Journal #29

1. Journal #29 • Impressment – forcing people to serve in the army or navy • Embargo – the banning of trade, usually against another country

2. The Coming of War and the War of 1812 10.3 and 10.4

3. Danger on the High Seas • The state of Algiers was one of several North African lands known as the Barbary States • These countries practiced piracy and held foreign citizens for ransom – the pirates are called Barbary Pirates • Many countries, including the U.S. paid the Barbary States to protect their ships and citizens • The U.S. Navy is eventually sent to end the pirate raids

4. More Trouble on the High Seas • When Great Britain and France go to war in 1803 • They both want to stop the U.S. from supplying the other side • Britain passes an act allowing their navy to search and seize ships going to France • France declares that nobody can ship goods to Britain • The British and French capture many American ships, the British look for sailors who left the British navy and make them return to their ships • 1807 – the British Leonardstops and opens fire on the U.S. Chesapeake

5. A Trade War • How should the U.S. respond to Britain’s violation of our neutrality? • War? • Embargo? • Jefferson and the Republicans favored an embargo – in 1807 they pass the Embargo Act – which bans foreign trade • The Embargo Act was meant to punish Britain and France but it hurt American merchants instead – the Federalists gain power • Congress replaced the unpopular law with the Non-Intercourse Act in 1809 • Banned trade with Britain and France • Stated that the U.S. would start trading with the first side that stopped violating U.S. neutrality – AKA taking our ships

6. Problems on the U.S. Frontier • Disagreements between Britain and the U.S. went further than the issue on the seas • In the early 1800s, thousands of American settlers were entering the Northwest Territory • Native Americans were upset – the U.S. had gained much of this land from the Treaty of Grenville • Many Indian leaders had not agreed to this treaty • Britain wanted to control the growth of the U.S. – they give military aid to American Indians on the frontier

7. Tecumseh • Shawnee chief who was one of the most influential and talented Indian leaders of the early 1800s • Skilled military leader and public speaker • “Where are the once powerful tribes of our people? They have vanished before the greed and oppression of the white man, as snow before a summer sun.” ~ Tecumseh • Tecumseh wanted to unite the tribes of the Northwest, South, and eastern Mississippi Valley with the help of his brother – the Prophet • Tecumseh created a village for his followers near the Wabash and Tippecanoe Rivers

8. War on the Frontier • William Henry Harrison – governor of Indiana Territory believed that Tecumseh was a serious threat the America • Harrison and Tecumseh met face to face in 1810 – they did not come to an agreement • Tecumseh travels south to the Creek nation • While Tecumseh is gone, Harrison attacks the village of Tecumseh’s followers • Harrison’s soldiers win the Battle of Tippecanoe and destroy Tecumseh’s village – Tecumseh and the Prophet lose support

9. Battle of Tippecanoe

10. The War Debate • People in the U.S. were angry with Britain • War Hawks were members of Congress who favored war against Britain • Henry Clay of Kentucky • John C. Calhoun of South Carolina • War Hawks wanted to defend the countries honor and add land to the U.S. • New England Federalists were against the war – they wanted to renew friendly business ties with Britain • Others were worried that our military was too weak to fight the powerful British

11. A Declaration of War • James Madison, a Republican elected in 1808, faced many difficult decisions as president • In a speech to Congress in 1812, Madison complains about Britain’s conduct and asks Congress to decide what to do • Representatives of the southern and western states vote for war – many states in the northeast vote for peace • The War Hawks win and war is declared against Britain in 1812, weeks later Madison is re-elected

12. The War of 1812 10.4

13. The First Battle of the War • In August 1812 the USS Constitution met the British Guerriereoff the coast of Canada • The Constitutions first cannon blast rocked the Guerriere like “the shock of an earthquake” • When the British returned fire a cannonball bounced off the side of the Constitution • The Constitution’s victory shocked many people • The British had hundreds of ships – the U.S. less than 20

14. U.S. Advantages on the Seas • The U.S. paid privately owned ships to attack British merchant ships • Most of the British navy was scattered around the globe • The newly built U.S. ships were well built and carried more cannons than British ships • Eventually the British bring more ships to America and blockade American seaports

15. The Canadian Border • The U.S. wanted to invade Canada with 3 separate armies • Before they get there the British and Indians led by Tecumseh capture Fort Detroit • The British take over the Great Lakes by the end of 1812 • In 1813, the U.S. strikes back by burning the Canadian capital York – they want to take back Lake Erie also

16. The Battle of Lake Erie • Captain Oliver Hazard Perry builds a small fleet of ships and sails out to meet the British on Sept. 10, 1813 • The Battle of Lake Erie lasted more than three hours, before the British surrendered • This victory gives the U.S. new hope

17. The Battle of the Thames • October 1813, General Harrison’s U.S. troops catch up to the British near the Thames River in Canada • The U.S. troops charge into the British and Indian force, the British retreat – the Indians do not • Eventually Tecumseh is killed – weakening the Indian British alliance around the Great Lakes • This battle broke the British power on the Northwest frontier and secured the U.S./Canada border

18. The Battle of Horseshoe Bend • In 1813 Creek Indians led by chief Red Eagle begin to attack the U.S., destroying Fort Mims in Alabama • Andrew Jackson, a general in the Tennessee militia led his soldiers south to fight the Creek • In 1814, Jackson attacks the main creek base in Alabama at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend • Jackson won a convincing victory, causing Red Eagle to surrender and the Creek to give up millions of acres of land

19. The British on the Offensive • Even though the U.S. was winning in the West and South, in the East the U.S. was in danger • The British had defeated the French in 1814 and sent more troops to the U.S. • They had the Atlantic blockaded and moved to attack Washington D.C.

20. Washington D.C. is Burned • James Madison and his advisors are forced to flee • Dolly Madison stayed behind long enough to save a famous portrait of George Washington • The British set fire to the White House and other government buildings in Washington • Payback for York in Canada

21. The Attack on Fort McHenry • After burning Washington, the British move on to Baltimore, Maryland which was guarded by Fort McHenry • The British fleet shelled the fort for 25 hours but the Americans refused to surrender – the British retreat • Francis Scott Key witnessed the attack on Fort McHenry and wrote the words to “The Star-Spangled Banner”

22. The Battle of New Orleans • After the attack on Washington and Baltimore the British launch an attack on New Orleans • They wanted to take control of the Mississippi River • Andrew Jackson was in control of U.S. forces around New Orleans • The Battle of New Orleans began on January 8, 1815 – 5,300 British attacked Jackson’s 4,500 • The British began marching toward the U.S. troops under the cover of fog – suddenly the fog lifted • The British troops were killed with frightening speed – the British suffered 2,000 casualties while the U.S. suffered 70

23. The War of 1812

24. Ending the War • Before the Battle of New Orleans, New England Federalists gathered at Hartford, Connecticut in 1814 • This is known as the Hartford Convention – the Federalists opposed the war, some wanted to withdraw from the U.S. • Before the Federalists reached Washington, news broke that the Treaty of Ghent had been signed in December 1814 – before the Battle of New Orleans