honors US history 2 study guide chap. 12
I. On to Canada Over Land and Lakes
Due to widespread disunity, the War of 1812 ranks as one of America’s worst fought wars.
There was not a burning national anger, like there was after the
Chesapeake outrage; the regular army was very bad and scattered and had old, senile generals, and the offensive strategy against Canada was especially poorly conceived.
Had the Americans captured Montreal, everything west would have wilted like a tree after its trunk has been severed, but the Americans instead focused a three-pronged attack that set out from Detroit,
Niagara, and Lake Champlain, all of which were beaten back.
In contrast, the British and Canadians displayed enthusiasm early on in the war and captured the American fort of Michilimackinac, which commanded the upper Great Lakes area (the battle was led by British
General Isaac Brock).
After more land invasions were hurled back in 1813, the Americans, led by Oliver Hazard Perry, built a fleet of green-timbered ships manned by inexperienced men, but still managed to capture a British fleet. His victory, coupled with General William Henry Harrison’s defeat of the British during the Battle of the Thames, helped bring more enthusiasm and increased morale for the war.
In 1814, 10,000 British troops prepared for a crushing blow to the
Americans along the Lake Champlain route, but on September 11, 1814,
Capt. Thomas MacDonough challenged the British and snatched victory from the fangs of defeat and forced the British to retreat.
II. Washington Burned and New Orleans Defended
In August 1814, British troops landed in the Chesapeake Bay area, dispersed 6,000 panicked Americans at Bladensburg, and proceeded to enter Washington D.C. and burn most of the buildings there.
At Baltimore, another British fleet arrived but was beaten back by the privateer defenders of Fort McHenry, where Francis Scott Key wrote
“The Star Spangled Banner.”
Another British army menaced the entire Mississippi Valley
Due to widespread disunity, the War of 1812 ranks as one of America’s worst fought wars.
There was not a burning national anger, like there was after the
Chesapeake outrage; the regular army was very bad and scattered and had old, senile generals, and the offensive strategy against Canada was especially poorly conceived.
Had the Americans captured Montreal, everything west would have wilted like a tree after its trunk has been severed, but the Americans instead focused a three-pronged attack that set out from Detroit,
Niagara, and Lake Champlain, all of which were beaten back.
In contrast, the British and Canadians displayed enthusiasm early on in the war and captured the American fort of Michilimackinac, which commanded the upper Great Lakes area (the battle was led by British
General Isaac Brock).
After more land invasions were hurled back in 1813, the Americans, led by Oliver Hazard Perry, built a fleet of green-timbered ships manned by inexperienced men, but still managed to capture a British fleet. His victory, coupled with General William Henry Harrison’s defeat of the British during the Battle of the Thames, helped bring more enthusiasm and increased morale for the war.
In 1814, 10,000 British troops prepared for a crushing blow to the
Americans along the Lake Champlain route, but on September 11, 1814,
Capt. Thomas MacDonough challenged the British and snatched victory from the fangs of defeat and forced the British to retreat.
II. Washington Burned and New Orleans Defended
In August 1814, British troops landed in the Chesapeake Bay area, dispersed 6,000 panicked Americans at Bladensburg, and proceeded to enter Washington D.C. and burn most of the buildings there.
At Baltimore, another British fleet arrived but was beaten back by the privateer defenders of Fort McHenry, where Francis Scott Key wrote
“The Star Spangled Banner.”
Another British army menaced the entire Mississippi Valley