Events in the War of 1812
The American declaration of war took the British by surprise. They were locked in a bitter struggle with Napoleon and could not spare troops to fight the United States. As the war began, however, the United States faced difficulties of its own.
The Difficulties of Building a Military The United States was not ready for war. Because Jefferson had reduced spending on defense, the navy had only 16 ships to meet the huge British fleet. The army was small and ill equipped, and many of the officers knew little about warfare. These problems made it difficult to maintain national security.Since there were few regular troops, the government relied on volunteers. Congress voted to give them a bounty of cash and land. The money was equal to about a year’s salary for most workers. Attracted by the high pay and the chance to own their own farms, young men eagerly enlisted. They were poorly trained, however, with little experience in battle. Many deserted after a few months.Surprising Victories at Sea The British navy blockaded American ports to stop American trade. Though unable to break the blockade, several American sea captains won stunning victories.
One famous battle took place early in the war, in August 1812. As he was sailing near Newfoundland, Isaac Hull, captain of the USS Constitution, spotted the British ship HMS Guerrière (geh ree air). For nearly an hour, the two ships jockeyed for position. At last, the guns of the Constitution roared into action. They tore holes in the sides of the Guerrière and shot off both masts. Stunned, the British captain had no choice but to surrender. American sea captains won other victories at sea. These victories cheered Americans but did little to win the war.The War's Conclusion While Tecumseh was defeated in Canada, some sections of the Creeks continued their fight against U.S. settlers in the South. Andrew Jackson, a Tennessee officer, took command of American troops in the Creek War. In March 1814, with the help of Cherokees, Choctaws, and friendly Creeks, Jackson won a crushing victory at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.The Burning of Washington and Victory in Baltimore In the spring of 1814, Britain and its allies defeated France. With the war in Europe over, Britain could send more troops and ships against the United States.
In August 1814, British ships sailed into Chesapeake Bay and landed an invasion force about 30 miles from Washington, D.C. American troops met the British at Bladensburg, Maryland. As President Madison watched, the battle-hardened British quickly scattered the untrained Americans. Soon after, British troops marched into the capital with little resistance. Dolley Madison gathered up important papers of the President and a portrait of George Washington. Then, she fled south. She was not there to see the British set fire to the White House and other buildings.From Washington, the British marched north toward the city of Baltimore. The key to Baltimore’s defense was Fort McHenry on Baltimore Harbor. From the evening of September 13 until dawn on September 14 during the Battle of Baltimore, British rockets bombarded the harbor.
When the early morning fog lifted, the “broad stripes and bright stars” of the American flag still waved over Fort McHenry. American forces had won the Battle of Baltimore. The British withdrew and the threat to the nation's capital ended. Francis Scott Key, a young American lawyer who witnessed the battle, wrote a poem about it. Soon, his poem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” was published and set to music. Today, it is the national anthem of the United States.
Success in New Orleans Makes Jackson a Hero
In late 1814, the British prepared to attack New Orleans. From there, they hoped to sail up the Mississippi. However, Andrew Jackson was waiting. Jackson had turned his frontier fighters into a strong army. He took Pensacola in Spanish Florida to keep the British from using it as a base. He then marched through Mobile and set up camp in New Orleans.
Jackson’s force included thousands of frontiersmen and Choctaws. The Choctaws were longtime rivals of the Indian nations who had been allied with the British. Many of Jackson’s troops were expert riflemen. Citizens of New Orleans also joined the army to defend their city from the British. Among the volunteers were hundreds of African Americans.
The American soldiers dug trenches to defend themselves. On January 8, 1815, the British attacked. Again and again, British soldiers marched toward the American trenches. More than 2,000 British fell under the deadly fire of American sharpshooters and, especially, American cannons. Only seven Americans died.
Americans cheered the victory at the Battle of New Orleans. Overnight, Andrew Jackson became a national hero. His fame did not dim even when Americans learned that the battle had taken place two weeks after the war had ended. The United States and Britain had already signed a treaty in Europe, but news took two months to cross the ocean by sail and had not yet reached the United States.
What did the British do to Washington D.C.? What did the First Lady (Dolley Madison) save from
the White House?
When the British army got to the capital, they….
Dolley Madison saved the portrait of ________________________________.