The War of 1812 Key Events
Burning of York
America burned the Canadian capital that is present-day Toronto; April 27, 1813
Battle of Plattsburgh
American forces repelled another British invasion; secured northern border of U.S. and turned away large British naval force; September 11, 1814
Surrender of Detroit
Americans planned to invade Canada through Detroit; had to retreat back to Detroit and surrender there; July 1812
Battle of New Orleans
Andrew Jackson and a large American army forced British to finally retreat; British lost more than Americans; all after the treaty was signed in England; January 8, 1815
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
Andrew Jackson and his men slaughtered the Creek Indians in central Alabama; U.S. gained new land to the south; March 27, 1814
Pensacola
Andrew Jackson led Americans who defeated British and Spanish in this city in Florida; November 7, 1814
Burning of Washington, D.C.
British troops entered Washington and set fire to the White House; left the city in partial ruins; August 24, 1814
Battle at Fort McHenry
British were forced to bombard from a distance; American victory; Francis Scott Key wrote Star-Spangled Banner; September 13, 1814
Declaration of War
Madison finally gave in to demands for war; June 18, 1812
Put-In-Bay
Oliver Hazard Perry engaged and dispersed a British fleet; gained control of Lake Erie; September 10, 1813
Battle of the Thames
William Henry Harrison led an army up this river and won a battle responsible for the death of Tecumseh; October 5, 1813
Hartford Convention
many residents of New England met to discuss their grievances; proposed seven amendments and seceding away from the U.S.; ultimately had no purpose; December 15, 1814
Treaty of Ghent
only really ended the war; was signed by both sides on Christmas Eve, 1814
Rush-Bugot Agreement
provided for mutual disarmament on the Great Lakes; 1817
USS Constitution vs. HMS Guerriere
the fledgling US Navy surprisingly defeated the strong British navy in a battle and was a decisive US victory; August 19, 1812
