THE WAR OF 1812

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THE WAR OF 1812

• CAUSES
• 1.) Indian Resistance to Westward Expansion
• 2.) Impressment
• 3.) War Hawks nationalism

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Tecumseh and Indian Resistance

• Tecumseh
• wanted to unite all tribes
• to defend all Indians
• against whites
• Battle of Tippecanoe 1811 (Indiana Territory)
  Led by William Henry Harrison, it destroys
  Tecumsehs hope of uniting Indians

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WESTWARD EXPANSION And the WAR OF 1812
Indians side w/ Britain in War for American
Independence
Indians lose war along w/ Br. allies
American settlers keep taking away Indian lands
WAR HAWKS blame British in Canada of inspiring
Indian attack
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IMPRESSMENT
In our battle with Napoleon, we need a lot of
sailors to fill our navy . Lets start
impressment.
Impressment Forcing American sailors into
British navy
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War Hawks
Young, fiercely nationalistic legislators from
South and West whose constituents are farmers and
frontiersmen having trouble with Indians
Henry Clay (Kentucky)
John Calhoun (South Carolina)
We shall drive the British from our continent
they will no longer have an opportunity of
intriguing conspiring with Indian neighbors,
and settling on the ruthless savages to tomahawk
out women and children. -Felix Grundy,
Representative of Kentucky, 1811
Nationalism Extreme passion for ones own nation
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Whether the United States shall continue passive
under these accumulating wrongs, or, opposing
force to force in defense of their national
rights, shall commit a just cause into the hands
of the Almighty Disposer of Events, is a solemn
question which the Constitution wisely confides
to the legislative department of the Government.
In recommending it to their early deliberations I
am happy in the assurance that the decision will
be worthy the enlightened and patriotic councils
of a virtuous, a free, and a powerful
nation. President James Madison, War Message to
Congress Washington, June 1, 1812
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• We shall drive the British from our continent
  they will no longer have an opportunity of
  intriguing conspiring with Indian neighbors,
  and settling on the ruthless savages to tomahawk
  our women and children.
• -Felix Grundy,
• Representative
• of Kentucky, 1811

BLAME CANADA
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BLAME CANADA!
Americans blame British in Canada with inspiring
Indian attacks on America. Americans
unsuccessfully try to invade Canada.
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Clay and Calhoun as they looked during the War of
1812

• CLAY

• CALHOUN

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Battle Map
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Hartford Convention

• 1814 Meeting
• Federalists
• New England trade severely hurt by war
• Anti-War
• Some members want secession (break away from USA)
  and to make a separate piece

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Andrew Jackson

• Popular General
• Battle of Horseshoe Bend (Indians)
• Battle of New Orleans (after the signing of
  treaty)

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End of War

• Officially, the war ended in a stalemate, but had
  the British been able to focus only on us, it may
  have ended differently
• To the rest of the world, it showed that we could
  stand up for ourselves
• England ceased to seize our ships and take our
  sailors, so in the end we got what we wanted in
  the first place.
• Madison retired after the 1816 election, and he
  was succeeded by James Monroe, who sought to
  further expand our territory and our reputation
  around the world.

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End of War

• Napoleonic wars end in Europe
• Stalemate in US
• Treaty of Ghent (just ends fighting no winners)

                                                 
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Importance

• Proves US ability to defend itself
• Andrew Jackson becomes natl hero
• Increased nationalism