The Burning of Washington DC: A British Invasion During the War of 1812

The War of 1812, a conflict between Great Britain and the USA, was sparked by British interference with American trade and the impressment of British crew members from American merchant ships. The US declared war on Great Britain in 1812, but initial invasions of Canada were unsuccessful. After Napoleon’s defeat in 1814, British troops were sent to North America, leading to a diversionary campaign in the Chesapeake Bay Area, which ultimately resulted in the burning of Washington DC.

The British Invasion

Major General Ross led 4,500 experienced troops, fresh from the Peninsula War, to accompany a landing, with Admiral Coburn, who had spent 17 months attacking American ships and coastal settlements. Coburn had no love for the Americans and wanted to burn the whole city, but Ross spared civilian properties, only burning public buildings in Washington. The British force was sent to take the war to the Americans, but first had to deal with the Chesapeake flotilla, a naval response led by Commodore Joshua Barney.

The Battle of Bladensburg

The British army marched towards the capital, encountering a hastily assembled but poorly trained American army at Bladensburg, just outside of Washington. The British were impressed by the fighting zeal of their allies, who had captured a U.S artillery battery. The British Army, accompanied by Royal Marine artillery with Congreve rockets, broke through the US militia, leading to a rout, with American forces fleeing through Washington without defending the capital.

The Occupation and Burning of Washington DC

The British occupied the city, facing minimal resistance, with the only armed opposition coming from snipers in a house, which was subsequently set on fire. British troops marched to the Capitol Building, raising the Union flag, after President Madison and his wife Dolly had fled, leaving behind a dinner setup that the British enjoyed before torching the presidential mansion. The presidential mansion and Senate building in the capital were set ablaze by the British, destroying 3,000 books from the Library of Congress and melting marble columns.

Destruction and Looting

Despite General Ross’s orders not to plunder or torch civilian property, there were reports of looting, with both British soldiers and local citizens to blame. The British soldiers found the presidential mansion had already been ransacked, and a thunderstorm and tornado caused more destruction, killing British soldiers and destroying private properties. The British departed, and locals looted the remaining buildings, ending a humiliating occupation of the US Capital by a foreign power.

Aftermath and Legacy

The British victory was hollow as they advanced on Baltimore, but the defenders had time to construct robust defenses, and the British suffered losses, including Major General Robert Ross. The defense of Fort McHenry prevented a naval attack, and the British army called off their attack and withdrew. The Battle of Baltimore was a US triumph, and it occurred while negotiators were meeting in Ghent, resulting in the Treaty of Ghent, which restored British-American relations to their pre-war status.

The burning of Washington DC marked the only time a foreign power has occupied the American capital. The event had significant consequences, including the reconstruction of the presidential mansion, which was painted white and became known as the White House. The British infantry regiments that fought in the Battle of Bladensburg and burned Washington DC later fought in other battles, including the Crimean War and the Boer War.

Key Facts and Figures

200 freed black slaves fought for the British as colonial Marines, serving in key battles, and after the war, they were disbanded and settled in Trinidad, where they were granted land and formed their own communities.
The British army consisted of various units, including Royal Marines, sailors, sappers, and colonial Marines, with over 4,000 escaped slaves joining the British lines.
The Congreve rockets used by the British could travel over 1,000 yards and were easier to transport than cannons.
General Ross ordered his soldiers not to plunder or torch civilian property, and those who disobeyed were punished, with one soldier shot and two others receiving 100 lashes for looting.

The burning of Washington DC was a significant event in American history, marking a turning point in the War of 1812 and leading to the signing of the Treaty of Ghent. The legacy of the event can still be seen today, with the White House standing as a symbol of American resilience and determination.

Key Vocabulary

Term	Definition	Example Usage
Impressment	The act of forcibly taking someone into military service, often used to describe the British practice of taking American sailors and forcing them to serve in the British Navy.	The impressment of American sailors was a major cause of the War of 1812.
Peninsula War	A conflict that took place from 1807 to 1814, in which British forces fought against Napoleon’s army in the Iberian Peninsula.	The British troops that invaded Washington DC were experienced veterans of the Peninsula War.
Congreve Rockets	A type of rocket artillery used by the British during the War of 1812, known for their range and ease of transport.	The British used Congreve rockets to attack American forces during the Battle of Bladensburg.
Colonial Marines	A unit of black soldiers who fought for the British during the War of 1812, composed of freed slaves and other African Americans.	The Colonial Marines played a key role in the British invasion of Washington DC.
Treaty of Ghent	A peace treaty signed in 1814, which officially ended the War of 1812 and restored relations between the United States and Great Britain to their pre-war status.	The Treaty of Ghent was signed while the British were still occupying Washington DC.
White House	The official residence and workplace of the President of the United States, which was rebuilt and painted white after being burned by the British during the War of 1812.	The White House has become an iconic symbol of American history and democracy.
War of 1812	A conflict fought between the United States and the British Empire from 1812 to 1815, sparked by issues such as impressment, trade restrictions, and British support for Native American resistance.	The War of 1812 was a defining moment in American history, marking a turning point in the country’s development as a nation.
Chesapeake Bay	A large estuary located on the eastern coast of the United States, which played a significant role in the War of 1812 as a key location for British naval operations.	The British launched a diversionary campaign in the Chesapeake Bay Area, which ultimately led to the burning of Washington DC.
Bladensburg	A town located just outside of Washington DC, which was the site of a key battle during the War of 1812, in which British forces defeated American troops and paved the way for the occupation of the capital.	The Battle of Bladensburg was a decisive victory for the British, allowing them to march on Washington DC and burn the city.
Fort McHenry	A fort located in Baltimore, Maryland, which played a crucial role in the War of 1812, as it withstood a British naval attack and inspired the writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner”.	The defense of Fort McHenry was a significant American victory, which helped to turn the tide of the war in favor of the United States.

Watch The Video

Washington Ablaze: When The British Set Fire To The Capital Of The USA 1814

Vocabulary Quiz

1. What does the term ‘impressment’ refer to in the context of the War of 1812?

A) The act of forcing American ships to trade with Britain
B) The recruitment of American sailors into the British Navy against their will
C) The invasion of Canada by American troops
D) The burning of Washington DC by British troops

2. Which of the following best describes the British force that invaded Washington DC?

A) A naval force led by Admiral Coburn with no experience in land battles
B) An army of 4,500 experienced troops led by Major General Ross, fresh from the Peninsula War
C) A group of colonial Marines who fought alongside American forces
D) A small contingent of Royal Marines with limited artillery support

3. What was the outcome of the Battle of Bladensburg?

A) The American forces emerged victorious, defending the capital against the British invasion
B) The battle was a stalemate, with both sides suffering heavy losses
C) The British Army broke through the US militia, leading to a rout and the occupation of Washington DC
D) The British forces were forced to retreat, abandoning their plans to invade the capital

4. What was the significance of the Treaty of Ghent?

A) It marked the beginning of the War of 1812 and the declaration of war by the US against Great Britain
B) It led to the British occupation of the American capital and the burning of Washington DC
C) It restored British-American relations to their pre-war status, ending the War of 1812
D) It resulted in the formation of a permanent alliance between the US and Great Britain

5. What was the legacy of the burning of Washington DC?

A) It led to the dissolution of the US government and the establishment of a British colony
B) It marked the beginning of a long period of conflict between the US and Great Britain
C) It resulted in the reconstruction of the presidential mansion, which became known as the White House, and stood as a symbol of American resilience
D) It had no significant impact on American history, being a minor event in the War of 1812

Answer Key:

1. B
2. B
3. C
4. C
5. C

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: The Use of the Past Perfect Tense

The past perfect tense is used to describe an action that occurred before another action in the past. It is formed using the auxiliary verb “had” + the past participle of the main verb. For example, in the sentence “The British troops were sent to North America after Napoleon’s defeat in 1814,” the phrase “after Napoleon’s defeat” implies that the defeat happened before the troops were sent. However, to explicitly show the order of events, the past perfect tense can be used: “The British troops were sent to North America after Napoleon had been defeated in 1814.” This tense is particularly useful in narratives like the one about the burning of Washington DC, where the timing of events is crucial to understanding the sequence of actions and their consequences.

Grammar Quiz:

1. By the time the British army marched towards the capital, the American forces ________ a hastily assembled but poorly trained army at Bladensburg.

had assembled
were assembling
assembled
would assemble

2. The British ________ the Union flag at the Capitol Building after President Madison and his wife Dolly had fled.

raised
had raised
were raising
raise

3. Before the British occupied the city, they ________ the Chesapeake flotilla, a naval response led by Commodore Joshua Barney.

had dealt with
dealt with
were dealing with
would deal with

4. The British victory was hollow because, by the time they advanced on Baltimore, the defenders ________ robust defenses.

had constructed
were constructing
constructed
would construct

5. The Treaty of Ghent was signed while negotiators ________ in Ghent, restoring British-American relations to their pre-war status.

met
were meeting
had met
would meet

Answer Key:

1. had assembled

2. raised

3. had dealt with

4. had constructed

5. were meeting