Objective: To examine the
major events leading up to the
War of 1812.
Do Now: How was the U.S.
able to profit from the war
between England and
France?
• U.S. merchants profited by
selling goods to both the British
and the French.
Announcement of the expulsion of
United States citizens from Quebec
City, Canada, 1812.
American merchant
I hate you,
French dude!
Je vous
hais
plus!
You boys can
keep on killing
each other. If
either of y’all
need anything,
just give us
Yankees a
holler!
Causes of the War of 1812
• In 1803, Britain and
France went to war
again.
• Both
countries
seized U.S.
ships sailing
towards the
ports of their
enemy.
• Britain continued its’ impressment of U.S. sailors.
• Between 1808 and 1811 over 6,000 Americans were
impressed by the British.
Marines
Aboard
USS
Wasp
Engage
HMS
Reindeer
(June
1814)
I know what Itohope
do! Ifthe
we
Embargo
Act
don’t allow American
ships
doesn’t make
to trade with anyone,
then
go broke!
we can’t getme
attacked!
President Thomas
Jefferson
American
merchant
Mr. President,
the British
Um…that’s
and
French
true,
Mr.
keep seizing
President,
American
but that’s
merchant
not
what I
ships.
had in
Something
mustmind!
be done!
Embargo Act (1807)
• The Embargo Act banned U.S. ships from trading with any country.
• All imports and exports were banned!
• This hurt the U.S. economy!
Non-Intercourse Act (1809)
• Trade with all nations was allowed, except for Britain or France.
War Hawks
War Hawks – members of Congress, led by Henry Clay of
Kentucky, that wanted to declare war on Great Britain
34 year old Henry Clay, Speaker
of the U.S. House of
Representatives and War Hawk
leader.
War Hawk’s Rationale for War
I. Nationalism – pride or devotion to one’s country
• Many Americans felt that Great Britain still treated the
United States like a British colony.
II. Revenge
• War Hawk’s wanted revenge on Britain for seizing American
ships.
War Hawk’s Rationale for War
III. Territorial Expansion
• Henry Clay wanted an excuse to conquer Canada from
Great Britain and Florida from Spain.
IV. Native American Attacks
• War Hawks felt that Great Britain was arming Native
Americans on the frontier and encouraging them to attack
Americans.
"A scene on the frontiers as practiced by the "humane" British and
their "worthy" allies" by William Charles.
The Prophet and Tecumseh
• Tenskwatawa, also known as “The
Prophet”, believed that in order to
survive, Native Americans had to
give up white ways of life.
Tenskwatawa, also
known as “The Prophet”
The Prophet and Tecumseh
• Tecumseh unified many tribes
behind the message of the
Prophet, who was his older
brother.
Tecumseh's Vision:
We Shall Remain (5:36)
Chief Tecumseh of the
Shawnee tribe
• In 1808, the Prophet
built a village for his
followers in Tippecanoe,
Indiana.
Showdown at Tippecanoe
• In 1811, fearful of the
growing strength of the Prophet
and Tecumseh, Governor
William Henry Harrison led
1,000 troops against them in the
Battle of Tippecanoe.
William Henry Harrison,
Territorial Governor of Indiana
• The battle was viewed by Americans as a major victory, even
though it was unclear which side actually won.