War of 1812
It all started in the early 1800's when France and Britain were both at war with each other. Both of them began to capture American ships, because they felt America was trading with the enemy. This made Americans furious and more when British captains began to force Americans to work on their ships. Some Americans thought of going to war. These people like Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay were called "war hawks". Most Americans in new England wanted peace because the fear of the war costing too much and also fearing of loosing against the British, they had just sixteen ships, but the British navy had hundreds of ships. The actions of the British at sea and on land, also conflicts with Indians finally pushed the United States into the war on July 17th, 1812 when Congress declared war on Britain.
Americans had three main reasons for going against the British in the war: the British had captured many of their ships, they had held territory in North America from the U.S., and they had joined and protected the Indians from the Americans. The American war hawks first decided to invade British Canada, thinking conquering Canada was going to be easy. Sadly, this invasion went horribly and was a disaster. The U.S. did have some success in building Fort Meighs in present day Ohio. This fort was important for the invasion of Canada. The British had tried to seize the fort in 1813 two times but were defeated both times.
The Battle of Lake Erie began on September 10th, 1813 in which the British and the Americans fought over for. Both nations wanted to claim this lake because it was useful for sending troops and supplies into enemy territory. (For more information about the battles of the War of 1812 click here). The U.S. won this war, which meant the British supply line into the American northwest was cut which would mean that they could not supply American Indians with weaponry. This battle helped General William Henry Harrison to invade into the upper part of Canada and defeat the British and their Indian allies.
Americans had three main reasons for going against the British in the war: the British had captured many of their ships, they had held territory in North America from the U.S., and they had joined and protected the Indians from the Americans. The American war hawks first decided to invade British Canada, thinking conquering Canada was going to be easy. Sadly, this invasion went horribly and was a disaster. The U.S. did have some success in building Fort Meighs in present day Ohio. This fort was important for the invasion of Canada. The British had tried to seize the fort in 1813 two times but were defeated both times.
The Battle of Lake Erie began on September 10th, 1813 in which the British and the Americans fought over for. Both nations wanted to claim this lake because it was useful for sending troops and supplies into enemy territory. (For more information about the battles of the War of 1812 click here). The U.S. won this war, which meant the British supply line into the American northwest was cut which would mean that they could not supply American Indians with weaponry. This battle helped General William Henry Harrison to invade into the upper part of Canada and defeat the British and their Indian allies.
By 1814, the war between the British and the French in Europe was over. The British had defeated the French. this was bad news for America because this meant the British had more available troops and supplies to send over to the U.S. In August of 1814, the British had landed near Washington D.C. and lit the Capitol building on fire including the Library of Congress and the President's house. They then attacked Baltimore, Maryland. During this attack an American named Francis Scott Key saw "the rockets red glare" and the "bombs bursting in air" and started to write the song of the U.S., The Star Spangled Banner.
Eventually, the British decided they did not want to endure a long costly war again with North America. In the peace treaty, both nations decided on going back to the way it was before.
The War of 1812 transformed the nation by increasing in U.S. manufacturing because of President Madison's ban on trade with Britain, and gave America new symbols like the national anthem and pride in their nation for facing one of the world's strongest countries on Earth.
Eventually, the British decided they did not want to endure a long costly war again with North America. In the peace treaty, both nations decided on going back to the way it was before.
The War of 1812 transformed the nation by increasing in U.S. manufacturing because of President Madison's ban on trade with Britain, and gave America new symbols like the national anthem and pride in their nation for facing one of the world's strongest countries on Earth.