4. Learning Goals
• Analyze the causes of the War of 1812
• Discuss the impact of the War of 1812 on
North America.
• Explain to what extent impressment was a
reason for war.
5. Events Leading to War
• The Chesapeake Incident
• Embargo Act (1807)
Potential Exam Question
Evaluate the effects of the Embargo Act on the
U.S. economy.
• Treaty of Fort Wayne (1809)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08f3VHCpS1I&fe
ature=related
6. The Chesapeake Incident
• In 1806, British reports claim that Royal Navy
deserters are aboard the USS Chesapeake
• The British requested that they be returned, but
James Madison investigated and found that they
were U.S. citizens
• An order called for the boarding of the USS
Chesapeake upon sight to retrieve the deserters
7. The Chesapeake Incident
• In 1807, the British vessel
HMS Leopard spotted the
frigate on its way to the
Mediterranean
• A messenger rowed to the
Chesapeake to demand to
board and take the deserters
• When permission to board
was denied, the Chesapeake
was fired upon
8. Effects of the Incident
• Four people died, 20 wounded, four captured,
one hung, two were later repatriated, the
fourth died
• President Jefferson took this as an act of war,
an attack on the sovereignty of the United
States
• Henry Clay and the “War Hawks” from
southern and western states in congress
pressure Madison for war.
9. Embargo Act
• Reading excerpt for the act
• Prohibited U.S. ships from leaving the United
States for foreign ports
• Response to impressment of U.S. sailors
How do you think this worked out for the
United States?
– Proved to be harmful to the economy
10.
11. Treaty of fort Wayne
• Delaware, Eel River,
Miami tribe, and
Potawatomi
negotiated with U.S.
• Shawnee lived on
parts of the 3 million
acres
• Tecumseh opposes the
treaty (reading)
12. Causes of the War
1. French and British navies seized cargo, especially
from North American vessels
2. Impressment (USS Chesapeake)
3. Land at the head waters of the of the Ohio and
the Missouri rivers; Canadian lands around the
Great Lakes
–
Which part of Canada would this be?
NOTE: Causes, Events Leading to, Reasons all refer
to the same points/claims
14. A House Divided
• “War Hawks” of the West and South wanted lands
(which meant voters)
– John C. Calhoun (SC) and Henry Clay (KY)
• Southerners wanted Florida (Spain)
• Election of 1812 politicians sided with war
• Federalists did not want Canada (more agrarian
voters – republicans)
• New Englanders did not want to fight the British
because of the damage done to the shipping
industry
To what extent is impressment a reason for war?
15. Course of the War
• Prime Minister Lord Liverpool rescinded the
search and seizure of U.S. vessels
• Congress declared war before they received
the message
• First U.S. invasion of Canada was unsuccessful
• Second invasion was an unsuccessful
occupation (Treaty returned Upper Canada)
• Napoleon is captured and Britain is all in
18. The End
• Treaty of Ghent
(Belgium) is more
an armistice
• Nevertheless a
status quo ante
bellum
• The troops don’t
get the message
19. Significance of the
Battle of New Orleans
1. Ended British operations
against the United States
2. Established frontier myths
3. Began Jackson’s march to
the presidency
ncpedia.org
20. After the War
• Canada remained in control of the British
• British quickly repair relations with the United
States
• Treaty of Rush-Bagot (1819)
– Agreement to remove fleets from Great Lakes
– Beginning of Anglo-America working together
How did the War of 1812 impact North America?
