CONTENT STATEMENT
- Ongoing conflicts on the Ohio frontier with American Indians and Great Britain contributed to the United States’ involvement in the War of 1812.
CONTENT ELABORATION
Following the American Revolution, the British continued to supply weapons to the American Indians from their military outposts in Canada, encouraging American Indians to continue to fight against the Americans. The British wanted to keep their hold on both Canada and the profitable fur trade in the Northwest Territory.
A coalition of American Indians rejected the Americans’ claim to Indian lands in the Ohio Territory. After initial American Indian victories against the American army, the coalition was defeated. Many tribes were forced to give up their claims to land in what became Ohio.
The United States declared war on Great Britain in June of 1812. The United States defeated Great Britain in the Battle of Lake Erie (1813). After this defeat, the British could no longer provide American Indians with weapons.
Significant events leading to the War of 1812 include:
- Battle of Fallen Timbers; and
- the Treaty of Greenville.
Reasons why the United States declared war on Great Britain include:
impressment (forcefully taking American sailors from their ships to work on British ships along the eastern seaboard);
British supplying weapons to American Indians; and
British restrictions on American overseas trade.
EXPECTATIONS FOR LEARNING
Explain on-going conflicts before and during the War 1812.