Madison declares war in 1812. Government fractions want to invade Canada and Spanish Florida. Harrison wins the Battle of Tippecanoe.
The attempt on the part of the United States to bring peace to Britain and France failed. In stead it caused the British, it is believed, to instigate a major Indian uprising in America. However, the Indians were defeated by William Henry Harrison, who would find his turn at the presidency, at the Battle of Tippecanoe.
Let's Grab Canada and Spanish Florida, Too
As if the Napoleonic wars and Indian uprisings were not enough for President Madison to deal with, more discord was in the wind. There was also a sector of American expansionists who though it would be advantageous to annex Canada. In Congress the leaders of this fraction, that Thomas Jefferson called "war hawks," were Henry Clay of Kentucky and John Calhoun of South Carolina. While they were at it, these men though it would also be a good idea to take Florida away from the Spanish, who were allies of the British.
The Winds of War
The British had earlier instilled a set of blockade orders, causing many in power in America to clamor for war. On June 1, 1812, Madison bowed to many pressures and asked Congress for a declaration of war on Britain. On June 18 the measure was passed by a narrow margin. Soon a major war was underway. However, ironically, two days before the measure was passed in Congress Britain had repealed the blockade act. But, of course, it was sometime later that the word of this repeal reached America's shores.
White House Burns and New England Threatens Secession.
The United States, in 1812, was ill prepared for war. The Army consisted of only about 10,000 troops. The Navy had less than two dozen ships. Of course the campaigns against Canada and Florida failed. During all of this turmoil the New England states threatened to secede from the Union. It seemed that the situation for America could hardly get any worse-but it did even though the Napoleonic wars in Europe finally ended.
Now Britain was free turn all of its attention and power on that rebel-rousing new country across the ocean--America . In doing so, Britain sent its forces to invade the Chesapeake Bay. They drove President Madison and Congress from Washington. This having been accomplished, they proceeded to burn the Capitol, the White House, as well as other government buildings.
Madison and War, War, War: Napoleonic, Indians, and British continues with James Madison and a Second Term: Treaty of Ghent and New Orleans .
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