NAME: ___________________________
PERIOD: _____
Video: The War of 1812:
1a. What does ‘impressment’ mean?
TO SEIZE BY FORCE; IN THE LEAD UP TO THE WAR OF 1812, IT REFERRED
TO THE BRITISH PRACTICE OF SEIZING U.S. SOLDIERS OFF OF AMERICAN
MERCHANT SHIPS AND FORCING THEM TO BE SAILORS IN THE BRITISH
NAVY.
1b. Why did the British do this to sailors on U.S. merchant ships:
• The British needed so many navy seamen because of the __WAR_____
with France.
• The sailors left British ships because they wanted better
____WAGES_______ and better ____LIVING CONDITIONS_______.
• The British did not recognize the right of a person born in Britain to
_______BECOME A CITIZEN OF ANOTHER COUNTRY_____________.
2. The War of 1812 becomes the first __DECLARED______ war in U.S. history.
3. Some people called the War of 1812 the “Second War of American
___INDEPENDENCE________”.
4a. Was the U.S. really prepared to fight a major enemy at the time: No.
4b. In what ways were the British better prepared to fight (give 3 examples):
i. ________THEY HAD OVER 800 SHIPS IN THEIR NAVY._________
ii. ___THEY HAD 1 OF THE LARGEST ARMIES IN THE WORLD._______
iii. _______THEY HAD BEEN FIGHTING A LONG WAR WITH FRANCE AND
HAD THOUSANDS OF BATTLE TESTED OFFICERS AND MEN._____
5. America’s first move in the war was to invade ____CANADA____. Was this a:
success or a failure?
FAILURE
6. Once the British have defeated ____FRANCE/NAPOLEON____ they focus on
the U.S. The British invade what part of the U.S.? _________WASHINGTON,
D.C.______
The British burn what famous place in Washington D.C.? ______THE WHITE
HOUSE_____
(This was in retaliation for Americans burning government buildings in
Canada.)
President ______MADISON_________________ had to flee the British soldiers
7. The British had advanced to the outskirts of Baltimore by land. Why did all
of the British forces (ships and on land) turn around and leave just because Ft.
McHenry had not fallen???
(Listen to video and look carefully at maps to come up with your best theory.)
Great Britain had to withdraw and not attack Baltimore because… … a successful British land attack depended on being supported by its navy. This was the situation: the British army had advanced to the outskirts of Baltimore on land, but American positions were well defended. To make the British land attack possible to succeed, it was necessary for the British navy to get past Fort McHenry (which guarded the entrance to Baltimore’s harbor)—once past this fort, the British navy would be able to bombard and weaken American land forces before a British land attack. To try to sail past it while Fort McHenry could still defend itself (and shoot at British ships) would have led to the destruction of a great number of British ships. When Fort McHenry did not surrender (“our flag was still there”) at the end of a long bombardment, Britain had to give up and retreat. Battle of New Orleans
In video:
Describe Andrew Jackson in 3 separate words:
Possible answers
a. __DETERMINED___
b. __ENERGETIC___
c. __INTELLIGENT_____
Why does he have a grudge against the British?
HE WAS A BOY DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. HIS MOTHER AND 1
BROTHER DIED OF DISEASE WHILE IN THEIR CUSTODY. ANOTHER
BROTHER WAS KILLED WHILE ON DUTY IN THE ARMY.
ALSO DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, A BRITISH OFFICER AT ONE
POINT DEMANDS JACKSON CLEAN HIS BOOTS- WHEN JACKSON REFUSES,
THE OFFICER SEIZES HIM AND CUTS HIS FACE WITH HIS SWORD.
Why did the U.S. win the Battle of New Orleans?
THE U.S. POSITIONS ITS FORCES SO THE BRITISH MUST GO THROUGH THEM
TO GET TO NEW ORLEANS (NO REAL WAY GEOGRAPHICALLY TO GO
AROUND THEM. THE FORCES ARE WELL DUG IN-- THEY USE TRENCHES
AND COTTON BALES TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM BRITISH
ARTILLERY. THE BRITISH HAVE NO REALISTIC CHANCE IN ATTACKING
SUCH STRONG POSITIONS.
Why is New Orleans so important?
IT IS A MAJOR SEAPORT-- WHICH MAKES IT IMPORTANT ECONOMICALLY.
ALSO, CONTROL OF THIS CITY HELPS TO CONTROL ALL OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER-- SOMETHING BRITAIN WOULD HAVE LIKED TO CONTROL TO
MAKE THEM STRONGER IN NORTH AMERICA (AND KEEP THE U.S. WEAKER).