Manifest Destiny & The War of 1812Manifest Destiny & The War of 1812

Canadian History 11Canadian History 11

Manifest DestinyManifest DestinyThe belief that the The belief that the United States was United States was destined to control destined to control all of the continent all of the continent of North Americaof North America

A commonly A commonly expressed belief in expressed belief in American politics by American politics by early 1800searly 1800s

Belief played Belief played important role in important role in causing War of 1812causing War of 1812

Causes of the War of 1812: Causes of the War of 1812: American Desire for American Desire for ExpansionExpansion

Popular belief that British Popular belief that British North America would be North America would be easily captured by American easily captured by American forcesforces

Large population of former Large population of former Americans living in Upper Americans living in Upper CanadaCanada

No fortifications, few British No fortifications, few British troops stationed in BNAtroops stationed in BNA

"The capture of British "The capture of British North America will be a North America will be a mere matter of marching." - mere matter of marching." - Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson

Causes of the War of 1812:Causes of the War of 1812:"Free trade and sailors' rights" "Free trade and sailors' rights" France & Britain at war from France & Britain at war from 1803 to 1815 (Napoleonic 1803 to 1815 (Napoleonic Wars)Wars)

By 1812, Napoleon controlled By 1812, Napoleon controlled most of Europe most of Europe

British blockaded European British blockaded European coast in effort to prevent coast in effort to prevent Napoleon from obtaining Napoleon from obtaining military suppliesmilitary supplies

United States remained neutral United States remained neutral during war but insisted on its during war but insisted on its right to trade with Franceright to trade with France

Causes of the War of 1812:Causes of the War of 1812:"Free trade and sailors' rights" "Free trade and sailors' rights"

British Navy stops and British Navy stops and searches American vessels in searches American vessels in international waters for two international waters for two reasonsreasons

1) Prevent military supplies 1) Prevent military supplies from reaching France from reaching France (contraband)(contraband)

2) Searching for deserters from 2) Searching for deserters from British NavyBritish Navy

Many American sailors Many American sailors removed from American ships removed from American ships and "pressed" into the British and "pressed" into the British NavyNavy

Americans angered at violation Americans angered at violation of their sovereigntyof their sovereignty

The U. S. declares war...The U. S. declares war...When Britain refuses to When Britain refuses to cease its searches of cease its searches of American ships, President American ships, President James Madison asks James Madison asks Congress to declare war on Congress to declare war on BritainBritain

June 18, 1812: Congress June 18, 1812: Congress approves Madison's requestapproves Madison's request

Britain preoccupied in Britain preoccupied in Europe fighting NapoleonEurope fighting Napoleon

American forces prepare to American forces prepare to invade British North invade British North America, believing that it can America, believing that it can be easily capturedbe easily captured

Canada prepares for war...Canada prepares for war...Governor Isaac Brock Governor Isaac Brock responsible for defence of responsible for defence of colony of Upper Canadacolony of Upper Canada

Brock concerned about Brock concerned about his position but puts on a his position but puts on a brave face - "I ... speak brave face - "I ... speak out and look big."out and look big."

Rather than wait for Rather than wait for American invasion, Brock American invasion, Brock attacks and captures attacks and captures American forts at American forts at Michilimackinac and Michilimackinac and DetroitDetroit

Native Peoples Join the FightNative Peoples Join the FightHis bold actions win His bold actions win the support of the support of American Shawnee American Shawnee chief Tecumseh, who chief Tecumseh, who organizes a coalition organizes a coalition of natives in support of natives in support of Britainof Britain

American natives American natives hope to win hope to win guarantees that their guarantees that their lands will not be lost lands will not be lost to advancing to advancing American settlement American settlement

Major Battles of the War of 1812Major Battles of the War of 1812

October 13, 1812: Queenston HeightsOctober 13, 1812: Queenston HeightsBrock's forces defeat Brock's forces defeat first American first American invasion attempt at invasion attempt at Queenston Heights on Queenston Heights on the Niagara frontier the Niagara frontier

Upper Canada will not Upper Canada will not be easily capturedbe easily captured

Invading Americans Invading Americans will not be welcomed, will not be welcomed, as the U.S. expected as the U.S. expected and Brock fearedand Brock feared

1813: The war continues...1813: The war continues...

April 27: American forces April 27: American forces cross Lake Ontario, attack and cross Lake Ontario, attack and burn York (present-day burn York (present-day Toronto)Toronto)

Native leader Tecumseh killed Native leader Tecumseh killed at battle of Moraviantown at battle of Moraviantown (Stratford), Upper Canada(Stratford), Upper Canada

The hope of an independent The hope of an independent native territory dies with himnative territory dies with him

Two-pronged American Two-pronged American invasion of Canada defeated at invasion of Canada defeated at Chateauguay, Lower Canada Chateauguay, Lower Canada (October) and Crysler's Farm, (October) and Crysler's Farm, Upper Canada (November)Upper Canada (November)

1814: Britain strikes back1814: Britain strikes backSpring 1814: British defeat Spring 1814: British defeat Napoleon in Europe, Napoleon in Europe, allowing them to concentrate allowing them to concentrate on war in North Americaon war in North America

July 1814: 3rd American July 1814: 3rd American invasion of Niagara frontier invasion of Niagara frontier defeated at Lundy's Lanedefeated at Lundy's Lane

August 1814: British troops August 1814: British troops land at Washington, burning land at Washington, burning the White House and Capitolthe White House and Capitol

Their attack on Fort Their attack on Fort McHenry, Baltimore is McHenry, Baltimore is defeateddefeated

A negotiated peaceA negotiated peaceSummer 1814: Peace Summer 1814: Peace negotiations begin as both negotiations begin as both sides are weary of warsides are weary of war

December 1814: Treaty of December 1814: Treaty of Ghent brings a return to pre-Ghent brings a return to pre-war boundaries (war boundaries (status quo status quo ante bellumante bellum))

January 1815: Two weeks January 1815: Two weeks afterafter the treaty is signed but the treaty is signed but before word of the settlement before word of the settlement reaches the U.S., American reaches the U.S., American forces under Andrew Jackson forces under Andrew Jackson defeat an attempted British defeat an attempted British invasion at New Orleansinvasion at New Orleans

Aftermath of WarAftermath of WarApril 1817: Rush-April 1817: Rush-Bagot Agreement Bagot Agreement limits number of limits number of armed ships on Great armed ships on Great Lakes, the beginning Lakes, the beginning of the "undefended of the "undefended border"border"

Convention of 1818: Convention of 1818: Boundary between Boundary between British North America British North America and the US extended and the US extended from Lake of the from Lake of the Woods to the Rockies Woods to the Rockies along 49th Parallelalong 49th Parallel

Winners ... and LosersWinners ... and LosersThe war forced Britain to The war forced Britain to reaffirm American sovereignty reaffirm American sovereignty ("second War of ("second War of Independence")Independence")

Failure of American invasions Failure of American invasions reaffirmed British North reaffirmed British North America's desire to remain America's desire to remain part of the British Empirepart of the British Empire

American natives fail to win American natives fail to win guaranteed protection of their guaranteed protection of their landslands

Over the next 70 years, Over the next 70 years, advancing American advancing American settlement will displace the settlement will displace the natives and occupy their landsnatives and occupy their lands