U.S. Navy in War of 1812-- Part 3: That Impressment Thing and Other Affronts Lead to War

The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair, as it came to be known, enraged the American public and embarrassed the Navy.  President Jefferson levied a big embargo against the British and the British Admiralty recalled the Leopard's commander and admitted the error.   The situation deescalated  and soon was replaced with Vice President Aaron Burr's  conspiracy and trial for treason.

Actually, the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair didn't end until 1820, when the disgraced American commander of the Cheasapeake, James Barron, challenged American naval hero Stephen Decatur to a duel stemming from it and killed Decatur.

But, impressments continued.  Since 1800, Great Britain had captured 917 American ships and impressed 6,257 American seamen.

On June 1, 1812, President James Madison spoke before Congress, citing British impressment of American sailors, disregard for American sovereignty and plundering of American commerce, and asked that a state of war be declared.

With support from the War Hawks, who were seeking to gain control of Canada, Congress declared war on June 18, 1812.  Ironically, the British had rescinded the Orders in Council two days earlier.

--Brock-Perry

Green Clay's Family: Henry Clay Was a Cousin

From Wikipedia.

Without a doubt, the most famous relative of Green Clay was a cousin by the name of Henry Clay.

April 12, 1777 to June 29, 1852

American lawyer, planter and statesman.  Represented Kentucky in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.  Created the Whig Party.

As Speaker of the House in Washington, D.C., Henry Clay was a leading War Hawk and helped lead Congress into the declaration of war against Britain in 1812.

In 1814, he helped  negotiate the Treaty of Ghent.

He was very powerful throughout the first half of the 19th century and had a lot to do with any and all U.S. government decisions, including the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850.

--Brock-Perry

Richard M. Johnson-- Part 2: Killed Tecumseh

Richard M. Johnson was the only vice president ever elected by the U.S. Senate under Amendment 12.  He was also U.S. Representative and Senator from Kentucky.  His political career began and ended in the Kentucky House of Representatives.

Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, he allied with fellow Kentuckian Henry Clay as a member of the War hawks, those who supported having a war with Great Britain.

Commissioned as a colonel in the Kentucky Militia, he commanded a regiment of mounted volunteers from 1812-1813.  He and his brother James served with General William Henry Harrison in the Battle of the Thames in Upper Canada and some reports had him killing the famed Shawnee Chief Tecumseh at this battle which he later used to his political advantage.

--Brock-Perry

Battle of New Orleans' Ephraim Brank-- Part 2: War Hawks

Even though the Treaty of Ghent, ending the war, had been signed near the end of 1814, the war wasn't officially over until the United States Senate ratified it and it was signed by President Madison.  Because of the slowness of travel, that didn't happen until February 16, when the Senate ratified it.  President Madison signed it the next day.

The war ended, essentially, in a tie.  Both sides were where they were at the beginning.

But, it was over.

Kentucky's Henry Clay was a leader of Congress's War Hawks, meaning those pushing for a war with Britain.  They were especially strong on the western states where the British stood in the way of expansion plans with their backing of the Indian resistance.

--Brock-Perry

Tennessee's George Washington Campbell-- Part 1: Senator to Secretary of the Treasury

From the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture.

(1768-1848)

Served as U.S. Congressman, U.S. Senator and Secretary of the Treasury during the War of 1812, Ambassador to Russia and U.S. District Court Judge of Tennessee.

Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1811 on a platform advocating war with Britain, he was a leading War Hawk (those who wanted war) and served as chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs.  In 1812, he married  Harriet Stoddert, daughter of Benjamin Stoddert, Secretary of the Navy in Jefferson's cabinet.

On February 9, 1814, he resigned from  the Senate to accept the position of Secretary of the Treasury in Madison's cabinet.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Exhibit Visits Paris, Tennessee

From the July 21, 2015, Paris (Tn.) Post-Intelligencer "War of 1812 exhibit to visit Paris.

This war is why Tennessee is called the Volunteer State.  A traveling exhibit will be shown at the Paris-Henry County Heritage Center July 31 through September 12 at 614 N. Poplar Street in Paris.  It is entitled "Becoming the Volunteer State: Tennessee in the War of 1812."

Many Tennesseeans played prominent roles in it, including Andrew Jackson, David Crockett, David Farragut, Sam Houston and Sequoyah.

Tennesseeans were among the "War Hawks" who were Americans who wanted to go to war with Britain.

--Brock-Perry

Peter Buell Porter

From Wikipedia.

PETER BUELL PORTER

(August 14, 1773-March 20, 1844) American lawyer, soldier, politician and U.S. Secretary of War. Graduated Yale College in 1791. Moved to Black Rock, New York, in 1809 and elected to Congress where he was a leading War Hawk. From 1810-1816 was a member of the Erie Canal Commission.

In the War of 1812, he was quartermaster general of New York State Militia. In 1812, he participated in and became a major critic of Alexander Smyth's botched invasion of Upper Canada. This led to the famous duel between the two. Neither hit their opponent.

Porter later raised and commanded a brigade of New York militia and he was presented with a Congressional Gold Medal for his conduct at the Battle of Chippewa, Battle of Niagara and the Battle of Erie.

His son, Colonel Petere A. Porter gained recognition, but died at the Battle of Cold Harbor during the Civil War.

--Brock-Perry

The Truth About the War of 1812

From the June 30, 2012, Baltimore Sun "Letters to the Editor" by David Brandenburg.

Some call it "America's successful 'Second War of Independence'" which is wrong on two counts.  First, it wasn't successful and Second, It was not a war for independence.

It was an attempt by the U.S. government to steal Canada from Britain and it failed.

The British burning the White House and their attack on Fort McHenry were for good reason.  The White House burning was in response to an earlier American attack on York, capital of Upper Canada where American troops set fire to the parliament building.

Fort McHenry was attacked because Baltimore was a "nest of pirates" according to the British.  This would be concerning the numerous privateers operating out of said port.

A lot of the war was the result of a small group in Congress called the War Hawks.  They actively pursued a war with Britain.  The writer of "The Star-Spangled Banner," Francis Scott Key, was opposed to the war.

Now, You Know.  --Brock-Perry