six Nations and Delaware warriors.
The American forces were reduced when some members of the
American militia, who were not strong supporters of the war,
refused to fight on the Canadian side of the border. Figure 6.21 shows the American forces crossing the Niagara River and
scrambling up the embankment. British troops are assembled at
the top of the hill, ready to face their attackers. The British won
this battle, giving them a significant victory.
The Battle of Queenston Heights
FIGURE 6.21 This is a colourized image of an 1836 painting entitled The Battle of Queenston Heights. The original artist is unknown. Analyze: How does seeing this depiction of the battle help you to understand how the British won the battle?
STEP 1
STEP 3
STEP 5
STEP 2
STEP 4
STEP 6
Choose a battle from the War of 1812. Research information about the battle. Then decide what you would like to document in your story map and develop a plan. For example, you could include a list of key dates and locations leading up to the battle, the names of important people, and the perspectives of different people and groups involved in the battle.
Start ArcGIS Online. Click on Map on the top toolbar to open the ArcGIS Online map viewer. Use the search box or zoom in to focus your map on the area of the battle. Choose a suitable basemap, such as the National Geographic basemap.
Save your map. Give your map a title and appropriate tags.
Gather primary and secondary sources to include in your story map. You could include images of people, places, or artifacts from the battle, quotes from people involved in or affected by the battle, or links to modern-day connections.
Add key locations and data to your map using Add Map Notes. You could add points to show the location of the battle and the locations of key events leading up to it. You could also add descriptions and images from your primary and secondary sources, as well as website links.
Click Share. You can now create your story map by clicking the Create a Web App button and using the Story Map Tour template. Create your story map, and share it with your classmates.
HOW TO CREATE A STORY MAP
Battle Location Coordinates
Siege of Detroit Detroit, Michigan 42.33°N, 83.05°W
Battle of Queenston
Heights
Niagara-on-the-Lake,
Ontario
43.26°N, 79.07°W
Battle of York Toronto, Ontario 43.70°N, 79.40°W
Battle of Châteauguay Très-Saint-Sacrement,
Québec
43.70°N, 79.40°W
Battle of Lundy’s Lane Niagara Falls, Ontario 43.12°N, 79.07°W
Siege of Fort Erie Fort Erie, Ontario 42.92°N, 79.02°W
Burning of
Washington
Washington, District
of Columbia
38.91°N, 77.02°W
FIGURE 6.19 This table lists some of the War of 1812’s important battles, and their present-day location and coordinates.
CHAPTER 6: The War of 1812 179NEL178 NELUNIT 2: Conflicts and Challenges in Canada: 1800–1850
1. CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCE What were some
intended and unintended consequences of
some of the significant battles in Upper and
Lower Canada?
2. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Which battle do you
think was most significant, and why? What
criteria did you use to come to this conclusion?
3. COMMUNICATE Choose a battle from pages 179 to
181. Imagine you are a journalist reporting from
the front lines of that battle. Create a news report
covering the significant events of the battle.
Remember to include a headline and answer the
5Ws in your report.
CHECK-IN
York (present-day Toronto) was the capital of
Upper Canada. Its location was strategic since
it was a site where weapons and gunpowder
were stored. It also had a massive ship—
HMS Sir Isaac Brock—under construction. The
Americans thought that control of this ship
would mean control of the Great Lakes.
Approximately 1700 American troops and
a fleet of ships attacked York on April 27, 1813.
The Americans beat the British and a group
of Ojibwe and Mississauga warriors. They took
the town, Fort York, and the dockyard. As
the British retreated, however, they set off an
explosion. The explosion blew up much of the
fort and caused many deaths and casualties
on both sides. The British also burnt HMS Sir Isaac Brock to prevent the Americans from
capturing it.
In August 1814, the British retaliated for
the loss of York. They attacked Washington,
the capital of the United States. The British
set fire to the White House, the Capitol
building that held the Library of Congress, the
treasury building, and the navy yard. When
the fires were put out the next day, only one
government building was left standing.
Figure 6.22 depicts the burning of
the White House. Why would this be an
important building for the British to destroy?The Americans planned to invade Montréal
and cut off British supply ties between
Montréal and Kingston. Their goal was to
hinder British war efforts in Upper Canada.
However, leadership and communication
were poor on the American side. Although
American forces outnumbered the British by
about eight times, they overestimated how
large the British forces were.
The Battle of Châteauguay, shown in
Figure 6.23, happened on October 26, 1813.
The British forces in Lower Canada consisted
of British soldiers, Canadian Voltigeurs
(largely French-speaking soldiers from
Québec), local militia, and Mohawk, Huron,
and Abenaki warriors. The British blew
horns in the woods as a tactic to trick
the Americans into thinking they were
outnumbered. The Americans were fooled
and retreated. Montréal remained under
British control. Of greater significance was
that soldiers from both Upper Canada and
Lower Canada joined forces in the battle.
This meant that, for the first time in North
America, the French and the English fought
alongside each other.
The Battle of York and the Burning of Washington, D.C.
The Battle of Châteauguay
FIGURE 6.22 This image, entitled The Burning of the White House, 1814, was created by Tom Freeman in 2004. Analyze: How do you think both the British and the Americans felt as they watched the White House burn?
FIGURE 6.23 This image, entitled Bataille de Châteauguay, 1813, was created by Henri Julien around 1884. Analyze: Would a colourized version of this image enhance your understanding of the Battle of Châteauguay? Why, or why not?
In the darkness of July 25, 1814, the Battle of Lundy’s Lane began. Examine
Figure 6.24. What does it tell you about this battle that took place near
Niagara Falls? The lack of light led to much confusion on the battlefield. Both the
British and the Americans accidentally killed some of their own men. The Americans
withdrew and decided to build their defences at Fort Erie.
The British forces attacked Fort Erie on August 13, 1814. Their goal was to
lay siege to the fort and force the Americans out of their defensive stronghold.
Haudenosaunee Six Nations, Ojibwe, Mississauga, Odawa, Wyandot, and Delaware
warriors fought alongside the British. Despite intense fighting, the British and their
allies were unable to defeat the Americans and withdrew on September 21.
The Americans later decided to abandon the fort due to a shortage of supplies.
They retreated across the Niagara River to American territory in Buffalo. Before
leaving on November 5, 1814, they blew up the fort so that the British could not
use it.
Because both the Americans and the British retreated, there was no clear winner
in the battle. The British claimed victory from Lundy’s Lane and the Americans
claimed victory from Fort Erie.
The Battle of Lundy’s Lane and the Siege of Fort Erie
FIGURE 6.24 This colourized image of an 1859 painting entitled Lundy’s Lane by Alonzo Chappel depicts the Battle of Lundy’s Lane on July 25, 1814. Analyze: Does this painting support the view that there was no winning side in this battle? Why, or why not?
180 UNIT 2: Conflicts and Challenges in Canada: 1800–1850 CHAPTER 6: The War of 1812 181NEL NEL