The year is 1812. The British have built their navy to more than 700 warships and have nearly 150,000 sailors and marines. This massive force is controlling the sea, blocking French ports (Britain is currently at war with France) and protecting British commerce.

The men of the British fleet are living under bad conditions and Britain is finding it difficult to obtain and keep crews. Many sailors are deserting to U.S. ships. Because of this, British officers are now searching American ships and taking off British people, to the great humiliation of the Americans. Moreover, British officers frequently get American seamen to work for them and not The U.S. Naturally, The U.S. are not happy about this.

In December 1807 President Jefferson relied on economic pressure to force the British to back down. He passed the Embargo Act, forbidding all foreign commerce.... The embargo failed.Since then America has a new president, James Maddison. However, American exports have fallen to one-fifth of what they were and shipping interests have almost been ruined by the act. The agricultural industry is also suffering and prices have dropped quickly because the farmers cannot export their surplus grain, cotton, meat and tobacco. The Americans hoped that the embargo would starve Great Britain and make them change their minds but this has not worked.

The US is preparing for war with Britain. The US has fewer than 7,000 regular soldiers, scattered widely along the coast, near the Canadian border and in the remote interior. These soldiers need to be supported by the undisciplined armies of the states.

QUESTIONS

Britain has the advantage because they are more powerful. T/FJeffersons strategy worked.T/FThe U.S. army needs reinforcements.T/FThe embargo was an aggressive move. T/FThe U.S. are at war with France.T/FU.S. exports have dropped 20%T/FBritish sailors are unhappy in their job.T/FAmerica has a shortage of food.T/FThe French are blocking the British ports.T/F

NEGOTIATION

Team A:

President James Madison has asked you to negotiate a peace treaty with Britain. It is up to you to avoid war.

You need guarantees that Britain will not harm US shipping interests; Britain must not stop American ships for any reason and must apologize for removing sailors from American ships and offer compensation.

Finally, Britain must protect American settlers from Canadians and property carried off by British soldiers during the Revolution should be paid for.

Things to consider:

Great Britain is at war with France at the moment, you are not. You need to trade internationally or the countrys economy will be destroyed. England are stronger and could probably win a war against you. You have lots of food and could sell it cheaper. If there was a war it would be in America. The British have the support of the Canadians, you want to control Canada. During The revolution British soldiers stole a lot of Americas property.

In your groups you must agree what your plan of action will be. Remember, war should be the last option and you should think about the future of your country.

QUESTIONS

Britain has the advantage because they are more powerful. T/FJeffersons strategy worked.T/FThe U.S. army needs reinforcements.T/FThe embargo was an aggressive move. T/FThe U.S. are at war with France.T/FU.S. exports have dropped 20%T/FBritish sailors are unhappy in their job.T/FAmerica has a shortage of food.T/FThe French are blocking the British ports.T/F

NEGOTIATION

Team B:

British Parliament has chosen you to negotiatewith the Americans.

In order to avoid war, you must receive a guarantee that America will trade with Britain but not with France.

The Americans must also promise not to move north into Canada. Also America should stop seeking compensation for cargo and sailors taken from American shipsand items stolen during the Revolutionary War.

Things to consider:

You are at war with France. War is expensive. You are a long way from Britain and reinforcements may take a year to arrive. You dont want America to trade with the France The U.S. want to move into Canada, Britain own Canada and have the support of the Canadians. You control the seas and could stop all of Americas trade if you wanted. Great Britain has become rich because of international trade, if international trade drops so will the economy of your country. U.S. food prices have dropped considerably.

In your groups you must agree what your plan of action will be. Remember, war should be the last option and you should think about the future of your country.The War of 1812 was fought between the British Empire and the United States from 1812 to 1814 on land in North America and at sea. More than half of the British forces were made up of Canadian militia (volunteers) because British soldiers had to fight Napoleon in Europe. The British defeated the attacking American forces. In the end, the war created a greater sense of nationalism in both Canada and the United States.The WarSome people in the United States wanted to maintain their independence. Some people also wanted to expand into Canadian territory. The war began, when the United States started to attack the Canadian provinces in 1812 and 1813, but the borders were successfully defended by the British. The final battle of the war took place in January of 1814. The British attacked New Orleans and were beaten by the Americans and General Andrew Jackson. The battle took place after the peace treaty had been signed. It was during this war that a poem was written by an American soldier, Francis Scott Key. The poem was used as the new national anthem for the United States: "The Star Spangled Banner."PeaceThe War of 1812 ended in 1815 even though the signing of the Treaty of Ghent, which was supposed to end the war, happened on Dec 24, 1814, in Belgium. Both sides thought they had won, but no great changes took place. News of the peace treaty did not reach the US until after the battle in New Orleans in January 1815.

The year is 1812. The British have built their navy to more than 700 warships and have nearly 1._______ sailors and marines. This massive force is controlling the sea, blocking French ports (Britain is currently at war with France) and protecting British 2.________.

The men of the British fleet are 3.______ under bad conditions and Britain 4.____ finding it difficult to obtain and keep crews. 5._____ sailors are deserting to U.S. ships. 6._______ of this, British officers are now 7.________ American ships and taking off British people, to 8._____ great humiliation of the Americans. Moreover, 9._______ officers frequently get American seamen to work for them and not The U.S. 10.________, The U.S. are not happy about this.

In December 11._____ President Jefferson relied on 12.________ pressure to force the British to back down. He passed the Embargo Act, forbidding all foreign commerce.... The embargo 13.________.Since then America has a new president, James Maddison. However, American 14.______ have fallen to one-fifth of what they were and 15._______ interests have almost been ruined by the act. The agricultural 16.______ is also suffering and prices have dropped quickly because the farmers cannot export their surplus grain, cotton, meat and tobacco. The Americans hoped that the embargo would 17.______ Great Britain and make them change their 18.______ but this has not worked.

The US is preparing for war with Britain. The US has fewer than 7,000 regular soldiers, scattered widely along the 19.______, near the Canadian border and in the remote interior. These soldiers need to be 20._______ by the undisciplined armies of the states.