Advanced American History
War of 1812
November 26, 2013
The war of 1812 was the second bout of independence from Great Britain. Shortly after 1811, the U.S began seeing hijacking of American trade ships in Great Britain waters. Some of these reports could have been caused by pirates, but many of higher ranking fathers believed that Great Britain was trying to cut off goods to their new opponent. Shortly thereafter, the U.S began seeing Native American’s in the southwest being supplied with British guns and ammo to stop the expansion of the American colonies. In an outrage the U.S again declared war Great Britain and it’s Indian allies. The war would last for 32 months and the U.S would witness the siege and burning of its capital.
The war was fought in three different ways. The first would be at sea, for Great Britain barricaded the Atlantic Ocean to bar any American traders from being able to conduct trade with other countries. Great Britain boasted the best navy in the world at the time, yet the American’s scored high victories off of the Connecticut coasts. The second way was fought on the Great Lakes where the British began to invade the northern part of the U.S from southern Canada. For a time the British would control Detroit and Cleveland until their defeat at the Battle of Lake Erie. It would not be till a year after 1812 that America actually saw redcoats march onto the shores. During the first years of battle England was also at war fighting Napoleon and his Frenchman and were preoccupied there. However, after the British did land, they allied with many Native American tribes such as the Creek, Cherokee, and Shawnee. With such a diversity of different fighting techniques taking place, it was a wonder that the U.S did not collapse.
For the first year, many battles were fought at sea. Surprisingly, the U.S held their own and sunk over five British ships in the matter of a year. However, many American ships were sunk as well. The Battle of Lake Erie was one of the first critical battles fought on water. The Americans took heavy losses but held Detroit. In the end though, England would take Detroit only a few months later. With these major battles at sea, came the still living legend of pirates. It is true that during this time that many pirate ships raided both English and American ships for their goods. These pirates would often wait to ambush a ship that had just taken heavy fire and would attack them at their weakest point. Under the command of Admiral John Rodgers, the American navy would partially halt the British invasion.
During the year of 1813, the U.S sank into an ever growing hole. The British took control of Maine, Detroit, and Cleveland. During the later months of the year England would destroy the capital and set blazes to the city. Fearing that they would be over run the top military leaders led a final retaliation. Under the command of William Hull, Maine was retaken and from their Hull pushed his forces to the north and west, stopping the invasion of the British from Canada. In the south, General Andrew Jackson was busy fighting the Creek Indians who had allied with England in turn for guns, food, and the return of their land. Many bloody battles were fought but the Creek nation was stopped near Florida when Jackson cornered and burned out the rest of the Indians.
In the later part of 1813, the British now unable to attack from the Atlantic Ocean sent their fleet down to drop of soldiers at the Gulf of Mexico. General Jackson planned one final attack to push the British out of the U.S territory. The battle took place at New Orleans where Jackson and his band of militia men sent 2500 British soldiers fleeing for their lives back to the Gulf. The battle would be the end of the British forces who a month later withdrew all forces. A peace treaty would be signed in the later months of 1814 and was known as the Paris Treaty.
The War of 1812 saw the rise of many American heroes. General Jackson would eventually become President of the United States. David Crockett made a name for himself as the sharp shooter of Jackson’s company. Zachary Taylor, another future president was a key naval strategist during the war. In the end the war marked the strength and success of a new nation prepared and ready to hold its country together. In the late 1950’s Johnny Horton, a young country singer, composed a song known as the “The Battle of New Orleans” in which he tells of Jackson’s great victory in the War of 1812.
Click on the file below to enter a word search of the War of 1812
War of 1812
November 26, 2013
The war of 1812 was the second bout of independence from Great Britain. Shortly after 1811, the U.S began seeing hijacking of American trade ships in Great Britain waters. Some of these reports could have been caused by pirates, but many of higher ranking fathers believed that Great Britain was trying to cut off goods to their new opponent. Shortly thereafter, the U.S began seeing Native American’s in the southwest being supplied with British guns and ammo to stop the expansion of the American colonies. In an outrage the U.S again declared war Great Britain and it’s Indian allies. The war would last for 32 months and the U.S would witness the siege and burning of its capital.
The war was fought in three different ways. The first would be at sea, for Great Britain barricaded the Atlantic Ocean to bar any American traders from being able to conduct trade with other countries. Great Britain boasted the best navy in the world at the time, yet the American’s scored high victories off of the Connecticut coasts. The second way was fought on the Great Lakes where the British began to invade the northern part of the U.S from southern Canada. For a time the British would control Detroit and Cleveland until their defeat at the Battle of Lake Erie. It would not be till a year after 1812 that America actually saw redcoats march onto the shores. During the first years of battle England was also at war fighting Napoleon and his Frenchman and were preoccupied there. However, after the British did land, they allied with many Native American tribes such as the Creek, Cherokee, and Shawnee. With such a diversity of different fighting techniques taking place, it was a wonder that the U.S did not collapse.
For the first year, many battles were fought at sea. Surprisingly, the U.S held their own and sunk over five British ships in the matter of a year. However, many American ships were sunk as well. The Battle of Lake Erie was one of the first critical battles fought on water. The Americans took heavy losses but held Detroit. In the end though, England would take Detroit only a few months later. With these major battles at sea, came the still living legend of pirates. It is true that during this time that many pirate ships raided both English and American ships for their goods. These pirates would often wait to ambush a ship that had just taken heavy fire and would attack them at their weakest point. Under the command of Admiral John Rodgers, the American navy would partially halt the British invasion.
During the year of 1813, the U.S sank into an ever growing hole. The British took control of Maine, Detroit, and Cleveland. During the later months of the year England would destroy the capital and set blazes to the city. Fearing that they would be over run the top military leaders led a final retaliation. Under the command of William Hull, Maine was retaken and from their Hull pushed his forces to the north and west, stopping the invasion of the British from Canada. In the south, General Andrew Jackson was busy fighting the Creek Indians who had allied with England in turn for guns, food, and the return of their land. Many bloody battles were fought but the Creek nation was stopped near Florida when Jackson cornered and burned out the rest of the Indians.
In the later part of 1813, the British now unable to attack from the Atlantic Ocean sent their fleet down to drop of soldiers at the Gulf of Mexico. General Jackson planned one final attack to push the British out of the U.S territory. The battle took place at New Orleans where Jackson and his band of militia men sent 2500 British soldiers fleeing for their lives back to the Gulf. The battle would be the end of the British forces who a month later withdrew all forces. A peace treaty would be signed in the later months of 1814 and was known as the Paris Treaty.
The War of 1812 saw the rise of many American heroes. General Jackson would eventually become President of the United States. David Crockett made a name for himself as the sharp shooter of Jackson’s company. Zachary Taylor, another future president was a key naval strategist during the war. In the end the war marked the strength and success of a new nation prepared and ready to hold its country together. In the late 1950’s Johnny Horton, a young country singer, composed a song known as the “The Battle of New Orleans” in which he tells of Jackson’s great victory in the War of 1812.
Click on the file below to enter a word search of the War of 1812
Word Search | |
File Size: | 27 kb |
File Type: | doc |