1	The War of 1812 By Philip
2	Introduction The War of 1812 is a little known war. It barely achieved anything at all, aside from telling Europe that we were here to stay. When the smoke finally cleared on this 2-year melee, we found we barely did anything. We had a stronger navy and our army was battle-hardened. Yes, we were here to stay, and stay we would, until this very day, and beyond.
3	Reasons for War Though the issue of the British forcing service of American sailors in the Royal navy had people’s blood pumping, the war was not all about that. The Indian problem, which was the fact that the British were supplying Native Americans with guns, powder, and other weapons, was a reason. The English did this because they knew that the Indians had a score to settle with settlers who were immigrating to the West. The British thus slowed Western expansion greatly, and in my opinion, cleverly. Another maritime violation that got us riled up for war was the various blockades that Britain and France imposed on each other. You might wonder how this bothered us, seeing as it was Britain and France bugging each other and not us. Britain and France were big time trade partners with the fledgling U.S., and with them trading blockades back and forth, an accidental wrench was thrown into the machine that was our economy.
4	Important People Thomas Jefferson was the president in the years that came before the war. His years in office were 1801-1809. He attempted to save the U.S. and Britain from war through a number of means, including the Embargo Act, which was a political folly to rank up there with the Bay of Pigs. James Madison was the president for 3 years preceding the war and all the way through it. His term was from 1809-1817. Due to the fact that he rallied support for the war, another name for the War of 1812 is “Mr. Madison’s War”. Tecumseh was a powerful Native American leader, and a great warrior. He joined with the British to fight the U.S. that was taking over his land. He was a Shawnee.
5	Battles, 1811-1813 1811 William Henry Harrison defeats Tecumseh’s brother, the Prophet at the Battle of Tippecanoe. 1812 U.S. attempts 3 invasions of Canada, all fail. U.S.S. Constitution defeats British Guerriere April- U.S. takes control of Great Lakes at Battle of York. They also burn Toronto. August- British take control of Detroit. September- The Battle of Lake Erie. October- Tecumseh is killed at U.S. victory at Battle of Thames 1813 January- Battle of Frenchtown June-British attack Hampton December-Fort Niagara captured by British
6	Battles, 1814-1815 1814 July-September- British occupy eastern Maine. Washington is burned. September 11- Battle of Lake Champlain September 13-14- Battle of Baltimore. Francis Scott Key writes ‘The Star Spangled Banner’. 1815 January- Andrew Jackson wins the Battle of New Orleans, not knowing that peace was declared.
7	The Treaty of Ghent
8	Timeline, 1803-1813 1803 British captains force tens of thousands of American sailors to work aboard British ships. 1806 British goods are blockaded from mainland Europe by Napoleon. The British throw a blockade back at Napoleon. 1807 The U.S.S. Chesapeake is fired upon by the Leopard when it refuses to be boarded by its crew. Thomas Jefferson starts the economically disastrous Embargo Act. 1812 June: War is officially declared. October: Tecumseh is killed at The Battle of Thames. 1813 January- Battle of Frenchtown November: Peace negotiations are offered by British. All southern and mid-Atlantic states are blockaded. June-British attack Hampton. December-Fort Niagara is captured by British.
9	Timeline,1813-1815 March: Britain’s war with France ends, allowing them to concentrate on the United States. April: The Embargo Act is repealed. British extend blockade to New England. August: Peace negotiations begin in Ghent. Washington is burned by British. October: Peace, using the terms of uti possidetis, meaning that America and Britain keep all land gained. It’s dropped in November. December: Treaty of Ghent is signed by American and British diplomats. 1815 February: Treaty of Ghent is approved by Senate and President Madison. February 17th: War of 1812 is completely over.
10	Closing In closing, the War of 1812, as I said earlier, was next to pointless. However, it proved the U.S. was here to stay. We weathered it through, and came out kicking. It proved we would not be intimidated by a show of force, and that we were not afraid. And unafraid we are, to this day.
11	Bibliography Armento, Beverly et al. America Will Be. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1994. Giddens, Sara et al. A Timeline of the War of 1812. New York: Rosen Publishing Group, 2004. “Introduction” War of 1812. February 08 <http://www.galafilm.com/1812/e/intro/index.html> Morris, Richard. The War of 1812. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications, 1985. “Treaty of Ghent”. Wikipedia February 08 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Ghent> “War of 1812” America at War. February 08 <http://www.america-at-war.net/1812.htm>