Treaty of Ghent Summary
The Treaty of Ghent, signed in December 1814, ended the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain. The treaty restored pre-war boundaries and marked the end of British support for Native American Indians in the Great Lakes Region. The war led to a rise in American nationalism and helped lay the groundwork for long-term peace between the U.S. and Britain.
Treaty of Ghent Facts
Dates
- December 24, 1814 — Treaty of Ghent signed.
- January 8, 1815 — Battle of New Orleans.
- February 14, 1815 — A copy of the treaty arrived in Washington, D.C.
- February 16, 1915 — Treaty ratified by the U.S. Senate.
- February 17, 1815 — James Monroe exchanged ratified copies with the British.
- February 18, 1815 — President James Madison announced the treaty.
People
- James Madison — 4th President of the United States.
- James Monroe — U.S. Secretary of State.
- American Commissioners — John Quincy Adams, Albert Gallatin, James A. Bayard, Henry Clay, Jonathan Russell.
- British Commissioners — Lord James Gambier, Henry Goulburn, William Adams.
Details
- The Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812 between the U.S. and Britain.
- It restored pre-war boundaries without resolving impressment or neutral trade issues.
- Britain abandoned its Native American Indian allies after the war.
- The war increased American nationalism.
- American Symbols like the “Star Spangled Banner” and “Uncle Sam” were created during the war.
Purpose
The purpose of the Treaty of Ghent was to end the War of 1812, restore peace between the U.S. and Britain, and resolve critical issues that caused the war.
Treaty of Ghent Significance
The Treaty of Ghent is important to American history because it ended the War of 1812. The provisions returned occupied territories to the U.S. and led to a stronger sense of American nationalism, known as the “Era of Good Feelings.” Although the treaty did not resolve key issues like the British Impressment of American Sailors, it did enough to start the U.S. and Britain down a path of long-term peace. The British also ended their support for Native American Indians living in the Northwest Territory, which encouraged American pioneers to move westward.
Treaty of Ghent History
War of 1812 Causes
Europe was at war in the early 19th Century, and the United States tried to remain neutral. This angered Great Britain and France, both of whom had treaties with the U.S.
- Treaty of Alliance — The Treaty of Alliance with France was signed on February 6, 1778. It created a military alliance between the United States and France against Britain, and France agreed to provide support for American forces in the War for Independence. The treaty was negotiated by Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee.
- Jay’s Treaty — Jay’s Treaty (1794) was an important treaty between the United States and Great Britain that helped ease tension between the two nations. Widely criticized in America, the treaty was beneficial to Great Britain but helped the United States avoid war.
Tensions in Europe led President George Washington to issue his Proclamation of Neutrality (April 22, 1793). This contributed to the French Neutrality Crisis, which led to the XYZ Affair and the Quasi-War, during the Presidency of John Adams.
When Thomas Jefferson was elected President, he inherited the difficulties with Britain and France but avoided hostilities.
By 1812, both Britain and France attempted to block U.S. trade with their enemy. President James Madison asked Congress for a Declaration of War and made a case for war with both nations but favored war with Britain. Congress agreed, and the U.S. declared war, based on:
British Impressment of American Sailors — Ships in the British Royal Navy would stop American ships and bound for French ports, searching for British subjects. In many cases, Americans were identified as having fled the service of the Royal Navy and were forced to join the crews of British ships. The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair (1807) nearly brought the two nations to war over the impressment issue.
British Support for Tecumseh’s Indian Confederacy — As American settlers pushed into the Old Northwest after the American Revolution, the Shawnee chieftain Tecumseh formed a confederation of tribes. Tecumseh’s Confederacy carried out raids on American Settlements in the most significant Indian attacks in the region since Pontiac’s Rebellion. Americans were convinced the British instigated the attacks, contributing to the Battle of Tippenanoe (November 7, 1811). The American victory, led by William Henry Harrison, led Tecumseh to form an alliance with the British.
The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair (1807) — The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair was a naval incident that occurred in 1807 between the United States and Great Britain. The incident involved the British warship HMS Leopard, which fired on and captured the American frigate USS Chesapeake. The incident, which took place during the Napoleonic Wars, caused outrage in the United States and contributed to the tensions between the two countries that eventually led to the War of 1812.
Although the U.S. declared war on Britain, it maintained its neutrality with France and did not form an alliance.
Czar Alexander I Offers Peace Negotiations
Soon after the War of 1812 started, Czar Alexander I of Russia offered to help the United States and Great Britain resolve their differences. By the spring of 1813, Albert Gallatin and James A. Bayard joined John Quincy Adams, the Minister to Russia, in St. Petersburg. Despite the presence of the American commissioners, the British failed to send their own delegates.
The American War Effort Struggles
Despite enthusiasm for the war, American military forces struggled at first but eventually gained victories, especially on the Great Lakes and at sea..
- The U.S. believed it could easily conquer Canada, but Canadians resisted, and efforts failed.
- British forces won the Battle of Bladensburg on August 24, 1814, and then burned the Capitol and White House in Washington, D.C.
- U.S. successes included naval battles on the Great Lakes and General William Henry Harrison’s victory at the Battle of the Thames.
Britain and Napoleon
In May 1814, European allies (Russia, Prussia, Saxony, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) defeated Napoleon, exiling him to Elba. With this victory in the War of the Sixth Coalition, the British were able to reallocate military resources to the war with the United States. However, by the end of the year, rumors were rampant that Napoleon was orchestrating a return to France.
Negotiations at Ghent
Due to this threat, British officials decided to end the war with America. Peace talks were arranged to be held in Ghent, Belgium, which was under British control.
Henry Clay, a rising star in American politics, and Jonathan Russell joined the American delegation for the peace talks.
The delegations agreed to the provisions of the treaty on December 24 (Christmas Eve), 1814.
- The treaty did not address impressment, a cause of the war.
- Britain wanted a barrier state in the Old Northwest for their Indian allies, but the U.S. refused.
- The Great Lakes were demilitarized.
- Britain also wanted to keep parts of Maine and other American territory, but the U.S. refused
- U.S. and British boundaries in North America were restored to their pre-war locations.
Battle of New Orleans
While the Treaty of Ghent was making its way to the U.S., General Andrew Jackson and his army were entrenched in New Orleans. British forces attacked on January 8 and were soundly defeated. As news of the victory spread, word also came that the war was over. A wave of Patriotism swept over the United States, initiating the “Era of Good Feelings.”
Ratification of the Treaty of Ghent
The first copy of the Treaty of Ghent reached Washington on February 14, 1815.
- Three days later, the Senate unanimously approved it.
- At 11:00 p.m. on February 17, Secretary of State James Monroe exchanged ratifications with the British Minister.
- By the next morning, President Madison officially announced the treaty.
On March 1, 1815, Napoleon returned to France, forcing the British to focus on preparations for the War of the Seventh Coalition.
Effects and American Reaction
- The Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812 by restoring the status quo antebellum (pre-war conditions).
- Many Americans were unhappy because they felt the war did not resolve key issues with Britain.
- The treaty essentially declared the war a draw, which was better than a defeat for the U.S.
- After the treaty, Britain stopped supporting Native American nations in the Great Lakes region.
- The withdrawal of British support opened the Great Lakes and Northwest Territory to more American settlements.
New England Resistance and the Hartford Convention
The war was unpopular in some areas of the U.S., particularly in New England and with members of the Federalist Party. Despite hostilities, New England merchants continued trading with British merchants.
In the fall of 1814, Massachusetts called for a meeting of the New England States. The delegates, mainly Federalists, gathered in Hartford, Connecticut, in December for the Hartford Convention, which lasted until early 1815.
The members produced a document that outlined the grievances of the New England states and a list of recommendations for amending the Constitution. Following the convention, rumors spread that the delegates threatened secession from the Union.
Post-War American Nationalism
Following Jackson’s victory at New Orleans and the signing of the Treaty of Ghent, there was a significant rise in American Nationalism. This period is known as the “Era of Good Feelings.”
Although it was relatively short-lived, important symbols of American Patriotism were established, including the National Anthem and the fictional character, “Uncle Sam.” The character is linked to Samuel Wilson, a meat packer from Troy, New York, who helped supply American forces during the war.
Treaty of Ghent APUSH
Unit 4: 1800–1848
- Topic 4.2 — The Rise of Political Parties and the Era of Jefferson
- Topic 4.4 — America on the World Stage
American Pageant Notes
- Chapter 11 — Triumphs and Travails of the Jeffersonian Republic (1800–1812)
- Chapter 12 — The Second War for Independence and the Upsurge of Nationalism (1812–1824)
Treaty of Ghent Vocabulary
These terms and definitions provide more context for students studying the Treaty of Ghent.
Events
- Chesapeake-Leopard Affair — A conflict where British forces killed American sailors aboard the USS Chesapeake.
- Battle of New Orleans — A major battle of the War of 1812, fought after the Treaty of Ghent was signed due to slow communication.
Places
- Chesapeake Region — A region near Washington, D.C., where the British invaded during the War of 1812.
- White House — The U.S. President’s residence, repainted after British forces burned it during the War of 1812.
Topics
- Blockade — The British attempt to prevent trade and supplies from reaching the U.S. coast.
- Coalition — An alliance of countries working together for a common goal, such as the one that defeated Napoleon.
- Demilitarized — Removal of military forces from a region.
- Impressment — The act of forcibly taking sailors into military service, often a cause of conflict between the U.S. and Britain.
- Neutrality — The policy of not taking sides in a conflict.
- Secession — The act of withdrawing from a nation or union.
- Status Quo Antebellum — A Latin term meaning “the way things were before the war,” used to describe the peace conditions after the War of 1812.
- War Message — President Madison’s request to Congress to declare war on Britain in 1812.
