Lesson: The War of 1812 Key Battles & the Effects of the War of 1812 Lauren Webb. 2015. {a social studies life}
Name Date Social Studies Jefferson Era The War of 1812 Aim: What were the effects of the War of 1812? Do Now: Fill in the graphic organizer below based on your knowledge of the causes of the War of 1812. You may review your notes to help you complete the web.
Directions: Use the reading passages to complete the graphic organizer below. Event/Battle Important People/Ideas Significance/Outcome The War Begins War at Sea, 1812-1813 U.S. invades Canada, 1813 Washington is Burned, 1814 British Attack Baltimore, 1814 Treaty of Ghent, 1814 Battle of New Orleans, 1815
Britain did not really want war with the United States because it was already involved in another war with France. To try to avoid war, the British announced that they would no longer interfere with American shipping. But the slow mails of the day prevented this news from reaching the United States until weeks after June 18, 1812 when Congress approved Madison s request for a declaration of war. The First Phase of the War Even though Britain had a strong navy America had won many battles at sea. In spite of its small size, the United States Navy rose to the challenge. Its warships were the fastest afloat. American naval officers had gained valuable experience fighting pirates in the Mediterranean Sea. Early in the war, before the British blockaded the cost, ships such as the Constitution and the United States won stirring victories. These victories on the high seas boosted American confidence. The most important U.S. naval victory took place on Lake Erie, in which Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry s fleet defeated a British fleet in September 1813. After the battle in which the British surrendered, Perry sent a message to General William Henry Harrison: We have met the enemy and they are ours. When General Harrison received Perry s note, he set out to attack the British. But when Harrison transported his army across Lake Erie to Detroit, he discovered that the British had retreated into Canada. Harrison pursued the British forces and defeated them at the Battle of the Thames in October. This victory put an end to the British threat to the Northwest - and also claimed the life of Tecumseh, who died in the battle fighting for the British. Battle of the Thames and the death of Tecumseh, by the Kentucky mounted volunteers led by Colonel Richard M. Johnson, 5th Oct. 1813. Lithograph, hand coloured
The Second Phase of the War After defeating Napoleon in April 1814, Britain turned its full attention to the United States. British forces attacked Washington, D.C., and set the Capitol building on fire. Dolley Madison, wife of President Madison, hurried and saved important historical documents from the White House, including waiting for security of the large portrait of George Washington. After Washington, the British went on to Baltimore, Maryland and attacked Fort McHenry. The commander of Fort McHenry had earlier requested a flag so large that the British will have no difficulty in seeing it. Detained on a British ship, a Washington lawyer named Francis Scott Key watched the all-night battle. At dawn, Key discovered that the flag was still flying. He expressed his pride in what became the U.S. national anthem The Star Spangled Banner. In the south, the British moved against the strategic port of New Orleans, Louisiana. In December 1814, dozens of ships carrying 7,500 British troops approached Louisiana. To fight them, the Americans patched together an army under the command of General Andrew Jackson. The British attacked Jackson s forces on January 8, 1815. Protected by earthworks, American riflemen mowed down the advancing redcoats. It was a great victory for Jackson. American casualties totaled 71, compared to Britain s 2,000. Though the Battle of New Orleans made Jackson a hero, it was unnecessary. Slow mails from Europe had delayed news of the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812. It had been signed two weeks earlier, on December 24, 1814. The treaty outlined that there was no clear winner of the war. It returned America and Britain s relationship to prewar conditions, and did not outline the issues of impressment or neutral rights between the two countries. Some say that it was a war fought for nothing. Dolley Madison, 1804, by Gilbert Stuart General Andrew Jackson stands on the parapet of his makeshift defenses as his troops repulse attacking Highlanders, as imagined by painter Edward Percy Moran in 1910.
Effects Which effect do you think resulted from the war s interruption of U.S. trade? Explain your answer using your knowledge of the War of 1812 and Social Studies.
Applying what I learned Why do you think some historians call the War of 1812 a continuation of the Revolutionary War? Argue and explain your answers using relevant details from today s lesson and your knowledge of Social Studies. {4-5 sentences}
Answer Key for Teachers *Note: Answers are totally up the teacher s discretion; these are suggested Causes of the War of 1812: Impressment of U.S. sailors Interference with American shipping British support of Native American resistance War Hawks Event/Battle Important People/Ideas Significance/Outcome The War Begins War at Sea, 1813 U.S. invades Canada, 1812 Washington is Burned, 1814 British Attack Baltimore, 1814 Treaty of Ghent, 1814 Britain would no longer interfere with American shipping to avoid war with the U.S. Victories by the U.S. Navy boosted American confidence General William Henry Harrison pursued the British and defeated them at the Battle of the Thames Britain attacked Washington, D.C., and set the Capitol building on fire Dolley Madison saved historical documents from the White House British attack of Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland Slow postal service delayed news of the Slow postal service prevented that news from reaching the U.S. until weeks after June 18, 1812 when Congress approved President Madison s request for a declaration of war Most important naval victory took place on Lake Erie. Commodore Perry s fleet defeated the British. American victory put an end to the British threat to the Northwest Claimed the life of Tecumseh, who died in the battle fighting for the British The British destroyed the Capitol and White House, and pushed on to Canada Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner in what became the National Anthem The Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812.
Battle of New Orleans, 1815 peace treaty that ended the war The British moved to attack the port of New Orleans, Louisiana General Andrew Jackson rallied his troops to fight It had been signed two weeks before the Battle of New Orleans The British attacked Jackson s forces on January 8, 1815 Great victory for Jackson and the U.S. Unnecessary battle the Treaty of Ghent was already signed two weeks before Effects of the War of 1812: Increased American patriotism/nationalism Weakened Native American resistance United States manufacturing grew