Overview of the War of 1812

 WAR OF 1812 Overview

Key Terms

1.       the French Revolution of 1789- France declared bankruptcy; the king was deposed; the people attempted to introduce liberty, fraternity, equality, and democracy

2.       Napoleon Bonaparte-a military general who rose to power during the French Revolution and invaded other European countries

3.       Louisiana- a territory from France that was sold to the United States

4.       impressments- forcing sailors to serve for another navvy

5.       American expansion into the Ohio Valley- settlers began expanding west of the Appalachian territories into Native territories

6.       the Canadian militia-volunteer Canadians who served under British forces

7.       national identity- the belief that you and other people in your country share the same history, set of beliefs, and other characteristics used to define your nation

8.        Propaganda- lies told by the government

9.       jingoism- a fervent belief that your nation is superior to other nations

10.   romanticism- the idealized belief of your nation and the belief that one can only excel  in your homeland or its culture

11.   Tecumseh- a highly respected and key Native leader who was allied with Britain, essential in the Battle of Detroit, and uniting Native forces against the Americans; he died at the Battle of the Thames

12.   Sir Isaac Brock- an experienced officer who had a good rapport with Tecumseh and who also died in the Battle of Queenston Heights

13.   Laura Secord- a woman who took a 23 km journey to warn General Fitzgibbon of an impending American attack

14.   Charles de Sala  berry- a French Canadian officer who led the Volitgeurs who defended French Canada from American invasions

15.   the Battle of Detroit-the first battle that was largely won using psychological tactics since the fort was taken by a small group of Canadian militia, Native forces, and British troops

16.   the Battle of Queenston Heights- just south of Newark (modern-day Niagara-on-the-Lake) a battle took place between American and British forces along the west side of the Niagara River

17.   the Battle of York- America forces crossed Lake Ontario and burned down Fort York and neighbouring buildings; York is now known as Toronto

18.   the Battle of Beaver Dam-  British forces, thanks to Laura Secord, defeated American forces around present-day St. Catharines

19.   the Battle of Crysler’s Farm- British and French Canadian forces stopped a sizeable invasion of American forces from invading Montreal

20.   the Battle of Lundy’s Lane- British forces suffered casualties and American forces retreated around present day Niagara Falls

21.   the Battle of Washington- in retaliation to the burning of York, British forces burned down the White House and attempted to take Baltimore;  the original White House was unpainted because of the cost of paint; it was later restored and painted white

22.   the Battle of Baltimore- British forces attempted to take Baltimore and Fort McHenry; the Americans sank their ships at the mouth of the harbour to create a man-made blockade; the British failed to take the fort and the hail of cannon fire inspired a poet to write the lyrics that would later become the national anthem for the American people

23.   the Battle of New Orleans- although the War of 1812 had ended, news had not spread to the United States; the Americans, nevertheless, defeated the British at this battle

24.   the Treaty of Ghent- Americans and British representatives signed a treaty in Belgium because the war had reached a stalemate

25.   stalemate- neither side is able to win enough battles, border  raids that are able to gain territory or end a war

26.   the War Hawks- a term used by historians to label a group of powerfully influential American politicians who strongly advocated a war against the British since Canada , Britain’s colony, was vulnerable while the Britain fought France in Europe

27.   the Rideau Canal- a strategic canal built after the War of 1812 in Bytown (Ottawa) was intended to carry supplies in the event of a future war

28.   the Lachine Canal- a canal built to bypass the rapids around Montreal, so ships could easily sail up the St. Lawrence to Lake Ontario or Upper Canada; without canals, things were unloaded from ships and transported overland to other ships; this was time consuming and costly

29.   Mr. Merrit’s Ditch (the early stages of the Welland Canal System)- the Niagara Region had a series of canals built transport goods and people from Lake Ontario to the Chippawa River and eventually the entrance of the Niagara River, because  the falls prevented ships sailing up the river to Lake Erie

30.   the Battle of Stoney Creek- British forces defeated the American troops where the defeated from the American forces who later retreated at the 40 mile creek (present-day Grimsby)

The Causes:

1) Britain had gone to war with the Americans in 1776 and 30 years later it happened again.  The Canadians or Upper and Lower Canada were drawn into the war a second time.

2) After the French Revolution in 1789, England went to war with France led by Napoleon Bonaparte.  The Napoleonic Wars lasted until 1815.

3)  By helping the Americans in their War of Independence back in 1783, the French were getting back at the British for losing New France.

4)  France and Britain disrupted each other’s trade and fought in Europe.  These disruptions bothered American investors, citizens, and politicians.

5) British Interference with American Merchant Ships: British sailors boarded American ships carrying supplies to the Napoleonic Wars.  If British sailors were on American ships, many were captured and forced to serve again on British fleets

6) American Expansion into the Northwest: American settlers expanded into the Ohio Valley and ignored native treaties.  The British feared that Americans would settle further into Canada. 

7) Fur Trade Officials in the First Nations Territories: The British supplied arms to the natives through the fur trade which natives used against American settlers for invading their lands.

8) American and British jingoism was much to blame for the War of 1812.

Battles of the War of 1812

9) The British had a larger navy, but Canada was too large to defend.  They relied on two main characters Sir Isaac Brock, a general and Tecumseh, a Shawnee chief to win their major battles.

10) In the Battle of Detroit, Brock and Tecumseh used scare tactics to force General Hull to surrender Fort Detroit.

11) In the Battle of Queenston Heights, the Americans crossed the Niagara River at Lewiston and captured Queenston Heights just south of Newark and Fort George (Niagara-on-the Lake). 

12) Brock was killed during an advance, but his troops and the members of the Six Nations defeated and captured American soldiers.

13)  American ships crossed Lake Ontario and burned down Fort York.

14) Despite losses on both sides, American forces retreated to the 40 Mile Creek at present day Grimsby.

15) Mohawks and British soldiers, under a tip told by Laura Secord, met an American force at Beaver Dam.  Americans surrendered.

16) British forces stop a sizeable American force from invading Montreal.

17) In the Battle of Lundy’s Lane, British suffered casualties but American forces retreated.

18) British troops burned the White House.  (The White House is painted white to cover the burn marks and parts of the presidential balcony were left untouched to serve as a reminder to future presidents of the threat of foreign invasion.)

The Reality of War for Soldiers

19) Military life was dangerous, unglamorous, unsanitary, and badly paid. 

20)  It was difficult to recruit men because of the conditions, so militia or volunteer regiments were formed.

21)  Roads, food, and tents were limited. Soldiers were often sick.  Many deserted.  If caught, they were executed by hanging.

The Effects of the War of 1812

22) Thomas Jefferson felt that taking over Canada was for American troops just “a mere matter of marching.”  In reality, neither side could claim a victory.

23) The Treaty of Ghent was signed by Americans and British representatives in Belgium because the war was a stalemate.  The borders hence remained the same.

24) The War of 1812 did have three positive outcomes:  1) Canadian militias were formed. 2) Canadian identity was fostered.  3) Americans were seen as a possible threat, so roads and canals were improved for military and commercial purposes.

25) The negative effects of the War of 1812 include the following: 1) there was a disruption in farming and food. 2) Lives were lost.  3) A very small group of people –as always- financially profited from the war.

Causes and Effects of the War of 1812

1)            The politically powerful American group known as the ‘War Hawks” advocated the American congress for war against Britain.

2)            In order to regain sailors, British ships boarded and ‘impressed’ or captured sailors from American ships to serve on British ships.

3)            The British were busy fighting a war with Napoleon in France, so Canada was vulnerable.

4)            America allied with France.

5)            Americans expanded into the Ohio Valley and disrupted native villages.  The Natives allied with the British in many cases.

6)            The British sold or traded weapons with the Natives.

7)            England looked down at America.  Although it had declared independence in 1776, England did not respect its sovereignty or independence.

8)            Some thought that a war with Canada would be a ‘mere matter of marching’ and Canada would easily fall.

9)            The British formed a naval blockade, so American ships could not trade with France. This hurt businesses and trade.

10)          Southern planters could not sell cotton or tobacco to Britain because there was an embargo or ban placed on American products.

The Effects of the War of 1812

1)            The capital of Upper Canada moved from York (Toronto) to Bytown (Ottawa), so the capital would be further from future American attack.

2)            The Rideau Canal was built in case an American attack would cut off the St. Lawrence and cripple supplies from Lower Canada to Upper Canada. 

3)            More roads were built to better move troops, supplies, settlers, and goods across the land.

4)            The Maritimes prospered economically since Halifax became a major center of operations.

5)            English and French colonists were united under a common enemy- America.

6)            American settlers were discouraged from settling in Canada.  British immigration was promoted.

7)            The border known as the 49 degree parallel was established.

8)            The Great Lakes were demilitarized, but Lake Ontario and Lake Champlain were allowed to keep forces to prevent smuggling.

9)            Britain recognized America as independent.

10)          America focused on expanding westward.

11)          There was greater nationalistic pride and participation in military campaigns.

12)          Despite great Native contributions, Native groups were assimilated into the military and the dream of a Native confederacy was overturned.

13)          The Lachine and Welland Canals were built in order to increase supplies and trade.

14)          A great deal of myth making occurred since educators and historians saw the war as an opportunity to promote nationalism and to create heroes.

15)          The memory of an American invasion lingered well up until the 1860’s and arguably motivated Canadians to become a nation in 1867.

Camp Life at Point Henry, Kingston, May 1813

    This account was originally translated from French and published in 1895 by Hubert Neilson under the title Reminiscences of the War of 1812-14: Being Portions of the Diary of a Captain of the "Voltigeurs Canadiens" While in Garrison at Kingston, Etc.  The captain in question was Jacques Viger, who went on to become Montreal's first mayor in 1833.

We were ordered by General Prevost on the 17th of May to cross over to Point Henry, where we now occupy tents which we again once more put up in a wilderness of stumps, fallen trees, boulders, and rocks of all sizes and shapes; sharing our blanket with reptiles of varied species; carrying out the precepts of the most self-sacrificing charity towards ten million insects and crawling abominations, the ones more voracious and disgusting than the others.  Phlebotomized by the mosquitoes, cut and dissected by gnats, blistered by the sand flies, on the point of being eaten alive by the hungry wood rats as soon as they shall have disposed of our provisions.  Pray for us! Pray for us! Ye pious souls….

Broken down with fatigue, drenched with rain, I enter my tent to find that the birds of the air have besmirched me with lime; I have no sooner sat on my only camp stool when a horrid toad springs on to my lap in a most familiar way; I cast my wearied limbs on to my couch, a slimy snake insists on sharing with me the folds of my blanket, I hastily retire and leave him in possession.  

Copyright the Discriminating General 1999

Key Points:  The War of 1812                                      

1.            The United States declared war on Britain.

2.            The Americans felt violated and angered that their sailors were impressed.

3.            The British were focused on Europe.  The Americans initially profited from war, but their economy was crippled by naval blockades and impressments.

4.            The American settlers were not respecting treaties and claiming Native lands in the Ohio Valley just west of the Appalachians.

5.            The Americans had the advantage because many of the British forces were fighting Napolean in Europe.

6.            Sir Isaac Brock was the commander of the British forces in Upper Canada.

7.            Tecumseh wanted to protect Shawnee or Native lands.  Britain was more powerful and Tecumseh dreamed of native confederacy.

8.            The War of 1812 was stalemate or neither side won.  Yes, the British, Canadian, Native and French Canadian forces were victorious for Battles Upper and Lower Canada, but the American won the Battle of Baltimore and the Battle of New Orleans.

9.            The Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812.

10.          The U.S.A. had a bigger population than B.N.A..

11.          The Americans lost at Queenston.

12.          The War of 1812 unified the English of Upper Canada and the French of Lower Canada.

13.          The Natives again were uprooted from the Ohio Valley.

14.          Sir Isaac Brock died at Queenston Heights.

15.          During the Battle of Detroit, Brock tricked General Hull.

16.          On August of 1814, the British burned down the American capital.

17.          Fort Michilimackinac was first captured by the British.

a)            The United States had many merchant ships and the blockade had a negative impact on the American economy. It prevented France and European nations from trading with America.

b)            The British sailors boarded  American vessels and demanded to all sailors who were from British or English origin to work on British ships.  Many of these of men were abducted or taken against their will.  This angered Americans.  

c)            The American settlers were disobeying the British policy of taking land away from the Natives who lived in the Ohio Valley just west of the Appalachian Mountains.  This stirred conflict among the Natives who sided with the British under Tecumseh.

d)            Fort Michilimackinac was high upon a hill, close to a water source, and quite far from both British and American forts.  It was isolated. General Brock wanted a quick victory, so the Americans would be pressured to end the War of 1812 quickly.

Battle of Detroit

General Brock joined forces with Tecumseh and did the following:

a)            They made the militia wear redcoats to make the Americans believe that there were more professionally trained British forces.

b)            Tecumseh made his men perform a war dance for psychological  reasons to intimidate the Americans and Brock claimed that he could not control the Natives.

c)            They made it appear that there were a lot of men by coming in-and-out of the bushes in a circular pattern.

The outcome was that General Hull surrendered and Brock demanded the immediate evacuation of Fort Detroit.  Hull was later demoted.

The following strategies were used during the Battle of Queenston Heights:

a) the Americans seized high ground against the British

b) the Americans crossed the Niagara River at night

c)  the British had Native reinforcements

Here is the following outcome:

Although Brock was shot, the Canadians, Brits, and Natives were victorious over the Americans.

The Battle of Washington and Baltimore involved the followings set of strategies:

a)            The British performed a scorch-and-burn policy and revenge policy on the nation’s capital and looted the possessions of the White House for war trophies.

b)            The Americans blocked the entrance of their harbour by sinking their ships, so the British had to launch cannonballs from a far while Fort Henry was not in range. 

After the Americans were humiliated, this motivated them to fight harder in Baltimore and New Orleans. 

After the Treaty of Ghent, which was signed in Belgium by British and American representatives, I believe that the following people won and lost.

a)            The Native groups were again, like the Revolutionary War of 1776, displaced or uprooted.  The dreams of a Native Confederacy disappeared.

b)            Canada became more patriotic and there was an increased need for a professionally trained fighting corps.

c)            The Americans were inspired to better train their troops and generals.  For example, West Point Military Academy was formed after the War of 1812.

d)            The British realized that defending B.N.A. (British North America or Canada) was difficult.  It was hard to fight a two-front war in Europe and North America.  Like the Roman Empire, their empire had grown too large.

e)            The French Canadians failed to get proper recognition, especially, Charles de Salaberry who quit the military.  Twice, the French Canadians refused to join the Americans and stayed with Canada.

War Heroes –Tecumseh and Laura Secord (No! She did not make chocolates.)

1.            Secord had seven children.

2.            Tecumseh did not live to see his dream come true.

3.            Mohawk soldiers helped Laura Secord.

4.            Brock was the 8th son of a wealthy family.

5.            Tecumseh did not drive the Americans out of Canada.

6.            Brock took bold actions.

7.            Tecumseh was killed during the Battle of Moraviantown, which is just south of present-day London, Ontario.

8.            Brock’s leadership inspired confidence.

9.            Laura Secord was born in Massachusetts.

10.          Laura Secord was awarded 100 pounds.

1.            Secord told General Fitzgibbon.

2.            Brock needed to protect Upper Canada and the British forces were in Europe fighting Napoleon.

3.            Brock and Tecumseh captured Fort Detroit.

4.            Tecumseh dreamed of defending his lands and a Native Confederacy.

5.            Brock at first built defences in Quebec City.

6.            Her husband was injured in the Battle of Queenston Heights.