The War of 1812 in America

The War of 1812 officially began on June 18, 1812 when America declared war against the British. Known as "Mr. Madison's War" or "The Second American Revolution," the war would last for over two years. It officially ended with the Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814. Following is a timeline of the major events that led to declaring war along with the events of the war itself. 

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Overview of the War of 1812

By Kennedy Hickman

Timeline of the War of 1812

• 1803-1812 - British impress approximately 10,000 Americans, forcing them to work on British ships.
• July 23, 1805 - British decide in Essex case that American traders who travel between neutral and enemy ports will allow for the seizing many commercial ships.
• January 25, 1806 - James Madison delivers report concerning British interference and impressment of sailors causing anti-British feelings to arise.
• August 1806 - American minister James Monroe and envoy William Pinkney are unable to resolve the major problems between the British and Americans concerning commercial shipping and impressment.
• 1806 - The British blockade France; American ships are caught in the middle, and the British seize approximately 1,000 US ships.
• March 1807 - Thomas Jefferson receives the Monroe-Pinkney treaty but does not submit it to Congress because it represents a dismal failure for the Americans.
• June 1807 - The American ship Chesapeake is fired on by the British ship Leopard after refusing to be boarded. This creates an international incident.
• December 1807 - Thomas Jefferson attempts "peaceful coercion" of the British with his embargo, but it results in economic disaster for merchants.
• 1811 - Battle of Tippecanoe - Tecumseh's brother (the Prophet) leads attack on William Henry Harrison's army of 1,000 men.
• June 18, 1812 - America declares war against the British. This war is known as "Mr. Madison's War" or "The Second American Revolution."
• August 16, 1812 - the U.S. loses Ft. Mackinac as the British invade American territory.
• 1812 - Three attempts are made by the U.S. to invade Canada. They all end in failure.
• 1812 - The USS Constitution ("Old Ironsides") defeats the HMS Guerriere.
• January 1813 - Battle of Frenchtown. British and Indigenous allies repel Kentucky troops in bloody fighting. The American survivors are killed in the Raisin River Massacre.
• April 1813 - Battle of York (Toronto). US troops take control of Great Lakes and burn York.
• September 1813 - Battle of Lake Erie. US forces under Captain Perry defeat a British naval attack.
• October 1813 - Battle of Thames (Ontario, Canada). Tecumseh is killed in a US victory.
• March 27, 1814 - Battle of Horseshoe Bend (Mississippi Territory). Andrew Jackson defeats the Creeks.
• 1814 - The British plan a 3-part invasion of US: Chesapeake Bay, Lake Champlain, & the mouth of Mississippi River. The British are eventually turned back at Baltimore harbor. 
• August 24-25, 1814 - The British burn Washington, D.C. and Madison flees the White House.
• September 1814 - Battle of Plattsburgh (Lake Champlain). The US secures its northern border with a huge victory over a larger British force.
• December 15, 1814 - The Hartford Convention occurs. A group of Federalists discuss secession and propose seven amendments to protect the influence of Northeastern states.
• December 24, 1814 - Treaty of Ghent. The British and American diplomats agree to return to the status quo from before the war.
• January 1815 - Battle of New Orleans. Andrew Jackson scores a huge victory and paves the way to the White House. 700 British are killed, 1,400 are wounded. The US only loses 8 soldiers.