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The French Revolution left France in a state of political instability.
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This treaty temporarily suspended hostilities between France and Great Britain.
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The main goal was to overthrow Napoleon.
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A series of battles between European coalitions and Naploen's French Empire, the exact dates of which are subject to debate.
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Napoleon Bonaparte provided the French people with some security, but also began campaigns of conquest, turning a majority of European countries into French satellites. Coalition powers forced Napoleon to abidate and exiled him to the island of Elba. This ended his reign and restored the French monarchy under Louis XVIII.
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This French foreign policy was a large scale embargo against British trade
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This was a large scale embargo against British trade in response to the Orders in Council.
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Three American citizens who had been impressed into the British Navy escaped while docked in Virginia. When the U.S. frigate Chesapeake refused to surrender them back to the British, the British ship Leopard fired on the U.S. frigate Chesapeake killing 4 and wounding 18 outraging many in the U.S.
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The Orders in Council were restrictive trade policies decreed by Great Britain throughout the era. This specific Orders in Council was a response to Napoleon's Continental System and forbid many from trading with France and blocked many French ports.
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Many in the U.S. wanted something done in response to Great Britain and France's disregard for U.S. neutrality. The Embargo Act prohibited U.S. vessels from trading with Great Britain and France. The Act was very unpopular and Thomas Jefferson repealed it three days before leaving office.
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This U.S. act replaced the failed Embargo Act, and allowed trade with all countries except France or Great Britain.
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The British minister to the U.S. (David Erskine) told President Madison that the British had changed its position on neutral carriers. This prompted Madison to publicly announce that trade with Great Britain could commence. However, Erskine hadn't consulted with the British government and British foreign secretary George Canning rejected his statement.
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This was a trade law to replace the failed Non-Intercourse Act. This bill allowed trade with Great Britain and France, but indicated that the U.S. would only trade with the nation that lifted trade restrictions first. Napoleon indicated that France would honor U.S. neutrality, which prompted President Madison to cut off trade with Great Britain. Napoleon did not follow through and this was another failed foreign policy, and another embarrasment for Madison.
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During the summer of 1810 men who came to be known as 'War Hawks' (because they pushed for war against Great Britain) were elected to Congress. Men like Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, and Richard Mentor Johnson felt war was necessary to protect U.S. shipping and U.S. sailors from British violations of U.S. neutrality.
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General William Henry Harrison led his army to rout the Shawnee because westerners believed the British were persuading Tecumseh’s warriors to resist American settlement. Tecumseh's brother, Tenskwatawa, known as “the Prophet,” attacked first. The battle forced Tecumseh to seek the aid of the British against the United States.
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British and Native American allies repel Kentucky troops. The United States survivors are killed on January 23rd in the Raisin River Massacre.
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United States troops take control of Lake Ontario, and capture and burn York.
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USS Chesapeake is towed to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
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United States troops under Captain Oliver Hazard Perry defeat a British naval attack.
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Tecumseh is killed during the battle, which is proclaimed a U.S. victory.
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October 16-18: This marked the beginning of the end of Napoleon’s reign.
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Andrew Jackson defeats the Creek Indians in a ferocious battle. Women and children are slaughtered in the massacre.
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The Tsar of Russia offered to negotiate a truce. The economic and military strains encoraged the United States and Great Britain into negotiations. President Madison agreed and shortly after the British foreign minister, Lord Castlereagh agreed to discuss peace terms. Negotiations took place in the city of Ghent in present-day Belgium.
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Madison and other United States government officials flee.
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The United States secures its northern border with a huge victory over a larger British force.
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Key is inspired after witnessing the United States flag still waving in the aftermath of a bombardment.
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The Treaty of Ghent formally ends the War of 1812 and restored conditions to status quo antebellum.
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Andrew Jackson wins an impressive victory against the British, neither side having received word that the peace treaty has been signed. The Battle was won within half an hour, with around 2,000 British casualties and only 70 U.S. casualties. This victory became a huge source of national pride.
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This marks the final battle of the War of 1812.
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