January 8, 1815 Battle of New Orleans

The War of 1812 involved the United States and Great Britain. It came about because of the almost constant wars between Britain and France. During these wars, Britain and France both tried to stop the United States from trading with the other country. Decrees and orders were passed in both Britain and France to force countries to comply with certain rules in order to be able to trade. If the United States complied with the French rules, they were at risk from the Royal Navy. If the United States complied with the British rules, they could be captured by the French.

In addition, Britain’s Royal Navy captured American citizens from merchant ships, using the excuse that they were actually deserters from the British Navy. Britain would then press these Americans into working on the British ships.

Another cause of tension was the fact that many Americans blamed the increased tension with the Native Americans on the frontier in the Northwest Territory on the British.

Finally, President Madison signed a declaration of war against the British on June 18, 1812. Feelings among Americans were divided concerning this event, but many Americans saw the problems as something that needed to be addressed to defend the honor of America.

When the British defeated the French in 1814, the British were able to concentrate on the war in the United States. Britain had wanted peace early in the war, but after France was defeated, they hoped to actually win the war with the United States. After a time, however, British leaders advised signing a peace treaty, which was signed at Ghent, in present-day Belgium on December 24, 1814.

It took so long for word of the signing of the treaty to reach the fighting forces in the United States that the war continued into 1815. The Battle of New Orleans was actually fought after the peace treaty was signed and is sometimes called “The Needless Battle” because of that fact.

The British were determined to take the city of New Orleans, which was located at the mouth of the Mississippi River. Its strategic location made it an important city to control. The battle lasted only about one-half hour, with an American victory and a British withdrawal. Although there were a few other skirmishes, word of the peace treaty reached American troops before any other major battles took place. The Battle of New Orleans is considered the last major battle of the War of 1812.

Try the multiple choice quiz on the following page to see how much you know about the Battle of New Orleans. Research anything that you are not certain of. There is an answer key attached if you get stuck.

1. New Orleans is located in southeastern ______.

Texas Louisiana Alabama

2. On December 1, 1814, Major General ______began to prepare New Orleans for an attack from the British.

George Armstrong Custer Thomas Jefferson Andrew Jackson

3. The leader of the American troops was the commander of the U.S. Army of the ______.

Southeast Southwest Central States

4. On December 23, 1814, British troops captured American militia at the plantation of ______.

Jacques Villeré Marquis de Lafayette Jefferson Davis

5. The plantation owner’s ______escaped and warned the Americans that the British were coming.

daughter slave son

6. The American soldiers set up their defense behind the ______.

Rodriguez Canal Driskill Mountain Lake Charles

7. The American troops set up barricades made of dirt banks and ______.

logs bales of hay cotton bales

8. Fighting for the Americans were regular soldiers, militia, African Americans, Native Americans, and even pirates led by ______.

Blackbeard Jean Laffite Calico Jack

David B. Morgan James Barron Jacob Jennings Brown

10. The British troops were led by Lieutenant General ______.

Henry Procter Sir George Prevost Sir Edward Pakenham

11. The leader of the British troops was killed in the attack and Major General ______took command.

John Lambert William Thornton Robert Ross

12. News of the victory at New Orleans arrived in Washington, D.C. at about the same time as the news of the ______.

Defeat of France Treaty of Ghent Treaty of Paris

13. The British refused to leave the area for about ______, but finally moved out of the area of New Orleans.

one more month ten more days twenty more days

14. The British suffered ______losses in the Battle of New Orleans as the Americans did.

many fewer about the same many more

15. Because of the Battle of New Orleans, the American commander became a national hero and was eventually elected the ______U.S. President.

sixth tenth seventh

1. Louisiana 2. Andrew Jackson 3. Southwest 4. Jacques Villeré 5. son 6. Rodriguez Canal 7. cotton bales 8. Jean Laffite 9. David B. Morgan 10. Sir Edward Pakenham 11. John Lambert 12. Treaty of Ghent 13. ten more days 14. many more 15. seventh