War of 1812 WebQuest

The War of 1812

Our national anthem began as a poem celebrating a battle during the War of 1812. The song is better known than the war. What was the fight about? Why would a country as young as ours become involved in another war against Britain?

*Note - some of the questions may have to be looked up in different areas or may have to be interpreted from what you read on the site I linked.  

Visit http://amhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/the-war-of-1812.aspx

• Why was the United States irritated with the British?

• Why did the War Hawks want to go to war?

• How did the war go for America in 1812–1813?

• What happened to Washington, D.C., in 1814?

• Describe Andrew Jackson's victory in New Orleans.

• Explain the practice of impressment.

• What did Thomas Jefferson hope to accomplish by passing the Embargo Act?

Now go to http://amhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/ It tells about the writer of "The Star-Spangled Banner." 

• Who was Francis Scott Key and why did he go to Baltimore?

• What inspired him to write "and the flag was still there"?

• When was Key's poem adopted as our national anthem?

Now go to: http://www.navy.mil/local/constitution/visitors.asp.

• Why can the USS Constitution be called a national ship?

• Why was she important to the War of 1812?

• Why was she nicknamed "Old Ironsides"?

Now go to: http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/outlines/history-1990/the-formation-of-a-national-government/second-war-with-england.php

•  How many warships did the British Navy own?
• Who became president in 1609?
• What two areas were most upset by the Embargo Act?
• Why did some sailors desert the British navy and end up on American vessels?

Now go to: http://www.nps.gov/pevi/historyculture/battle_erie_detail.htm

• What did the Indians want created south and west of Lake Erie?
• Why did Americans dislike the British support of the Indians?
• Who was the Indian Chief that pressed for unification of the tribes?
• Who was the leader of the War Hawks?
• By 1812, how many American vessels had the British captured?

Now go to: http://www.history.com/topics/war-of-1812

• List the THREE causes of the War of 1812.
• 1.
• 2.
• 3.

Now go to: http://www.tcha.mus.in.us/battlehistory.htm

• Which side won the Battle of Tippecanoe?
• Who was the American commander at Tippecanoe?

Now go to: http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/naval/p/War-Of-1812-Commodore-Oliver-Hazard-Perry.htm

• What was Commodore Oliver H. Perry’s famous quote at the Battle of Lake Erie?

Now go to: http://history1800s.about.com/od/americanwars/tp/1814washingtonburns.htm

• Who was the British General that attacked Washington D.C.?
• What did the British do to the Capitol building, the White House, and various other federal buildings?

Now go to: http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h2499.html

• When did the British finally defeat Napoleon?
• What fort was the key to Baltimore’s defense?
• How long did the British bomb the fort?
• What is the other name of the War of 1812?
• What inspired Francis Scott Key to write the National Anthem?
• How many stars are on the flag above Ft. McHenry?

Now go to: http://www.history.com/topics/treaty-of-ghent

• When was the Treaty of Ghent signed?
• What did the treaty say about conquered territory?
• When was the Battle of New Orleans?
• Why did the Battle of New Orleans occur after the peace treaty was signed?
• Who became the hero of the Battle of New Orleans?
• If Americans heard about the Treaty of Ghent and the Battle of New Orleans at the same time, who did the Americans think won the War of 1812?

Extension ActivityMake an illustration of the Star-Spangled Banner on the back of this sheet.