War of 1812 Causes, Events, and Consequences - APUSH
Why did America go to war, when President Jefferson tried as hard as he could to avoid it?
1. Causes
A. Impressment by the British
-Before Jay’s Treaty
-Chesapeake incident
-6000 Americans between 1808 and 1811
-Galling to Americans given historical inferiority
B. Jeffersonian interest in France
-JR’s historically anti-British, aligned them with France
-Despite attempted neutrality, Louisiana Purchase and trade with both sides drug U.S. into the middle of an ongoing European War.
-Bias against the monarchical power of Britain
C. Embargo
-Jefferson’s embargo: trade wars lead to shooting wars
-Served as an (failed) alternative to war
-Created animosity towards Britain
-Macon’s Bill #2 and the British Council of Orders
D. Native Americans and Canada
-Western expansion led to increased conflict on the frontier
-War against Tecumseh created a thirst for more war
-British were supplying and supporting raiding Indians along the Canadian border.
-Americans wanted to wipe out the Canadian base
E. War Hawks’ enthusiasm
-Younger Congressmen from the new frontier states impatient to assert American nationalism through war
-Eager to take Canada: “On to Canada!”
-Set up the declaration of war in June, 1812 in Congress
2. The War
A. An extension of a larger war
-War between Napoleon and the rest of Europe
B. Unprepared U.S. armed forces
-Jefferson had drastically reduced the army and navy to save money and pay back U.S. debt.
-Decision to make “Mosquito Fleet” left a small, mobile navy.
C. Left-overs from the Revolutionary War
D. Flawed strategy
-Invasion of Canada by land and through the Great Lakes a failure.
-Had to fall back and defend our own land
-New capital burned down
E. American “dumb luck”
-Admiral Perry and Thomas Macdonough saved the day
-Dramatic defense of New Orleans by Jackson, but two weeks after Treaty had been signed!
3. The Treaty of Ghent
A. Tsar Alexander proposes end
-Americans meet in Ghent, Belgium to discuss peace
B. Who won?
-British wanted Indian buffer state on Canadian border, control of Great Lakes, and Maine
-Americans wanted end of impressment, defeat of Indians on border, Canada and an end of the Orders in Council
-Actual treaty simply agreement to stop fighting and to restore seized territory
4. Consequences of the War of 1812
A. American Nationalism
-Called by some the Second War for Independence
-Solidified U.S. boundaries, decreased foreign meddling
-Forced Americans to be self dependent in industry and economy, developed national economy in war industry
-Reinforced importance of a strong army and navy
B. Destroyed Federalist party, split Americans
-New England Feds opposed the war and lost credibility
-Destroyed British sentiment in America
-Hartford Convention seen as treason, death of Feds
-Sectionalism arose between north and south
-Rise in influence of westerners
C. Flotsam and Jetsam
-Burning of Washington D.C. brought new capital
-Two great songs: Star Spangled Banner and Battle of New Orleans
-Old Ironsides: the U.S.S. Constitution, our oldest Navy ship still afloat. One of the first iron sided ships.
-Quote: Oliver Hazard Perry: “We have met the enemy and he is ours!”
-Rise of Andrew Jackson: He and his motley crew defeated the British at New Orleans.