War of 1812 Causes and Events: A Timeline

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Causes and Events of the War of 1812: A Timeline
Compiled by Robert Henderson

This chronology shows visually when the political, military, and European events took place in relation to each other. For example four days after the United States declared war on Great Britain, Napoleon made the fatal mistake that eventually ended his reign by invading Russia. Links will eventually be added to this listing so the reader take click for additional information on an event or select at book that deals with the topic.

Year	Political Events	Military Events	Military Events in Europe
1807
	December 22: Embargo Act passed by US Congress halting trade with Foreign Nations (repealed in 1808)	June 22: The Chesapeake Affair: USS Chesapeake fired on and boarded by the HMS Leopard off Norfolk, Virginia	June 13-14: Battle of Friedland between French and Russians July 9 After making peace with Russia, Napoleon bans trade with Great Britain.
1809
	March 4: James Madison is inaugurated as president of the United States
1811
	September 30: Brock becomes Lieut.Governor of Upper Canada October 12: Prevost becomes Governor- in-Chief and Commander of all forces in British North America November 4: US War Congress convenes	November 7: Battle of Tippecanoe were US defeats Indians	March 5: French pull out of Portugal and consolidate around Salamanca, Spain
1812
	June: Baltimore Riots start against anti-war Federalists June 1: Madison's recommendation to Congress to declare war over sailor's rights and British support of western frontier tribes. June 4: House of Representatives passes war bill June 18: Senate passes House bill Madison signs War Bill. June 19: U.S. President Madison declares war or Great Britain. July 1: US doubles Customs Duties October 20: Sheaffe becomes Lieut. Governor of Upper Canada	June 23: USS President vs. HM Frigate Belvidera July 12: U.S. General Hull invades Upper Canada at Sandwich across from Detroit July 17: British forces from Fort St. Joseph capture Fort Michilimackinac August 5: Battle of Brownstown August 8: Battle of Maguaga August 15: Fort Dearborn massacre August 16: British forces under Brock capture Fort Detroit. August 19: USS Constitution vs. HM Frigate Guerriere September: Baltimore Riots finish September 3 : Indian attack at Pigeon Roost Creek September 4: Indians attack Fort Harrison September 5: Indians attack Fort Madison September 6: Indians attack Fort Wayne September 16: Americans fail in capturing batteaux convey at Toussiant Island of the St. Lawrence River September 21: American attack and capture village of Gananoque in the Thousand Islands area October 9: Two British schooners captured off Fort Erie; small skirmish near Fort Erie October 13: Battle of Queenston Heights and death of Brock and Macdonnell November: Royal Navy blockades South Carolina November 27: US attacks the outlying fortifications of Fort Erie November 28: U.S. invasion attempt at Frenchman's Creek repulsed. December 18: Battle of Mississnewa December 26: Royal Navy expands blockade to Chesapeake and Delaware Bays	January 19: British storm Ciudad Rodrigo, Portugal April 6: British repulsed at Badajoz, Spain June 24: Napoleon invades Russia July 22: Wellington's famous victory at Salamanca August 13: British Army enter Madrid September 7: Battle of Borodino September 14: Napoleon enters Moscow September 19: Napoleon begins retreat from Moscow October 21: British give up siege of Burgos, Spain. November 29: Napoleon's shattered army exits Russia .
1813
	June 19: de Rottenburg becomes Lt. Governor of Upper Canada December 13: Drummond becomes Lt. Governor of Upper Canada	January 19: Skirmish at the River Raisin. January 22: British victory at Frenchtown. January 23: Massacre of US wounded at River Raisin February 6: U.S. raid on Brockville on the St. Lawrence River. February 22: British capture Ogdensburg, NY as retaliation for Brockville attack. March 30: British naval blockade extended from Long Island to the Mississippi April 15: US army occupies West Florida April 27: U.S. troops attack and burn York (Capital of Upper Canada). May 26: Britain's Royal Navy extends blockade to cover additional states May 25: U S. bombards and destroys Fort George. May 27: U.S. troops capture Fort George; British troops retreat toward Burlington. May 29: British fail to capture Sacket's Harbor. June 1: H.M.S. Shannon defeats U.S.S. Chesapeake tows her captive into Halifax, Nova Scotia. June 6: British victory at Stoney Creek. June 7: British victory at 40 Mile Creek; U.S. retire to Fort George. June 22nd Skirmish at Norfolk June 24: Capture of US forces at Beaver Dams. July 8: Battle of Ball's Farm. July 11: British raid on Blackrock. July 20: U.S. victory at Goose Creek. July 27: Engagement at Burnt Corn July 31: British victory at Burlington Heights. August 2: British attack Fort Stephenson. August 8: U.S.S. Hamilton & Scourge sunk. August 24: Prevost leads attack on U.S. piquets ou George; U.S.decline large scale engagement August 30: Attack at Fort Mims September 9: British Fleet on Lake Erie defeated and capture by US under Perry. October 1: US army under Hampton cross frontier south of Montreal and skirmish with Canadian piquets October 5: British defeated at Moraviantown; (Battle of the Thames) Tecumseh killed October 26: American invasion attempt at Chateauguay repulsed November 3: Battle of Tallushatchee November 9: Battle of Talladega November 11: American defeat at Chrysler 's Farm. December 10: U.S. army abandons Fort George and burns town of Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake). December 18-19: British capture Fort Niagara in night attack; capture and burn Lewiston and surrounding villages December 20: British begin to lay waste to the East Niagara River area in retaliation for the burning of Newark. December 31: British capture Blackrock	June 4: armistice between France and Russia, and Prussia June 21: Wellington's decisive victory over the French at the Battle of Vitoria July 21 to August 1: Battles of the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain ending in British success August 10: armistice ends between France and Russia and Prussia August 12: Austria declares war on France August 31: British storm San Sebastien, Spain October 16-18: Napoleon defeated at the Battle of Leipzig marking the beginning of the end for his reign. November 10: Battle of the Nivelle with the British invading France
1814
	April 14:US repeals embargo and non-importation laws August:US public credit collapses and banks suspend specie payments August 8: Peace negotiations begin in Ghent and Great Britain offers initial peace terms August 9: US and Creek nation sign the Treaty of Fort Jackson October 21:British offer peace on the basis of 'uti posseditis' November 27: Britain drops the 'utis posseditis' December 15:Hartford Convention- US adopts additional internal taxes December 24: Treaty of Ghent signed to end war.	January 22: Battle of Emuckfau January 24: Battle of Enotachopco March 27: Battle of Horseshoe Bend April 25: Royal Navy extends blockade to New England May 6: British capture Oswego. May 30: British blockade extended to include New England. May 31: U.S. victory at Sacket's Harbor. July 13: U.S. capture Fort Erie. July 5: U.S. defeat British at Chippewa. July 18: U.S. troops burn St. Davids. July 19: British capture La Prairie du Chien. July 25: Battle of Lundy's Lane - both sides claim victory August 13-14: British begin siege of Fort Erie. August 24: British burn Washington. September 11: US repulse British at Battle of Plattsburg and defeat British on Lake Champlain Sept. 13-14: Siege of Fort McHenry (Battle of Baltimore) - "Star Spangled Banner" is inspired by British mortars and rockets. September 17: British assault fails against Fort Erie. December 23: Initial skirmishes around New Orleans	March 31: Allies enter Paris April 6: Napoleon abdicates April 10 to 12: British take Toulouse May 30: British Infantry march to Bordeaux to set sail for North America; First Treaty of Paris signed. October 3: Congress of Vienna opens unofficially
1815
	February 8, 1815: News of Peace first arrives in North America. March 1, 1815: General Prevost is officially notified of Peace at Quebec.	January 8, 1815: Battle of New Orleans.	March 1: Napoleon lands in France from Elba

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