During a time period between 1803-1812 British sailors had been tormenting American ships on the high seas. British captains would eventually take over and capture over 10,000 American citizens to man British ships. In June of 1807, three miles off the coast of Virginia, an American ship named the Chesapeake was commanded by a British ship named the Leopard to be boarded. When the Chesapeake refused to cooperate, the Leopard fired, killing three and wounding eighteen. This humiliated the United States and its people. The anti-British frame of mind was in full swing on the eve of the upcoming election. In 1812, James Madison was elected President of the United States. Aggressive southern frontiersman known as the Warhawks dominated Congress. The group included Kentuckian Henry Clay as Speaker of the house and South Carolinian John C. Calhoun. These men and others rejected Thomas Jefferson’s strategy of peaceful coercion. These speakers could ignite a crowd and stir up aggressiveness towards the British. They would talk of the humiliation and how America shouldn’t have to put up with it. They were pressuring Madison to do something. Congress wanted Madison to invade Canada and attack the Indians who had been tormenting homes on the frontier. Madison finally succumbed to their wishes and declared war on the British June 1, 1812. The timing of his actions seemed odd as over the last few months actions against each country seemed to have been at ease. There had been no new attacks on the high seas and at the time Madison called for war, British Government was suspending the Orders in Council. This was an appeasing gesture that in all likelihood would have preserved the peace.

Madison never really wanted the annexation of Canada; he was merely pushed into the decision. There were three attempts to invade Canada and they all failed. Toronto, the