1. THE SECOND WAR FOR
INDEPENDENCE
&
THE UPSURGE OF NATIONALISM
(1812-1824)

2. War of 1812: Causes
Napoleonic Wars
 When the Napoleonic Wars
began in Europe in1803, they
became a threat to American
shipping
 By 1805, Britain & France
each blocked the other’s trade
& both began seizing
American ships

3. War of 1812: Causes
Impressment of Sailors
 Pay and working conditions
were poor for British sailors
 Many deserted & joined
American ships
 Royal Navy forced British
sailors to return
 About 6000 Americans were
pressed into service between
1803-1812

4. War of 1812: Causes
The Chesapeake Affair
 USS Chesapeake (warship)
refused to be boarded
 HMS Leopard fired its cannons,
killing 3 Americans & wounding
others
 Many in the US called for war

5. War of 1812: Causes
The Embargo Act (1807)
 Prohibited ALL US exports
 Goal: European alliance on American goods would force
recognition of neutral rights
 Result: Complete failure – unemployment rose & the policy was
very unpopular in the United States

6. War of 1812: Causes
Madison’s Response
 Supported loosening the
embargo, but US ships were
again seized by the French &
British
 Since the British controlled the
seas, Americans turned their
anger toward the British

7. War of 1812: Causes
Conflict in the Northwest Territory
 Indian leaders objected to treaties negotiated with Indians who
had no authority to speak with American officials
 American settlers often violated the terms of treaties
 The British used these tensions to their advantage

8. War of 1812: Causes
Tecumseh
 A respected & charismatic
warrior
 Worked with his brother, known
as the Prophet
 Goal: To create confederation
of ALL Indian people to resist
American expansion

9. War of 1812: Causes
Battle of Tippecanoe (1811)
 Indiana governor William Henry Harrison grew concerned
about Tecumseh & Indian resistance
 The Prophet called for an attack on Harrison’s forces – Indians
were defeated & the town was burned
 Results:
 Harrison became an American hero
 Tecumseh allied with the British

10. War of 1812: Causes
Election of War Hawks
 Name given to vocal
supporters of war with Great
Britain
 Strongest support in the South
& West
 Led by Henry Clay & John C.
Calhoun

11. Declaration of War
Opposition to war was strongest in New England &
New York
In June 1812, Congress issued a declaration of war –
the first in US history
Critics labeled it “Mr. Madison’s War”

12. War of 1812
Americans led several
unsuccessful invasions of
Canada
Oliver Perry defeated the British
the Battle of Lake Erie
Tecumseh was killed at the Battle
of the Thames in 1813
Thomas Macdonough won a
surprise victory at the Battle of
Plattsburgh

13. War of 1812
Battle of Bladensburg left
Washington, DC unprotected
 While in Washington, the British
burned the White House along with
several other buildings
 The US Capitol building also
suffered damage
 The British withdrew the next day

14. Treaty of Ghent
Negotiators from the US & Britain agreed to end
hostilities
 The terms of the treaty restored relations to their pre-war staus
 Issues such as the impressment of sailors & shipping rights were
not addressed
 News of the agreement took nearly 2 months to reach the US

15. Battle of New Orleans
Andrew Jackson led American
forces to victory against 8000
British troops
 Most decisive victory of the war
 The British suffered 2000
casualties in the period of ½ hour
 The Americans only lost 70 men in
the same period of time