New Orleans

Wednesday, December 12, 2007


Do Now: Go to the following website

http://www.nps.gov/fomc/

Answer: Who wrote the Star Spangled Banner?



By 1814 the Americans and British had been fighting for two years. But in 1814 the Napoleonic Wars had ended with the British victorious over France. Now the British were able to bring the full brunt of their military against the Americans.

In the late summer of 1814 newly arrived British troops attempted to march into the United States from Canada to their surprise a smaller American force met them defeated them and forced them to return to Canada.

At the same time another British force landed in the Chesapeake Bay, From there they marched to Washington DC, in spite of the American defenses the British were able to capture the city and burn most of it (including the White House) to the ground.

After leaving Washington the British marched on nearby Baltimore. There they surrounded the city with both troops and warships. Following a long bombardment the British were unable to break the Americans resolution and instead left the city and Ft Mchenry uncaptured.

Soon afterwards both sides realized that continuing the war was not the answer, so both sides met in the Belgium city of Ghent. There in on December 24 of 1814 both sides agreed to end the war and return everything to the status quo.

At the same time that both sides were signing the treaty a British army of 5000 just arrived from Europe attempted to capture New Orleans. Facing them was an American army led by Andrew Jackson.

There south of the city the Americans met the British behind a wall of fortifications. Overconfident the British marched on the Americans who in a matter of 20 minutes killed or wounded 2000 British troops.

This battle while it did happen after the end of the war made the unpopular war more popular and made Andrew Jackson the hero of the nation.