During a time period between 1803-1812 British sailors had been tormenting American ships on the high seas. British captains would eventually take over and capture over 10,000 American citizens to man British ships. In June of 1807, three miles off the coast of Virginia, an American ship named the Chesapeake was commanded by a British ship named the Leopard to be boarded. When the Chesapeake refused to cooperate, the Leopard fired, killing three and wounding eighteen. This humiliated the United States and its people. The anti-British frame of mind was in full swing on the eve of the upcoming election.

In 1812, James Madison was elected President of the United States. Aggressive southern frontiersman known as the Warhawks dominated Congress. The group included Kentuckian Henry Clay as Speaker of the house and South Carolinian John C. Calhoun. These men and others rejected Thomas Jefferson's strategy of peaceful coercion. These speakers could ignite a crowd and stir up aggressiveness towards the British. They would talk of the humiliation and how America shouldn't have to put up with it. Th

As the threat of Napoleon decreased in Europe, the British navy increased in size and power in North America. The naval blockades in American ports became much stronger than they were ever before. Sir George Prevost, commander of the British forces hastily entered upper New York State; an American fleet headed by Captain Thomas Macdonough was waiting to turn him back. The Battle of Plattsburgh was an American victory and it secured a northern border between the two countries.

As successful as the British troops were on land, the high seas belonged to the Americans. Captain Isaac Hull's ship, the Constitution won a major battle against the HMS Guerriere and American privateers crushed or captured a number of British merchant ships. On September 13,1813, Oliver Hazard Perry commanded a decisive American naval victory at the Battle of Lake Erie. In October of that same year, Indian Chief Tecumseh was killed at the Battle of Thames, a United States victory. In March of 1814, Andrew Jackson scored a victory at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend over the Creek Indians. By this time the British were already tired of the war and it was costing them too much money.

While a Peace treaty was being put together in Europe, British troops were about to invade New Orleans in one of the most bitter endings to one of the strangest wars of all time. The War of 1812 wa

Some common words found in the essay are:
Andrew Jackson, Virginia American, , British Government, United Army, Europe British, Plattsburgh British, Thomas Jefferson's, British June, Congress Madison, british troops, fort mchenry, war british, war 1812, andrew jackson, british naval ships, battle plattsburgh, europe british, british naval, naval ships, invade canada,
Approximate Word count = 920
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)