Event Free and Open to the Public Thursday, March 29

(COLUMBIA, Tenn., March 20, 2012) - - - In 1812, the United States of America declared war on the British Empire. Shaping the future of American and British relationships, political fortunes of notables of the day, the expansion of the United States into the Northwest Territories, the ending of the prospect for an independent Indian Confederacy, and the use of naval power as a military strategy, the war changed the American landscape.

Britain, fighting in the American theater of war and battling Napoleon in France may scarcely remember the War of 1812, but for Americans, it was a time of great drama as the British army captured and burned Washington, DC in August of 1814; as the Battle of Baltimore (1814) gave inspiration for the Star Spangled Banner, the national anthem; and the Creek Nation was destroyed by General Andrew Jackson.

On Thursday, March 29 at 7 p.m. in Room 122 of the Lawrence County Campus of Columbia State Community College, faculty will tackle some of the results of the War of 1812. History Professors Greg Mewbourn, Jan Price de la Mer, Jim Senefeld and Barry Gidcomb will tackle topics such as the political careers that were influenced by the War, the Battle of Tippecanoe and the naval strategies of the War, including those taking place in the Great Lakes. The famous Battle of New Orleans, perhaps the one best known from this war took place after the treaty ending the War of 1812 had been signed. However, the perception that the Americans won the war sealed the future of its General, Andrew Jackson.

The event is free and open to the public.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest higher education system in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.

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