The War of 1812

Invasion of Canada Canada was an important battleground in the War of 1812, because of the fairly weak British forces. Although originally planned to capture Montreal, Americans decided to wastefully use their military strength in the three-pronged invasion of 1812. The three invading forces, from Detroit, Niagara, and Lake Champlain, were quickly defeated as soon as they crossed the Canadian border. Great Lakes Great Lakes was an important place to get control of. Control of the Great Lakes was vital, and an energetic American naval officer, Oliver Hazard Perry managed to build green-timbered ships on the shores of Lake Erie, manned by even greener seamen. Forced to withdraw from Detroit and Fort Malden, the retreating redcoats were overtaken by General Harrisons army and beaten at the Battle of the Thames in October 1813. British invasion of New York Assembling some ten thousand crack troops, the British prepared in 1814 for a crushing blow into New York along the familiar lake-river route. In the absence of roads, the British invaders were forced to bring supplied over the Lake Champlain waterway. Commander of a weaker American fleet, thirty year old Thomas Macdonough challenged the British. And after some desperate fighting, Thomas Macdonough won against the British navy. Washington D.C. About four thousand British invaders landed in the Chesapeake Bay area in August 1814 and quickly dispersed six thousand militia men at Bladensburg. The British then entered the capital and set fire to most of the buildings, including the Capitol and the White House. Fort McHenry The British attempted to take over Fort McHenry with their hammering cannons, but they were not able to take over the city. This battle inspired Francis Scott Key, a detained American watching the attack from a British ship, to write the song The Star Spangled Banner. Battle of New Orleans The third British attempt of invasion was aimed at New Orleans, menacing the entire Mississippi Valley. Andrew Jackson was placed in command, and he had a force of seven thousand sailors, regulars, pirates, Frenchmen, and militiamen from Louisiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. In this battle, the overconfident British created a major blunder by launching a frontal assault in January 1815, giving victory to Andrew Jackson. Treaty of Ghent The Treaty of Ghent, essentially an armistice, was signed on Christmas Eve in1814. Both sides agreed to stop fighting and to restore the conquered territory. The War Hawks made numerous omissions of grievances including the Indian menace, search and seizure, Orders in Council, impressments and confiscations. The war of 1812 ended in a virtual draw. New England Federalists The New England Federalists, who gained wealth from the war, with its illegal trade with the British in Canada and the absence of British blockade, made bitter oppositions when the war ended. During the war, more extreme Federalists became very vocal. They suggested that the New England states separate from the Union or have separate peace with England.

Hartford Convention In 1814, Massachusetts issued a call for a convention at Hartford, Connecticut. Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island had full delegations, while New Hampshire and Vermont sent partial representation. These men met in complete secrecy from December 15, 1814 to January 5, 1815, to discuss their grievances and to seek redress for their wrongs. Despite alarming claims, the convention was quite moderate and only demanded financial assistance from Washington to compensate for lost trade, sought to abolish the 3/5clause in the Constitution and prohibit the election of two successive presidents from the same state. However, when these New England delegates went to the Capitol to present their complaints, the recent victory at New Orleans made their requests almost treasonous. This marked the death of the Federalist Party.