War of 1812: Causes and Battles

• Napoleonic Wars were a struggle between France and Britain, where France was trying to challenge Britain’s position as the leading military power, but faced a great defeat in the Seven-Year War.

Immediate Causes in North America

• British interfered with American merchant ships because the Americans supported the French during the Napoleonic Wars.
• Treaty of Paris had given Ohio Valley to the United States but the Americans ignored treaties already signed with the First Nations, who then appealed for British assistance.
• The U.S. believed British officials in the Great Lakes encouraged First Nations claims and spread false reports about American settlers, angering Americans.
• American Jingoism was the justification for military action, speaking of capturing British North America with ease.

Major Battles of the War of 1812

• The Americans thought they had the upper hand at the start of the War of 1812 because Britain had most of its ships still in Europe and the American Army had superior numbers.
• Strong British leaders, Sir Isaac Brock and Tecumseh (a Shawnee Chief), aimed to capture western forts to prevent American entry and gain an advantage.
• First Nations ambushed and killed many Americans, gaining the upper hand for the British.
• First Nations and the British set their sights on Detroit with only 1,000 soldiers against America's 2,500 leading to a strategy to strike fear into the Americans.
• They marched soldiers around the fort and in and out of trees to make it seem like there were thousands.
• At Queenston Heights, invading American troops crossed the Niagara River to capture high ground, but leader Major General Brock's attack slowed the Americans, allowing British forces to advance.
• In April 1813, 14 American ships defeated the small British Garrison at York(now Toronto), burned down the town, and sailed back home and this allowed the American forces to successfully attack Upper Canada
• On June 6, 1813, British forces made a partially successful night attack on American forces near Stony Creek, due to confusion and darkness.
• James and Laura Secord overheard Lieutenant Colonel Charles' plans for attack she traveled on foot to tell the British colonel, who prepared to meet the attack at Beaver Dams.
• The British successfully countered the American attack at Beaver Dams, offering protection from the Mohawks if they surrendered, leading to the surrender of the entire American force.
• In November 1813, 13,000 American soldiers advanced down the Saint Lawrence River (Montreal) but British forces at Chryslers Farm blocked their path, halting the advance on Montreal.
• In retaliation for Americans burning towns in Upper Canada, British forces attacked and burned Washington, including the White House, causing the British and the Americans to sign the Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814.
• Militia regiments, made up of local volunteers, were trained and served part-time, often placed in low-quality areas with limited supplies.
• Icy roads and weather conditions hindered the delivery of supplies to soldiers, leading to sickness and desertion.
• Militia members risked losing their homes and families by leaving them undefended to fight, with private soldiers earning about $0.16 a day, which is $58.40 a year.
• British and American representatives signed the Treaty of Ghent in December 1814, resulting in no victories on either side.