🪴 Jacob's Notes

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Mar 10, 20255 min read

The War of 1812 and Its Aftermath

Causes of the War of 1812

By the early 19th century, tensions between the United States and Great Britain had escalated due to several key issues:

  1. Impressment of American Sailors:

    • The British Royal Navy frequently kidnapped American sailors and forced them into British service, claiming they were British deserters.
    • This was a major violation of American sovereignty and a direct insult to U.S. independence.

  2. British Violation of American Neutrality and Trade Restrictions:

    • During the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815), Britain imposed blockades and restrictions on neutral countries, including the U.S., limiting American trade with France.
    • The Orders in Council (1807) restricted American shipping, and the British navy seized U.S. merchant ships, damaging the economy.

  3. Incitement of Native American Attacks on the Frontier:

    • The British supplied weapons and support to Native American tribes resisting U.S. expansion, particularly in the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes region.
    • Shawnee leader Tecumseh and his brother, the Prophet, led a Native American confederation against the U.S. with British backing.
    • The Battle of Tippecanoe (1811): William Henry Harrison defeated Tecumseh’s forces, increasing American calls for war against Britain.

  4. Pressure from War Hawks:

    • Southern and Western congressmen (like Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun) pushed for war to defend national honor and seize British-held Canada and Spanish Florida.
    • They believed war would allow expansion and eliminate British influence in North America.

Declaration of War

  • In June 1812, President James Madison asked Congress to declare war on Britain.
  • Congress narrowly approved the war (Senate: 19-13, House: 70-49).
  • Federalists strongly opposed the war, calling it “Mr. Madison’s War” because they feared it would hurt trade, especially in New England.

The War of 1812: 1812-1813

Early Struggles and U.S. Failures

  • The United States was unprepared for war:

    • Small and poorly trained army (only 7,000 regular troops).
    • Tiny navy with only 16 warships against Britain’s 600+ ships.
    • Deep political divisions and weak national finances.

  • Failed U.S. Invasion of Canada (1812):

    • The U.S. attempted a three-pronged attack on Canada, believing Canadians would welcome them as liberators.
    • The invasion was poorly planned and executed, leading to a British counterattack that resulted in the capture of Fort Detroit.

Key American Victory at Lake Erie (1813)

  • Naval Commander Oliver Hazard Perry led the U.S. fleet in the Battle of Lake Erie.
  • Perry’s famous message after victory: “We have met the enemy, and they are ours.”
  • This allowed General William Henry Harrison to launch an invasion into Canada.

Battle of the Thames (1813) and the Death of Tecumseh

  • Harrison defeated British and Native forces in Canada.
  • Shawnee leader Tecumseh was killed, breaking Native resistance in the region.

The War of 1812: 1814-1815

British Offensive After Defeating Napoleon (1814)

  • With Napoleon defeated in Europe, Britain focused all its resources on America.
  • British forces launched a major invasion, attacking:
    • Washington, D.C. (August 1814):
      • British troops easily defeated American militia and burned down the White House and Capitol in retaliation for the U.S. burning York (Toronto).
    • Baltimore & Fort McHenry (September 1814):
      • The British navy bombarded Fort McHenry, but the Americans held firm.
      • Francis Scott Key, witnessing the attack, wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Battle of Horseshoe Bend (1814) & Andrew Jackson’s Rise

  • Andrew Jackson led Tennessee militia against the Creek Nation in the Mississippi Territory (Alabama today).
  • Decisive U.S. victory allowed American expansion into the Southeast.

Battle of New Orleans (January 1815) – A Useless but Huge Victory

  • The largest battle of the war, fought AFTER the Treaty of Ghent was signed.
  • Jackson’s outnumbered forces defeated the British, making him a national hero.

The War’s End and Aftermath

Treaty of Ghent (December 1814)

  • Ended the war but did not address U.S. grievances.
  • “Nothing was settled, nothing was gained.”
  • Returned to pre-war conditions (status quo antebellum).

Hartford Convention (December 1814 - January 1815)

  • New England Federalists met to discuss grievances against the war and proposed amendments to limit Southern power.
  • Some even suggested secession, but after the war ended, they were discredited.
  • Federalist Party collapsed after this, leading to the “Era of Good Feelings.”

Effects of the War

  • Rise in nationalism and unity.
  • New American symbols:
    • Andrew Jackson & William Henry Harrison as war heroes.
    • “The Star-Spangled Banner” became a patriotic anthem.
    • The U.S.S. Constitution (“Old Ironsides”) became legendary.
  • Federalist Party weakened, leading to one-party dominance by Republicans.

The Era of Good Feelings (1815-1824)

  • With no opposition party, the Republican Party embraced stronger federal power.
  • Henry Clay’s National Republicans adopted Federalist-style policies:
    • Second Bank of the U.S. (1816): Created a national currency and controlled state banks.
    • Tariff of 1816: Protected American manufacturers from cheap British goods.
    • Internal improvements: Madison vetoed a federal infrastructure plan, leaving roads and canals up to the states.

Key Supreme Court Cases Under Chief Justice John Marshall

Strengthening Federal Power

  1. Martin v. Hunter’s Lessee (1816): Federal treaties override state laws, and the Supreme Court has final say over state courts.

  2. McCulloch v. Maryland (1819):

    • The Second Bank of the U.S. was constitutional under the “Necessary and Proper” Clause.
    • States cannot tax federal institutions because “the power to tax is the power to destroy.”

  3. Gibbons v. Ogden (1824): Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce, including transportation.

Protecting Property Rights & Contracts

  1. Fletcher v. Peck (1810): State governments cannot revoke legal contracts, even if corruption was involved.

  2. Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819): States cannot alter private charters, strengthening contract protections.

Final Impact

  • Federal government became stronger.
  • Nationalism increased after the War of 1812.
  • The Federalist Party collapsed, leading to the Era of Good Feelings.
  • The Supreme Court strengthened federal authority over states.

This period set the stage for future expansion and economic growth in the U.S.

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