1. •
Elected 4th President
in 1808 and reelected in 1812
•
Most important
event in his
presidency was the
War of 1812
and the War of 1812

2. Causes of the War of 1812
• America stopped all trade with Great
Britain
• British Navy and the French were still
attacking American merchant ships
• Great Britain increased its attacks on
American ships
• British were supplying weapons to
Native Americans
– They also encouraged Nat. Amer. to
attack American settlers moving west.
• Madison began to realize the only way
to solve issue was to go to war with
Great Britain.

3. Reasons FOR going to War:
Reasons AGAINST going to War:
• Republicans
• Federalists
• The “WAR HAWKS” in the South
• New England Merchants and
and West
– Henry Clay and John C.
Calhoun
– It will end Indian Conflict
Businessmen
– War would bring a
blockade of American
ports and that would
and make Western lands
mean losing business and
safer
money
– Britain is kidnapping
American sailors
– U.S. Army and Navy to
small and unprepared

4. War of 1812 Major Events
• British Navy
created a
blockade around
America’s entire
coastline
stopping all
trade: American
businesses
suffered

5. War of 1812 Major Events
• British forces
invaded
Washington D.C.
and burned the
White House
• Dolly Madison saves
portraits and
documents before
leaving.

6. War of 1812 Major Events
• U.S.S.
Constitution
wins battles
at sea.
• Strengthens
our Navy

7. War of 1812 Major Events
• Indian groups helping the British were defeated in the
Western lands making them safer for American settlers

8. War of 1812 Major Events
• Battle of Ft. McHenry – British are held back and kept from taking
the fort after an all night bombing
– Inspires the writing of the Star Spangled Banner by Francis
Scott Key

9. War of 1812 Major Events
• Battle of New
Orleans was
considered a great
victory for control
of the Mississippi
River
– General
Andrew
Jackson
becomes the
Hero of New
Orleans for
leading his men.

10. • Treaty of Ghent was
signed in 1815 to end
the war