Topic Summary (from encarta.msn.com): War of 1812 , conflict between the United States and Britain that began in 1812 and lasted until early 1815. President James Madison requested a declaration of war to protect American ships on the high seas and to stop the British from impressing or seizing U.S. sailors. U.S. ships were being stopped and searched by both Great Britain and France, who were fighting each other in Europe. President Madison also wanted to prevent Britain from forming alliances with Native Americans on the American frontier. His decision was influenced by Americans in the West and South, who hoped to expand the United States by seizing control of both Canada and Florida. Critics called the War of 1812 Mr. Madison s War, but others saw it as a second war of independence, an opportunity for Americans to defend their freedom and honor in the face of European disrespect. Neither Britain nor the United States was particularly well prepared to fight this war, and the conflict eventually ended in a stalemate.

[ Detailed Research Report | Mind Map ]

Major Themes:

---

• War of 1812: War of 1812 , conflict between the United States and Britain that began in 1812 and lasted until early 1815 (from encarta.msn.com)
• United States: The operations of American privateers (some of which belonged to the United States Navy, but most of which were private ventures) were extensive (from en.wikipedia.org)
• Great Britain: This Day In History takes us back to June 18th, 1812, when Great Britain fought Americans in what is known as the War of 1812 (from www.history.com)
• American ships: President James Madison requested a declaration of war to protect American ships on the high seas and to stop the British from impressing or seizing U.S (from encarta.msn.com)
• British ships: In 1814 the United States faced complete defeat, because the British , having defeated Napoleon, began to transfer large numbers of ships and experienced troops to America (from www.gatewayno.com)
• American army: The American army at Plattsburg consisted of only 3,300 regulars and militia under Gen (from www.geocities.com)
• British force: There a smaller British force , including 1,500 Regulars, had gathered to oppose the Americans (from www.history.army.mil)
• American war: Yet another setback for the American war effort came in the fall of 1813 when Redstick factions in the Creek Nation, who like the Shawnees and Delawares had ample grievances against the United States, attacked forts and settlements on the southwestern frontier (from www.answers.com)
• American forces: This kept American ships in port, and also permitted British military and naval forces to ravage sections of the eastern seaboard (from en.citizendium.org)
• Royal Navy: They continued until the close of the war and were only partially affected by the strict enforcement of convoy by the Royal Navy (from en.wikipedia.org)
• New Orleans: The British planned to attack the United States in three main areas: in New York along Lake Champlain and the Hudson River in order to sever New England from the union; at New Orleans to block the Mississippi; and in Chesapeake Bay as a diversionary maneuver (from www.gatewayno.com)
• Niagara River: Brown accordingly crossed the Niagara River on July 3 with his force of 3,500 men, took Fort Erie, and then advanced toward the Chippewa River , sixteen miles away (from www.history.army.mil)
• General Brown: General Brown posted his army in a strong position behind a creek with his right flank resting on the Niagara River and his left protected by a swamp (from www.history.army.mil)

Theme Popularity:

---

Back to Top