The War of 1812

The 2nd Revolution

Problems and Failed Diplomacy

• The Embargo Act of 1807 stopped American ships going to any foreign port– Hurt US Econ more than Brit• Repealed 1809

• Non Intercourse Act of 1809 (Madison): US can trade w/ all except Eng and Fr

• Macon’s Bill #2 of 1810: If either Fr or Eng agree to respect US trade, we will resume trade w/ them and embargo the other.

Napoleon’s Double Cross

• Announced his intention to revoke Napoleonic Decrees, (Berlin Decrees: cut Eng trade from Fr controlled Territory – Continental system: to reduce Eng influence on Continent)– We resume trade w/ Fr & embargo E– But Fr continued to seize Amer ships

Why most Americans don’t want war with France

• Tendency to sympathize w/Fr over Britain s. Rev– & more mad at Britain for impressment & troubles

on W. Frontier

• 1803-5 Fr traded w/ US as neutral• 1805: Battle of Trafalgar- Lord Nelson

smashed Fr & Sp fleets, began blockade of Europe “Orders in Council”

Problems 1806-11

• British impressment of US sailors- 6,000 +-– Am ships hired deserting Br sailors & gave fake

naturalization papers– Br: ‘Once an Englishman; Always an Englishman’– US: ‘All have right to choose to be Br or not’• American $ making hampered Br war making

– Impressment increased

Chesapeake incident 1807

• Br ship overtook US Ches. 10 mi E of VA coast– Demanded surrender of 4 sailors: deserters– American commander refused– Br fired 3 broadsides at close range• Killed 3, wounded 18• Dragged 4 ‘deserters’ off• Chesapeake limps back to port

– Result: Embargo

US response to Embargo

• Smuggling increased– Esp thru CA

• Unemployment increased• N.E. talks of secession– Federalist party temp revival

• Congress repealed Mar 1809– Under non-intercourse act, New England mfctr

went up

Why wasn’t England hurt by embargo?

• Bumper grain crops• New trade w/ central & south America– For 1/3 cost of embargo, TJ cd have built a navy– Did hurt Brit importers & pressure forced

Parliament to repeal Orders in Council 2 days before War of 1812 declared in US• Too late

War Hawks

• Henry Clay, KY• John C. Calhoun, SC

War w/ Brit = only way to defend American honor get Canadadestroy Indian resistance to Frontier expansion

Unprepared for war

• Madison’s strategy: hope for Napoleon victory in Europe & US campaign in Canada– Canada: poorly equipped– 1812: 3 point invasion• Detroit• Niagra• Lake Champlain

– Easily repulsed by Brits– Ams raid, burn Brit Gov bldgs at York, Toronto– 1813: retaliation at DC

Naval Battles

• US Constitution (old ironsides) defeats, sinks Br ship off Nova Scotia

• US privateers capture several merchant ships• Br successfully blockades US E. Coast, cripple

trade• 1813 Battle of Lake Erie– 28 yr old commander O. H. Perry

• Wins 3 hr battle• Leads to Wm H Harrison victory @ B. of Thames (Detroit)

Andrew Jackson

• Mar 1814: Battle of Horseshoe Bend, AL– Defeated Creek (Brit ally)– Stopped Br effort to control MS R & New Orleans

Attack on Canada poorly conceived

• If Montreal captured, all else would fall– Instead: 1812-13: prolonged attack from Detroit,

Niagra, L. Champlain easily beaten back. Twice.

• But: Commodore Perry in 1813 blt fleet on L. Erie– Captured Br fleet near Sandusky– “We have met the enemy and they are ours”• Effect: boosted Morale

Capture of Napoleon

• Mid 1814- and sent to Elba– Br freed up to fight US– Sent 10,000 to US into NY via Lake Champlain– Stopped by Mac Donough• Had to use cables to turn ships around• Saved his battle

1814: Chesapeake Campaign

• Brit beat Napoleon– Come attack DC– Burned White House– Tried to take Baltimore• Ft. McHenry held out one night’s bombardment

– Star Spangled Banner

• MacDonough beat British @ Lake Champlain– Stopped Brit plan to invade NY & New England

Invasion of Chesapeake• British advance on DC:– Blandensburg Races

• 6,000 militia dispersed upon seeing British• Armory captain too slow in handing out supplies

• James Madison secreted out • Dolly Madison saves portrait of Washington &

parrot– British enter W.H., eat Madison’s lunch (laid out on

table)– Burn W.H.

• Heavy rains put out fire, little damage except to roof; beams

The Frontier

• British inspired Indian raids helped block our attempts to get Canada

• Tecumseh & bro: The prophet attempt to unite all Indian tribes E of MS– Gov Harrison takes action• Destroys Prophet town- Shawnee Headquarters• Battle of Tippecanoe 1811

Anti War movement

• Quids (Old Republicans & Federalists & New Eng merchants)– Enjoy profits finally when Embargo lifted– Feds oppose all things Madison• Call war a scheme to get Canada & FL

– (and your point?)

– Quids oppose on grounds of wanting to limit Federal power

Battle of New Orleans- Jan 1815

• Purpose: weaken, capture MS Valley• Jackson, from B. Horseshoe Bend, AL– 7,000 sailors, regulars, pirates, Frenchmen, milita

from LA, KY & TN• Plus 400 black troops – 2 regiments from LA• Entrenched

– Brit mistake: frontal assault w/ 8,000• Lost 2,000 in half hour

– We lost 70.• Retreat cut off by French pirates in harbor• No effect on war: treaty signed Dec 1814

Importance of Treaty of Ghent

• Talks initiated by Czar Alex I of Russia• Amer delegates: Clay, JQA• Distracted by Congress of Vienna– British defeats in NY & Baltimore– To continue: not worth cost

• Armistice: both sides agree to return conquered territory– No mention of grievances

• Indians, seizures, Orders in Council, impressment, confiscations– Proves war ended in draw- not a decisive victory for US

• Senate thrilled not to lose any territory

Hartford Convention

• Reps from MA, CT, RI, VT, NH met Dec 15, 1814- Jan 5, 1815– To seek redress for grievances:

• Esp Const amendment requiring 2/3 vote b4 instituting embargoes, adding new states or declaring war

– Took resolution to DC• In time for victory parades• Slunk away

– Significance: death knell for Federalist party• If war hadn’t ended, might have led to treasonable talk of

secession

Overall significance of War of 1812

• Demonstrated some military capability• Launched new nationalism• Created belief in E that US may succeed as nation• Turned tide on Indians (now on defensive)• Launched manufacturing in US due to blockade• Revived anti-Brit feelings• 1817 Rush-Bagot treaty limited naval armaments

on Lakes