Deck 5: The Second War of Independence

Question 1

All of the following were reasons given by James Madison in his speech to Congress calling for a declaration of war against Great Britain, EXCEPT

A) British support for Spanish designs on New Orleans.
B) British impressments of American sailors.
C) British seizure of American ships.
D) Britain's presumed role in agitation of the western Indian tribes.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

In the War of 1812, what was the key to breaking Canada?

A) control of the St. Lawrence River
B) control of the Great Lakes
C) control of the eastern cities
D) simultaneous attacks to spread the small military too thinly to resist

Answer 2

A

Question 3

What was the American strategy in the west?

A) Capture western Canada in the hopes that the east would collapse.
B) Gain control of the Great Lakes to stall Canadian freedom of movement.
C) Capture eastern Canada in the hopes that the west would collapse.
D) Close off the St. Lawrence River to prevent reinforcements coming to Canada from Great Britain.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Why was Major General William Hull's invasion of Canada destined for failure?

A) Hull's plans were revealed after his papers were discovered aboard a captured transport.
B) Tecumseh had already infiltrated the region.
C) General Isaac Brock placed spies within Hull's ranks.
D) The British had already sued for peace with America.

Question 5

With efforts in the west ending in failure, where did the U.S. turn their attention?

A)eastward against eastern Canada
B)southward against the Indians
C)to the Atlantic and the British Navy
D)towards a negotiated settlement

Question 6

What did Secretary of War John Armstrong's plan for 1813 propose?

A) separate Kingston from Montreal
B) to capture Montreal
C) to avenge the defeat at Queenston
D) seize York

Question 7

All of the following forced Major General Henry Dearborn to abandon his campaign against Canada EXCEPT

A) dangerous terrain.
B) poor recruitment.
C) disease.
D) poor discipline among the militia.

Question 8

How did the defense of Sackett's Harbor by militia Major General Jacob Brown against an assault by Governor General of Canada Sir George Prevost end?

A) American victory
B) American defeat
C) a draw
D) a British victory they were unable to exploit

Question 9

Who replaced Henry Dearborn after the latter's failure to successfully invade Canada in 1813?

A) James Wilkinson
B) Wade Hampton
C) Winfield Scott
D) Jacob Brown

Question 10

The Red Sticks were members of what tribe?

A) Creek
B) Cherokee
C) Choctaw
D) Chickasaw

Question 11

Who was the British general in command of the assault on Washington and later Baltimore?

A) Robert Ross
B) William Winder
C) Edward Pakenham
D) James Monroe

Question 12

How did Andrew Jackson become a national political figure?

A) His victory at the battle of New Orleans
B) His defeat of the Creeks
C) His defense of Mobile Bay
D) His Revolutionary War service

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the sentiment of Winfield Scott in the aftermath of the War of 1812?

A) The American military would not survive without greater professionalism.
B) Although bureaucracy hindered America's military, no changes were needed.
C) A professional standing army should be replaced by local militias.
D) Career soldiers should be replaced by temporary personnel to improve morale.

Question 14

What is the term for Winfield Scott's system of maintaining small skeletal units in peacetime that could be rapidly expanded in wartime?

A) expansible army concept
B) dual-army system
C) dual-force system
D) instant army concept

Question 15

How effective did the U.S. Army prove as a force for national defense at the outbreak of the War of 1812? What factors contributed to the condition of the institution?

Question 16

What were the major deficiencies of the American approach to the war in the Old Northwest? Were these planned or accidental? Explain.

Question 17

Why did American attempts in the Niagara region fail in 1812? Were there any successes? If so, what were they and who was responsible for them?

Question 18

What weaknesses in the American war effort did the campaign of 1813 expose? Were these addressed? If so, how? If not, why not?

Question 19

How did the Creek War fit in to American war goals in the War of 1812, if at all?

Question 20

Since the Battle of New Orleans occurred after the official end of the conflict, why is it accorded so much significance?

Question 21

What did the battles of 1814 achieve in the west strategically? Did they demonstrate anything significant?

Question 22

What were the British goals in the west in 1814? How did the outcome of the battles of Plattsburgh undermine these plans?

Question 23

Though the United States gained nothing concrete from the Treaty of Ghent, did it benefit from the War of 1812? How?

Question 24

How did Winfield Scott work to reform the Army in the aftermath of the War of 1812? How did this lead to general acceptance of the expansible army concept? What effect did European military thought exert upon military professionalization in America?