THE WAR OF 1812

                The war of 1812 was obviously in 1812. It was in a lot of ways the strangest war the US history. President Harry S Truman called the war “the silliest d*** war we ever had.” 

                In 1776, the US declared its independence by signing the Declaration of Independence.  In 1783, the US defeated the British in the Revolutionary War and won. On June 18, 1812, the US declared war on Britain. On July 16-19, 1812, the USS Constitution outran a squadron of British ships. On August 16, 1812, the Americans in Fort Detroit surrendered. On August 19, 1812, the USS Constitution defeated the British ship Guerriere. On September 10, 1812, Perry defeated the British on Lake Erie. On October 5, 1812, Harrison defeated the British and Indian forces on the Thames River in Canada.

                On March 27, 1814, Andrew Jackson defeated the Creek Indians at Horseshoe Bend in Alabama. On August 24, 1814, the British seized and burned Washington, D.C. On September 13, 1814, the British bombarded Fort McHenry near Baltimore. On December 24, or Christmas Eve of 1814, the Americans and the British signed the Treaty of Ghent in Belgium. It was a very happy Christmas.

                On January 8, 1815, Andrew Jackson led the Americans to victory over the British in New Orleans. On February 17, 1815, President James Madison declared the War of 1812 officially over.