The War of 1812

Invasion of Canada Canada became an important battleground in the War of 1812, because there the British forces were the weakest. Although the generals originally planned to capture Montreal as an offensive strategy, the Americans ended up wasting away 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 Led by general Isaac Brock and General Mud and General Confusion, The British, unlike the poorly prepared Americans, were able to capture the American fort of Michillimackinac early in the war, which commanded the upper Great Lakes and the Indianinhabited area to the south and the west. As a counter attack, American naval officer Oliver Hazard Perry built a fleet of green-timbered ships on the shores of Lake Erie and captured a British fleet in furious engagement. This gave the vital control of the Great Lakes to America. British invasion of New York In 1814, the British prepared for a crushing blow into New York. In order to bring supplies, the British utilized the Lake Champlain waterway. However, Thomas Macdonough commanded a weaker American fleet and challenged the British. The battle, fought near Piattsburgh on September 11, 1814, seemed to be unfavorable to the Americans, but Macdonough unexpectedly turned his ship around and confronted the enemy with a fresh broadside, snatching the victory. The invading British were forced to retreat, saving the upper New York and New England from further conquest. 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 then attempted to take over Fort McHenry with their hammering cannons, but 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 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 here, and 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 on January 1815 and giving victory for Jackson. Treaty of Ghent Essentially an armistice, the Treaty of Ghent was signed on Christmas Eve in 1814. Both sides agreed to stop fighting and restored conquered territory. The War Hawks made numerous omissions of grievances such as the Indian menace, search and seizure, Orders in Council, impressments and confiscations. This war ended in a virtual draw.

New England Federalists The New England Federalists, who prospered from the war, with its illicit trade with the British in Canada and the absence of British blockade, made bitter opposition when the war ended. During the war, more extreme Federalists became very vocal and proposed 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 3/5 clause 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.