APUSH Chapter 12: The Second War for Independence and the Upsurge of Nationalism

Chapter Summary
The US vs. England fighting had a few themes: the US lost in Canada, the US surprisingly won at sea, the two split in the Chesapeake, and the US won the big battle at New Orleans. The war was not universally supported. The North generally opposed the war since it was bad for trade, whereas the South and West generally favored the war. After the war, the US could focus on itself, as with the “American System” to build up the economy. In terms of expansion, a few things happened: the Missouri Compromise drew an East-West line to separate slave and free states, Oregon and Florida became American lands, and the Monroe Doctrine warned Europe to stay away.

Chapter Outline

 * Due to widespread disunity, the War of 1812 ranks as one of America's worst fought wars
 * Burning national anger was no longer prevalent, the army was poor, and the offensive strategy against Canada was very poorly conceived
 * Had the Americans captured Montreal, everything west would have fallen, but Americans instead focused on a three-pronged attack that set out from Detroit, Niagara, and Lake Champlain, all of which were beaten
 * The British and Canadians displayed enthusiasm early on and captured the American fort of Michilimackinac, which commanded the upper Great Lakes area
 * After more land invasions were hurled back in 1813, Americans, led by Oliver Hazard Perry, built a fleet of ships and captured a British fleet
 * This victory, along with General William Henry Harrison's victory at the Battle of Thames, helped bring more enthusiasm and increased morale for the war
 * In 1814, 10K British troops prepared to crush the Americans along the Lake Champlain route, but on September 11, 1814, Captain Thomas MacDonough challenged and defeated the British
 * In August, British troops landed in the Chesapeake, dispersed 6K panicked Americans, and proceeding to Washington DC to burn most buildings there
 * At Baltimore, another British fleet arrived but was beaten by defenders at Fort McHenry, where Francis Scott Key wrote "The Star Spangled Banner"
 * Another British army menaced the entire Mississippi Valley and threatened New Orleans, but Andrew Jackson entrenched them, resulting in the British asking for peace
 * The American navy had done better than the army, since the navy was angry over British impressment of US sailors; however, Britain responded with a naval blockade, raiding ships and ruining American economic life