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The British Fleet virtually destroyed what was left of the French navy. This lead Napoleon to create the Continental System in an attempt to block British trade. The British responded with the "orders of council" which caused any goods being shipped to Napoleon's empire to have to stop at British ports. America was caught in between these two plans.
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Sailing from Norfolk, with several alleged deserters from the British navy among the crew, the American naval frigate Chesapeake encountered the British ship Leopard. When the American commander refused to let the British search the Chesapeake, the Leopard opened fire. The Chesapeake had to surrender. This caused a popular clamor for revenge. Jefferson expelled all British warships from American waters causing British to provide compensation.
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The Embargo prohoibited American ships from leaving the United States for any foreign port anywhere in the world. The law was widely evaded but caused a serious depression (hardest hit were the merchants and shipowners of the Northeast).
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To replace the Embargo, Congress passed this act before Madison took office. The new law reopened treade with all nations but Great Britain and France.
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Replaced the Non-Intercourse Act. It conditionally reopened free commercial relations with British and France.
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American settlers in West Florida seized the Spanish fort at Baton Rouge and asked the federal government to annex the captured territory to the Untied States.
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A large number of war hawks were elected into Congress. War hawks were eager for war.
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William Henry Harrison burned Prophetstown and killed many of the Indians. The Indians and the Prophet's followers were disallusioned by the battle. This event caused the Americans to believe that the only way to make the West safe was to drive the British out of Canada.
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James Madison approved a declaration of war against the British.
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American forces invaded Canada through Detroit. They had to retreat back to Detroit and in August surrendered the fort there.
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American forces seized control of Lake Erie, through the work of Oliver Hazard Perry, at Put-in-Bay.
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William Henry Harrison pushed up the Thames River into upper Canada and won a victory notable for the death of Tecumseh. The Battle of the Tames weakened and disheartened the Native Amrians of the Northwest and greatly diminsehd their ability to defend their claims to the region.
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Andrew Jacskon slaughtered Creek Indians becaue they were killing white settlers. This caused the Creek Indians to move westward.
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Napoleon surrendered to the British which caused the British to prepare to invade the United States.
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The British troops entered Washington and set fire to several public buildings, including the White House, in retaliation for the ealier American burning of the Caniadan capital at York.
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This battle secured the northern border of the United States and repelled another British invasion.
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Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner while on board one of the British ships trying to secure the release of an American prisoner.
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Andrew Jackson seized the Spanish fort at Pensacola.
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Delegates from the New England states met in Hartford Connecticut to discuss their grievances after the "Revolt of New England." Group members who favored secession were outnumbered by a moderate majority. This convention proposed seven amendments to the Constitution- amendments designed to protect New England from the growing influence of the South and the West.
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The Treaty of Ghent was signed between America and Britain. America gave up their demand for a British renunciation of impressment and for the cession of Canada to the United States. The Bitish andoned their call for the creation of an Indian buffer state in the Northwest.
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British troops landed below New Orleans and prepared to advance up the Mississippi, but Andrew Jackson forced the British to retreat (The United States and Britian had signed a peace treaty several weeks before this battle).
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A commercial treaty was made that gave Americans the right to trade freely with England and much of the British Empire.
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The Rush-Bagot agreement provided for mutual disarmament on the Great Lakes.