- Ohio History in 2000 Words
- Mound Builders
- Native Ohioans
- The Ohio Company
- Ohio's Wood Forts
- Indian Wars
- War of 1812
- Ohio's Canals
- Ohio's Road
- Scenic Railroads / Museums
- Underground Railroad
- Civil War in Ohio
Painting by Dennis Malone Carter
By December a number of things had changed that would effect the terms of the treaty negotiations in Ghent for both sides. Even at this point the British still held out hopes that additional concessions could be gained once the American Yankees learned that the British had captured New Orleans. This in fact did not materialize. Although the British greatly outnumber American forces, under the command of Andrew Jackson, the Americans soundly defeated the British. This would be a crushing defeat for the army that had just recently defeated Napoleon. It would also be a springboard for an American general that would later place him in the White House.
News of the battle that would be fought in New Orleans would not play a part in the final negotiations. In fact, at the time that battle was fought, the Treaty of Ghent would already have been agreed to and signed by both the American and British delegations. That would be 4 months later. In August the British were still quite confident they could force the Americans to surrender.
As the negotiations continued throughout the fall, it became increasingly apparent that neither side was willing to budge. First the Americans and Europeans learned that the British had burned President Madison's executive house forcing his wife to flea for her life as she carried a portrait of George Washington to safety along with some of the silver before British soldiers rode their horses through the front doors. Not only did this anger the American negotiators, but it also turned public opinion against the British for what seemed to be a barbaric attack against another nation's capital. In time even the British newspapers began to publish articles that became increasingly negative towards this act of war. Then news arrived that the British navy had been repulsed in its attack against the port of Baltimore and still even more bad news arrived in Europe that the British plan to invade New York state had failed after they were soundly defeated by an American naval force on Lake Champlain.
As this news was beginning to be realized by the negotiators, the British decided it was time to change their operating instructions. Prior to this point the British negotiators in Ghent were receiving timely instructions from London. It was decided that the Duke of Wellington who had after defeating Napoleon and exiling him, become the British ambassador to France, would give his advice to the British negotiators on how best to proceed.
Using his highly acclaimed military experience, the Duke of Wellington (Arthur Wellesley) advised the negotiators to reach an immediate settlement. Great Britain had already lost the Battle of Lake Erie the previous fall, failed to destroy Washington D.C., failed to capture Baltimore, failed to put a major force in New York, and had just recently learned that the Native Americans on the western frontier, had signed a treaty with the Americans. They were in no position to force a surrender of the Americans and their best and only hope was to establish a lasting border between the United States and Canada, with the hope that if British could take New Orleans in January, additional terms could be arranged.
In effect the outcome of this treaty was a turning back of the clock to 1811 as if the war between the United States and Great Britain had never happened. As far as the many Native American tribes, President Madison ordered gifts and goods to be sent to all of the Native American tribes, both friend and foe alike. The following summer some 6000 Native Americans met just north of St. Louis where these gifts were distributed and treaties were signed saying that all past conflicts were forgiven and forgotten. Those in attendance mostly accepted these treaties, except for those few that had traveled to the meeting from Ohio. Those coming from Ohio and other parts east of the Mississippi knew first hand that American treating were more often than not, worthless.
The treaty negotiated between the British and Americans that was signed on Christmas Eve in 1814 and ratified by the United States congress in February the following year also rolled back to the way it was in 1811 with the exception of the definition of borders between the United States and Canada, a border that has been honored peacefully by both sides ever since. The one exception was that involving what is today known as North Bass Island. Before the war, this island had a dual ownership. Connecticut included the island as part of their Western Reserve. Great Britain claimed the island belonged to them and was named St. George's Island. After the War of 1812, it was definitive that North Bass Island was now part of the United States and the State of Ohio.
Signing of the Treaty of Ghent. Admiral of the Fleet James Gambier is shaking hands with the U.S. Ambassador to Russia, John Quincy Adams. Also, the British Undersecretary of State for War and the Colonies, Henry Goulburn, is carrying a red folder. December 24, 1814. Painting by Amédée Forestier.
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