Review of the War of 1812

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Review of the War of 1812
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The war began when the United States declared war
on Britain on June 18, 1812.
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1. Origins of the War of 1812

• American expansionists believed the majority of
  English-speaking colonists in the lightly
  defended Canadian colonies would welcome an
  invasion

The acquisition of Canada this year, as far as the neighborhood of Quebec, will be a mere matter of marching Thomas Jefferson
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1. Origins of the War of 1812

• Americans were upset that Britain allegedly been
  supplying North American First Nations in their
  fights with Americans on the western frontier

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1. Origins of the War of 1812

• Britain had been boarding US ships on the high
  seas to search for deserters and had been
  forcibly impressing American sailors into naval
  service for Britain in the Napoleonic Wars

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1. Origins of the War of 1812

• Britain and France had issued a trade embargo
  during the Napoleonic Wars which resulted in the
  seizure of hundreds of American merchant ships
  destined to trade with continental Europe

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1. Origins of the War of 1812

• Americans felt that Britain had not yet
  recognized them as an equal and sovereign country

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2. Ready or Not Here War Comes!

• Britain wasnt ready for war, being still
  occupied in Europe against Napoleon. Most of the
  troops were engaged in the Peninsula War in Spain
  and the Royal Navy was compelled to blockade the
  coast of Europe

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2. Ready or Not Here War Comes!

• The total number of regular troops in the Canadas
  was about 5,000, supported by Canadian militia
• The US regular army consisted of fewer than
  12,000 while the American militia were reluctant
  to serve outside of their home states and lacked
  discipline
• Not all states supported the war New England
  had strong ties to Canada

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3. The Theatres of War

• Operations on the Atlantic while the tiny US
  navy experienced early success, the British were
  able to overcome and block American ports and
  pave the way for the attack on Washington, D.C.

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The Theatres of War

• Operations in North America fighting was
  focused along the Upper Canada frontier along the
  Great Lakes, specifically the Detroit, Niagara
  and York (Toronto) regions

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4.Napoleons War with Russia

• While he was able to capture Moscow in the fall
  of 1812, he demanded that the Czar surrender the
  entire empire

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4.Napoleons War with Russia

• Czar refuses and Napoleons 500k army cannot
  penetrate deeper into the country b/c of the
  onset of winter

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4.Napoleons War with Russia

• After a devastating retreat, his army is reduced
  to 30 k

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5. The English are Coming!

• With the shift of advantage in Europe, Britain is
  able to dedicate military resources to The
  Canadas

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5. The English are Coming!

• In August 1814, British forces are able land in
  Washington to avenge the burning of our
  Parliament buildings by setting fire to the
  presidents house and other buildings in the
  capital.

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6. The Consequences of the War of 1812
Status quo ante bellum

• The Treaty of Ghent (1815) ended the war with no
  territorial concessions made by either side
• US gained international respect for managing to
  battle the British Empire to a standstill
• US improved manufacturing capabilites
• US professional military training improved

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6. The Consequences of the War of 1812

• In British North America the French colony of
  Lower Canada and English colony of Upper Canada
  were united against common enemy
• While it was really the British military that
  saved the colonies, many colonists believed it
  was the actions of homegrown soldiers (militia)
  which saved the colonies. Importantly however,
  belief in this militia myth helped in
  developing Canadian pride/ nationalism
• In Britain, the War of 1812 is hardly remembered,
  overshadowed by the Napoleonic Wars (the Treaty
  of Ghent was signed in the same year as the
  Battle of Waterloo