War of 1812
In the War of 1812, the United States took on the greatest naval power in the world, Great Britain, in a conflict that would have an immense impact on the young country’s future. Causes of the war included British attempts to restrict U.S. trade, the Royal Navy’s impressment of American seamen and America’s desire to expand its territory. The United States suffered many costly defeats at the hands of British, Canadian and Native American troops over the course of the War of 1812, including the capture and burning of the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., in August 1814. Nonetheless, American troops were able to repulse British invasions in New York, Baltimore and New Orleans, boosting national confidence and fostering a new spirit of patriotism. The ratification of the Treaty of Ghent on February 17, 1815, ended the war but left many of the most contentious questions unresolved. Nonetheless, many in the United States celebrated the War of 1812 as a “second war of independence,” beginning an era of partisan agreement and national pride.
Even though everyone was gleeful about winning the war there were some consequences. Especially since they were still paying off the revolution debt they owed to France.
Even though everyone was gleeful about winning the war there were some consequences. Especially since they were still paying off the revolution debt they owed to France.
Battles
The War of 1812 was fought in four major theaters on the North American continent: the Atlantic Coast, the American-Canadian border, the Gulf Coast and the American West. In addition to these continental theaters of action, there were also numerous ship-to-ship battles at sea, almost all of them in the Atlantic. These are only 3 of the many battles fought.
Battle of New Orleans
There was no way of stopping the British troops from mounting this last scheduled offensive. It had begun on 10 December with the landing of men from Vice-Admiral Cochrane's fleet on the east side of the Mississippi River some distance from it's mouth. The goal was to capture New Orleans, with it's storehouses, and to close the mouth of the Mississippi River to American traffic.Had the British advance guard of 1,600 troops pushed forward with determination along it's left bank on 23 December for the last seven miles New Orleans could have been taken because Major-General Andrew Jackson had not set up any defenses yet. By the time that Major-General Sir Edward Pakenham caught up with the British troops he had been sent to command the American troops and local negro slaves had built defenses.
The defenses were elaborate, a breastwork of sugar barrels and earth behind a wide empty ditch, which stretched between the river and an impassable swamp. The American commander placed most of his men behind these defenses, with four guns and a battery on the right providing support fire. The British commander was now in a difficult situation, the heavy guns brought from the British ships were unable to breach the American breastworks. Instead of giving up and leaving he decided to make a strong feint against the American position. He had 6,000 British regulars and about 1,000 Negros from the West India Regiment. On January 8th 1815, Colonel William Thornton crossed the river with 1,500 regulars and moved up the west side to outflank the American position.
Thornton's men did push away 800 Kentucky militia and seize the naval guns, and advanced far enough up river to be behind the American position. But they were way behind schedule, and an attack by the rest of the British army had met with disaster. The British columns were hammered by American artillery as they tried to move through a ditch made muddy by a recent rain.Major-General Sir Edward Pakenham was killed by a piece of grapeshot; Major-General Samuel Gibbs was mortally wounded and Major-General John Keane was seriously wounded. More than 2,000 British had been killed or wounded and several hundred more were captured. The American loss was eight killed and 13 wounded. Jackson's victory had saved New Orleans, the Battle however is fought after the official treaty is signed in Paris. News is too slow in reaching the opposing armies to tell them it is over. The accidental linking of the peace treaty with Jackson's victory at New Orleans convinced many Americans that the war had ended in triumph.The Hartford Convention was discredited, and a surging nationalism swept the country in the postwar years. By the end of the century, many American children have never heard of the War of 1812. By the 1960's, it is reduced to a folk song, the song is entitled "The Battle of New Orleans" it was written by a man named Jimmy Driftwood. The song was recorded and made famous in 1959 by Johny Horton.
The defenses were elaborate, a breastwork of sugar barrels and earth behind a wide empty ditch, which stretched between the river and an impassable swamp. The American commander placed most of his men behind these defenses, with four guns and a battery on the right providing support fire. The British commander was now in a difficult situation, the heavy guns brought from the British ships were unable to breach the American breastworks. Instead of giving up and leaving he decided to make a strong feint against the American position. He had 6,000 British regulars and about 1,000 Negros from the West India Regiment. On January 8th 1815, Colonel William Thornton crossed the river with 1,500 regulars and moved up the west side to outflank the American position.
Thornton's men did push away 800 Kentucky militia and seize the naval guns, and advanced far enough up river to be behind the American position. But they were way behind schedule, and an attack by the rest of the British army had met with disaster. The British columns were hammered by American artillery as they tried to move through a ditch made muddy by a recent rain.Major-General Sir Edward Pakenham was killed by a piece of grapeshot; Major-General Samuel Gibbs was mortally wounded and Major-General John Keane was seriously wounded. More than 2,000 British had been killed or wounded and several hundred more were captured. The American loss was eight killed and 13 wounded. Jackson's victory had saved New Orleans, the Battle however is fought after the official treaty is signed in Paris. News is too slow in reaching the opposing armies to tell them it is over. The accidental linking of the peace treaty with Jackson's victory at New Orleans convinced many Americans that the war had ended in triumph.The Hartford Convention was discredited, and a surging nationalism swept the country in the postwar years. By the end of the century, many American children have never heard of the War of 1812. By the 1960's, it is reduced to a folk song, the song is entitled "The Battle of New Orleans" it was written by a man named Jimmy Driftwood. The song was recorded and made famous in 1959 by Johny Horton.
Q: How did it transform the nation?
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