War of
1812 in a nutshell..
Many Tennessee men at Battle
of New Orleans
War between the U.S. and England that was caused by the
failure of
the U.S. to convince Britain to stop restricting
Franco-American trade,
the
impressment of American seamen, and the seizure of
American merchant ships.
At first the U.S. tried to force a change in British
policy by restricting
trade, but after 1810 an increasing number of
anti-British war hawks demanded
war to protect American shipping and to defend American
honor. War hawks
in Congress declared war on the British, and American
forces unsuccessfully moved to conquer Canada.
By 1814, the British, especially after the defeat of
Napoleon, launched
invasions from the Great Lakes, the Chesapeake Bay, and
at New Orleans.
The Canadian based invasion stalled after American
victories on the
Great Lakes. More successful in the Chesapeake, the
British army sacked Washington, D.C. and Baltimore,
but were unable to
take the garrison at Baltimore Harbor, giving
inspiration to Francis Scott
Key to write the national anthem. At the Battle
of New Orleans, American regulars, volunteers, and
western militia under
Major General Andrew Jackson defeated the British
troops led by
Sir Edward Parkenham, the most severe defeat suffered by
the British during
the war. Ironically, the Battle of New Orleans, which
was fought on January
8, 1815, occurred two weeks after peace had been
negotiated on December
24, 1814.
Neither England nor America
emerged from the
war with a clear victory. Both nations agreed
to restore any conquered
territory. The issue of American shipping was left
unsettled, although
England stopped menacing U.S. maritime shipping once the
war with France
had ended.
Events leading up to the WAR
1792-1814 France and Britain at war.
1803-1812 British captains impress more
than ten thousand
American sailors to serve on British ships.
1807 June - Three Americans are
killed and
eighteen wounded when the USS Chesapeake refuses to
be boarded and is fired
upon by the British Leopard.
1809 March 4 - James Madison is inaugurated
President.
1810 War Hawks Clay, Calhoun and others are elected to
Congress.
1811 November 4 - War Congress convenes. November
7 - Harrison's
army is attacked by the Prophet, Tecumseh's brother, at
the Battle of
Tippecanoe.
1812
* Madison is re-elected.
* U.S. attempts three invasions of Canada, all
unsuccessful.
* British Guerriere loses to USS Constitution. More
British ships
captured or burned by privateers.
April The U.S. burns Toronto and takes control
of the Great
Lakes at the Battle of York
June 18 - President Madison, pressured by War Hawks,
asks Congress
for declaration of war. With all Federalists
opposing it, Congress
declares "Mr. Madison's War."
August 15 - Massacre at Fort Dearborn.
August 16 - British capture Detroit.
September - British naval attack is repulsed by Captain
Perry at the
Battle of Lake Erie.
October - Northwestern Indians are weakened and Tecumseh
is killed
in a U.S. victory at the Battle of Thames.
November - South Carolina and Georgia blockaded by
British.
November 23 - American forces
withdraw from
eastern Canada.
November 27 - American forces attack Fort Erie.
December 26 - Chesapeake and Delaware Bays blockaded by
British.
1813
April 15 - American forces occupy portions of
Western Florida.
April 27 - Battle of York.
May 26 - British blockade extended to additional
southern and mid Atlantic
states.
May 27 - Battle of Fort George.
May 29 - Battle of Sacket's Harbor.
June 5 - Battle of Stoney Creek.
June 22 - Battle of Norfolk.
June 24 - Battle of Beaver Dams.
June 26 - British attack Hampton.
July 27 - Battle of Burnt Corn.
August 2 - Battle of Fort Stephenson.
August 30 - Battle of Fort Mims.
September 10 - Battle of Lake Erie.
October 5 - Battle of the Thames.
October 16-19 - Battle of Leipzig.
October 26 - Battle of Chateaugay.
November 3 - Battle of Tallushatchee.
November 4 - England offers direct peace negotiations to
the United
States.
November 9 - Battle of Talladega.
November 11 - Battle of Chrysler's Farm.
November 16 - British blockade extended to all southern
and mid Atlantic
states.
December 10 - American forces withdraw from Fort George
and burn Newark.
December 17 - Embargo adopted by the United States.
December 18 - Fort Niagara captured by the
British. British forces
destroy Lewiston and neighboring towns.
1814
British undertake a three-part invasion of the
United States at Chesapeake
Bay, Lake Champlain and the mouth of the Mississippi
River.
British
troops are repulsed at Baltimore harbor after
capturing Washington and
burning the Capitol buildings.
March - British-French war ends with British
victory. Britain
can now concentrate on the war with the United
States.
March 27-28 - The Creek Indians are defeated by
Andrew Jackson at
the Battle of Horseshoe Bend
April 25 - British blockade extended to New
England.
July-September - Eastern Maine occupied by British
forces.
July 3 - Americans capture Fort Erie.
July 5 - Battle of Chippewa.
July 25 - Battle of Lundy's Lane.
August - American public credit collapses.
Banks suspend specie
payments.
August 8 - Peace negotiations begin in Ghent with the
British outlining
initial peace terms.
August 9 - The United States and Creek Indians sign
the Treaty of
Fort Jackson.
August 14 - British forces occupy Pensacola.
August 15 - Battle of Fort Erie.
August 24 - Battle of Bladensburg.
August 24-25 - Washington, DC
burned by British
forces. First Lady, Dolly MADISON, saves
White House treasures.
August 28 - Nantucket declares neutrality.
September 11 - Battle of Lake Champlain. American
victory
over a larger British force at the Battle of
Plattsburgh secures the U.S.
northern border.
September 12 - Battle of Mobile Bay. Battle of North
Point.
September 13-14 - Battle of Baltimore.
The Star Spangled Banner is
written by Francis
Scott KEY.
September 17 - American forces sortie from Fort
Erie.
September 26 - General Armstrong captured by
British.
November 5 - Fort Erie evacuated by American
forces.
November 7 - American forces occupy Pensacola.
December 23-January 1 - Preliminary battles at New
Orleans.
December 24 - British and American diplomats sign the
Treaty of Ghent.
1815
January 8 - Andrew JACKSON
defeats the British
at the Battle of New Orleans after the war was
officially over.
February 11 - Treaty of Ghent reached the United
States.
February 16 - Treaty of Ghent is approved by the U.S.
Senate and President
Madison.
February 17 - War of 1812 ends as the United States
and Britain
exchange ratifications.
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