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Home , Battle of Bladensburg, Battle of Fort Peter, Battle of Frenchtown, Battle of Lake Erie, Battle of Plattsburgh, Battle of the Thames

Little Mates, Ahoy! - Week Three

The Section One: A Cause for Conflict The War of 1812 INTRODUCTION: In 1812, the declared war on Great Britain - this was the first time in our nation’s history that war was declared on another country! The War of 1812 can be seen as an offshoot of the . In , Great Britain was fighting a war with Bonaparte (ruler of the French Empire). was extremely powerful; as was Britain. Our enemy, the British has the most powerful navy in the world - they were the “masters of the seas”. When the British began running out of sailors, in the years be- fore the War of 1812, they began stopping American ships looking for deserters. This was called “” and it upset Americans across the country. To make things worse, the British were sending Native Americans weapons and trad- ing with them for a very long time. Americans wanted to build and expand and take over land further west but it was made more difficult by the fact that the British were trading with the natives. To help the Native Americans and kidnap American sailors made our country very an- gry. On June 18th, 1812 US Congress officially declared war on Great Britain. The War was fought for two and a half years with no clear winner. For this week, we are going to look at the War of 1812; using artifacts from our collection, battle plans, art and poems. Check out the war’s timeline on the next page to learn more! Date Battle or Event Victor 1807 June HMS Leopard attacks USS Chesapeake UK 1811 May USS President attacks HMS Little Belt US 1811 Nov (US forces versus Native Warriors) US War debate begins in US Congress ~ 1812 1812 18 June US Declares War on Great Britain ~ 12 July Gen. invades Upper at Sandwich ( River) US 17 July Ft. Mackinac () falls to British UK 11 Aug Hull’s forces retreat from Canada UK 15 Aug Ft. Dearborn (Chicago) abandoned, destroyed by Native Warriors UK 16 Aug Detroit falls to forces under Gen. Brock & UK 12-13 Oct Battle of Heights (Niagara); Gen. Brock killed UK 1813 1813 Jan-Feb blockades , Delaware River UK 22 Jan () UK 27 April US attack on York () Gen. Pike is Killed in Action US 28 April-10 May 1st siege of Ft. Meigs (, ) US 25-27 May Battle of Ft. George (Niagara) US 29 May British attempt and fail to destroy USN base at Sackets Harbor US 6 June UK 21-28 July 2nd siege of Ft. Meigs US 2 Aug British Attack on Ft. Stephenson (Sandusky River, Ohio) repulsed US 10 Sept Battle of US 5 Oct (Moraviantown), death of Tecumseh US 26 Oct Battle of Chateauguay UK 11 Nov Battle of Crysler’s Farm UK 10-11 Dec US abandon Ft. George, burn Niagara & Queenston UK 19 Dec British Capture of UK 29-30 Dec British Raid Niagara Frontier - Burn Lewiston, Black Rock, Buffalo UK 1814 1814 Spring-Summer Royal Navy blockade of Atlantic coast tightened UK May Napoleon abdicates; British resources freed for American War ~ 5-6 May British Raid on Oswego, NY UK 14-15 May US Raid on Port Dover, other villages US 3 July US captures Fort Erie US 5 July Battle of Chippewa US 25 July Battle of Lundy’s Lane UK August Peace negotiations begin at , Belgium ~ 4-5 Aug US British Attack on repulsed UK 14-15 Aug British Attack on Fort Erie repulsed US 22-24 Aug , occupation of , DC UK 11 Sept Battle of (Plattsburg) US 12 – 14 Sept / Bombardment of Fort McHenry US 5 Nov US forces blow up Ft. Erie, evacuate 24 Dec signed ending the War of 1812 ~ 27 Dec British ratify Treaty of Ghent 1815 1815 8 Jan US 17 Feb US ratifies Treaty of Ghent – War Officially Ends ~ Dear Diary

People react to news in different ways. Think about how you or your parents/guardians react to stuff in the news today. For this activity, we will look at the causes of the War of 1812 through the eyes of someone who would have lived through it. Make a diary expressing your thoughts via a character you create below. Have fun!

To start, pick one of these profiles to help in telling the story:

• A White American farmer in Western Massachusetts

• A Free Black Merchant Sailor in ,

• An Enslaved Black Plantation Hand in South Carolina

• A Canadian Trapper in the Province of Quebec

• A Native American in modern-day

• A Scottish Sailor in the Royal Navy

Now, you will create a diary based on the profile you chose above. This diary will look at events prior to the War of 1812. To help you in creating this diary, come up with a profile for them. Be sure to include the following information:

• Name

• Age

• Education Level - Can you read or write?

Now that we have our characters, look up 3 of the following events and write down how you believe YOUR CHARACTERS would react to them.

 The Napoleonic Wars in Europe

 The British Issuing the Orders-In-Council

 The British begin Impressing American Sailors in 1803 4. becomes President of the United States

5. The Battle of Tippecanoe Declaring War! Think about the events leading up to war with Great Britain. Here, you will be playing the role of an American politician. Gather your friends and family and have every one select one of the following roles: President, Secretary of War, Senator(s), or Representative(s). Once everyone has had a chance to read off their section, hold a vote to see whether or not YOU would declare war on Great Britain! President of the United States: ______The President will read off the “grievances” or reasons for war: 1. The Royal Navy has been kidnapping sailors off of our ships, looking for deserters to the crown! The Chesapeake-Leopard affair is an insult to our nation’s pride and identity! 2. The British “Orders-In-Council” have been interfering with our shipping lanes and hurting our economy! 3. Native Americans on the frontier have been funded and supplied by the Crown. We cannot stand for this.

Secretary of War: ______Our military is less than prepared. Here is how we stack up with the British: Declaring War!

Now that we know the facts, its up to you to decide how you would vote. Gather your friends and/or family and decide whether or not YOU would vote to declare war on Great Britain.

NAMES OF PARTICIPANTS: YAY NAY

TOTAL

The vote was, and still is the most contested vote for/against war in American history. This was also the first time a Congress declared war in our nation’s history. In the House of Representatives, the vote was 79-49 and in the Senate, 19-13. About 4 in every 10 members of Congress voted against this war! Our museum visitors typically vote 90% FOR war. How did your group choose? Famous Faces Here, you will look at some of the faces of the War of 1812. Look up the following people and read about them. Based on what you read, determine what side of the war they supported: the American or British cause. Circle your answer in the boxes on the next page!

Robert Ross Tecumseh George Prevost

William Hull

Isaac Brock Edward Packenham

Andrew Jackson Charles de Salaberry James Madison Jean Lafitte Famous Faces

Robert Ross Tecumseh William Henry Harrison George Prevost American American American American

British British British British

William Hull Francis Scott Key Isaac Hull Dolley Madison American American American American

British British British British

Isaac Brock Oliver Hazard Perry Edward Packenham Laura Secord American American American American

British British British British

Andrew Jackson Charles de Salaberry James Madison Jean Lafitte American American American American

British British British British Little Mates, Ahoy! - Week Three

The War of 1812 Section Two: The War Mapping the War This activity will teach you about the geography and events of the War of 1812! On the following page, you will find a map of the United States and . This map will be mostly blank - simply showing borders of the United States and Canada. To complete this activity, do the following:

• Create a LEGEND or KEY and place it on your map.

• Look up the following 20 battles and events.

• Write up the following info on a separate sheet of paper: When did the event take place? Who won? What happened?

• Create a symbol for battles and events - make symbols that will show British or American victories. (For the blockade, simply draw the line on the map).

• Once finished, feel free to share your map with us!

Battle of British Battle of Battle of Lake Battle of New Queenstown Blockade Beaver Dams Erie Orleans Heights

Battle of Battle of Battle of Battle of Capture of Tippecanoe Lundy’s Lane Frenchtown Thames Fort Niagara

Capture of Battle of Battle of Battle of Fort Detroit Stoney Creek Chateauguay Washington

Capture of Battle of Capture of Battle of Battle of Chrysler’s Chippewa Fort George Plattsburgh Farm

Capture of Battle of Siege of Fort Battle of Battle of Fort the USS Bladensburg Meigs Ogdensburg Mackinac Chesapeake Mapping the War Legend Tactics of the War Army Tactics: Battles of the era used a warfare technique named Napoleonic Warfare. This used a combined effort of infantry, , and cavalry (horseback) units spread across a battlefield. INFANTRY would have been divided into ranks and columns, and soldiers were drilled to perfect movements and combined shots at an opposing rank of troops. ARTILLERY would have been lined into batteries and was the dead- liest part of this type of warfare. Solid cannon shot was the most common type of shot fired from an artillery piece. Explosive shells were also used at closer range. These would have been fired over their infantry to soften defenses and repel an attack. CAVALRY was used to move quickly and were used to “shock” the enemy and move out. They were also used to identify how many Tactics of the War Naval Tactics:

Naval warfare in the War of 1812 may look weird to someone when thinking about how battleships fought in World War I and II. In the Age of Sail, ships would essentially form a battle line and face their “broadside” toward one another and begin firing their guns. Eventually a ship would surrender or sink. Large fleet battles were extremely rare - more often it would simply be one or two ships per side. The goal in the Age of Sail was to break the opposing line and capture the enemy vessels. At the - Oliver Perry’s relief flagship NIAGARA eventually broke the line and “crossed the T” (this meant the Niagara’s broadside was facing the BOW of the British ships). This led to the capture of the entire British squadron. Fleet Builder

Its time to put on your roleplaying and thinking caps! Here, you play the role of on Lake Erie. Your goal is to build a fleet capable of stopping and the Royal Navy on the . Here are your instructions:

• You are given a budget of $150 to build your fleet.

• The larger the ship, the more money it costs.

• Feel free to get creative and have fun!

• Turn the page and see the different types of ships you can choose from.

Fleet Builder

Ship of the Line $75

Frigate $20

Brig $15

Schooner $10

Sloop $2

Activity Sheet on Next Page -> Fleet Builder

Ship Type How Many Total Cost

Ship of the Line $

Frigate $

Brig $

Schooner $

Sloop $

Total: $

Finally, name your ships and draw your fleet! Send us your artwork once you’ve finished!

Photo Credit: Perry Breaks the Line- Peter Rindlisbacher Battle Builder For this activity, you are going to roleplay as General or Commodore and “build-a-battle”. Using the maps on the following pages, build your fleet or army and attempt to place your troops and/or ships on the map. You will be going up against some of the war’s greatest commanders! For part one, you will use the ships you chose in the previous activity to recreate the “Order of Battle” for the Battle of Lake Erie. Look at the map from the below to help you in completing your battle line. On the next page, the actual Battle of Lake Erie order is shown - this should help you as well!

American Line British Line Battle Builder

Battle of Lake Erie - Order of Battle Battle Builder Now its your turn! Draw or fill in your ships alongside the British squadron. Good Luck, !

1 2 4 3 5

6

Make sure to line up your ships in the way you think would result in victory on Lake Erie. Why did you choose this “order of battle”? ______. Battle Builder Now that you have completed your naval battle, it is time to put on the rank of General. You will attempt to recreate the Battle of (in two pages). Where naval ships typically fought in lines - armies were formed in columns of troops, backed by cannons. The two armies would march toward one another and fire their muskets, while cannon shot was fired overhead to soften defenses. Check out the map below to learn about how commanders formed their lines. Battle Builder

You have a $300 budget to build your army. Think of your budget as the amount it would cost to supply your army with food, uniforms, weapons, etc. The more the unit costs, the more it would be to fund that unit type. Look at the map on the next page to help you in selecting how many units you would need to defeat the British at Niagara Falls. One selected, build your battle using units you selected. Be sure to add unit symbols and a compass to your map.

Army Builder

Infantry $10

Cavalry $40

Artillery Battery $30

Gunboat Support $75

Unit Type How Many Total Cost Infantry $ Cavalry $ $ Support $ Sloop $ Total: $ Battle Builder

Watch out for the British - they hold the high ground!

Use the roads to form your lines and move your troops

Legend

Use the trees to protect your army Naval Weaponry

The US Brig NIAGARA was built for one purpose - warfare. Her battery (group of cannons) consisted of 20 cast iron, muzzle-loading guns. The majority of these guns were 32-pounder . The weight was all about the “shot” fired from these guns. The term “” came from the Carron Ironworks in Carron, , where this type of gun was first made in 1779. It was a short-barreled, relatively lightweight cannon. A full crew required seven men to load, train and fire the guns. In addition to the crew, a ship’s boy (aged 12-15 years of age) was assigned as a “powder monkey”. Their job was to run gunpowder to 2-3 guns onboard.

For this activity, simply learn the different parts of the carronade. Memorize them and label them on the diagram on the next page.

1. Vent Pick 7. Cascable 13. Handspike 2. Linstock 8. Quoin 14. Salt Box 3. Vent 9. Breeching 4. Tube 10. Carriage 5. Muzzle 11. Train Tackle 6. Tompion 12. Side Tackle Naval Weaponry

1. 7. 13. 2. 8. 14. 3. 9. 4. 10. 5. 11. 6. 12.

BREECHING MUZZLE TRAIN TACKLE CARRIAGE QUOIN TUBE CASCABLE SALT BOX VENT HANDSPIKE SIDE TACKLE VENT PICK LINSTOCK TOMPION Tools of Warfare The is home to thousands of items pertaining to Erie, Pennsylvania’s rich maritime heritage; including items used during the War of 1812! For this activity, we will look at the museum’s online collection database to help you in learning about the Tools of Warfare. There are 6 items in our online collections database that have ties to the War of 1812. Use the web address below to find the website: https://5074.sydneyplus.com/Public/PHMC_ArgusNET/Portal.aspx?lang=en-US&p_AAAE=AboutTab&d=d Once there, find the Erie Maritime Museum/Flagship Niagara League on the left side of the page. Click it and begin looking through the database. Once you think you’ve found one of these six items, click the item and learn more about it. Fill out the table on the next page once you’ve found these items. Good Luck! ToolsWarfare of War of 1812 - Tools of Warfare

ITEM OBJECT ID WHAT IS IT? MAKER DATE DIMENSIONS

The Anthem On September 14, 1814 a 35-year old lawyer Francis Scott Key wrote a poem after witnessing the events of the bombardment of Fort McHenry. This poem is what we use as our National Anthem today! Read the lyrics below and think about what they mean: O! Say can you see, by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hailed, at the twilight’s last gleaming. Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight. O’er the ramparts we watch’d, were so gallantly streaming? Gave proof through the night, that our Flag was still there; O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, O’er the Land of the free, and the home of the brave?!

Once you’ve read the lyrics, close your eyes and try to picture what Francis Scott Key witnessed that night in Baltimore. Grab some art supplies and draw, color, or paint, the scene as you see it based on the words he wrote. Native Americans If there was any “loser” in the War of 1812, it was the Native People of . In the summer of 1815, the United States signed 15 treaties with the tribes, guaranteeing their status however, not even returning one acre of land. Native tribes began retreating westward. Tecumseh’s tribe, the , found themselves drifting from reservation to reservation. For this activity, research a Native American tribe that had been affected by the War of 1812. Look up a tribe and their culture. Where was their homeland? What kind of symbols and art did they create? Where did they end up after the war? Share your findings with us! Warfare in Art

Military history is often depicted by art and music; the Battle of Lake Erie and US Brig NIAGARA are certainly no exception! For this activity, look up different accounts and artwork for the War of 1812. When you’re done, tell us how you think warfare is depicted. Is it accurate? ______.

Shortly after the Battle of Lake Erie, medals were created as gifts for those who partici- pated in it. Design a medal to commemorate the Battle of Lake Erie! Coloring Pages