1. A Time of Conflict
Chapter 7, Lesson 3

2. Americans in Foreign Seas
Though sailing was very dangerous many Americans livelihoods depended on trade with foreign nations.
In 1785 The Empress of China (American Ship) returns from China with profitable tea and silk that sells for a great profit.
Ships from New York, Philadelphia, and New England begin going to China and India regularly, even going to South America, Africa, and Mediterranean lands.
The war between France and Britain (mid 1790s) allowed for safer passage since many of their ships decided to stay at home.
By 1800, the U.S. had almost 1,000 merchant ships trading around the world.

3. Barbary Pirates
Sailing wasn’t always safe though, especially in the Mediterranean.
Had to be careful for pirates from Tripoli and other Barbary Coast states of North Africa where Barbary Pirates had been terrorizing the region for years.
They demanded tribute (protection money) from European governments to let their ships pass safely.

4. War With Tripoli
The United States also had to pay tribute for safe passage but at one point it was not enough.
In 1801, The ruler of Tripoli demanded more money but President Jefferson refused and as a sign of war, Tripoli’s ruler chopped down the flagpole of the American consulate (an official appointed by the government of one country to look after its commercial interests and the welfare of its citizens in another country.)
Jefferson sent the American fleet and blockaded Tripoli but were not powerful enough to defeat them and the conflict continues.
In 1804, the pirates seize the U.S. Warship Philadelphia and tow it to the Tripoli Harbor.
Stephen Decatur, a 25 year old U.S. Navy Captain sneaks into the heavily guarded harbor and destroys the ship to prevent its use by the pirates.
Negotiations end the conflict in 1805 and the U.S. no longer had to pay tribute, but was ransomed $60,000 for release of the American Prisoners.

5. Freedom of the Seas
Jefferson wins reelection in 1804 receiving 162 electoral votes to only 14 votes attained by Charles Pinckney (Federalist).
His second term begins with the nation at peace, but Britain and France were already at war that threatened American trade.
Now it was challenged at sea by the two most powerful nations in Europe.

6. Neutral Rights Violated
America had enjoyed prosperous trade with Britain and France when they went to war in 1803.
As long as they remained neutral, shippers could continue doing business.
A nation not involved in a conflict had neutral rights (the right to sail the seas and not take sides.)
American shipping continued to prosper until 1805, when they two nations lost patience with American neutrality.
Britain blockaded the French coast and threatened to search all ships trading with France.
France later announced it would also search and seize ships caught trading with Britain.

7. American Sailors Kidnapped
The British needed sailors for their navy but conditions in it were terrible.
Poorly paid, poorly fed, and badly treated.
Many would desert, and the British navy often used force to get them back.
They claimed the right to stop American ships at sea and search for any deserters.
Impressment – The practice of forcing someone to serve in the navy.
While many of those taken were British sailors, many native-born and naturalized American citizens were taken.

8. Attack on the Chesapeake
Often, the British would wait for American ships outside an American harbor.
In June 1807, off the coast of Virginia, the British warship the Leopard, intercepts American vessel Chesapeake.
It demanded to search for British deserters but the Captain refused, resulting in the British opening fire and killing 3, wounding 18, and crippling the American ship.
When Americans heard the news of what happened, they reacted with an Anti-British fury not seen since the Revolutionary War.
Secretary of State James Madison called the attack an outrage and many others demanded war on Britain.
Jefferson did not intend to go this action unanswered, but wanted a different course of action other than war.

9. A Disastrous Trade Ban
Given Britain’s practice of impressment and is violation of America’s neutral rights, Jefferson banned some of the trade with Britain.
After the attack on the Chesapeake leads to a stronger measure.
The Republican congress passed the Embargo Act.
Embargo – prohibits trade with another country.
Though Britain was the target, it banned all imports to and exports from any foreign country. (Jefferson wanted to prevent Americans from using other countries as go-betweens in the forbidden trade.)
Jefferson and Madison hoped to hurt Britain while avoiding war believing Britain relied on American agricultural products but was more disastrous to American commerce.
It proved ineffective and Britain simply got agricultural goods from Latin America.
On March 1, 1809 Congress repealed the embargo act and instead enacts the Nonintercourse Act. (Prohibited trade with Britain, France, and any colonial possessions it had.
It was no more popular or successful than the previous act.

10. Jefferson Leaves Office
Jefferson followed Washington’s precedent, announcing he would not to run for a third term in mid-1808.
The republicans choose James Madison as their candidate for President.
Once again, the Federalists choose Charles Pinckney, hoping that the resentment over the embargo act would help them winning most of New England, but receiving little support else where.
Madison wins with 122 electoral votes to Pinckney’s 47 votes.

11. War Fever
Madison did not take office under the best of conditions and was still caught up with issues over the embargo crisis.
Britain continued to claim the right to stop American ships.
Cries for war with Britain grew louder.

12. Closer to War
In 1810, Congress passes a law permitting direct trade with Britain or France, depending on which country first lifts the ban on America.
Napoleon jumps on the opportunity and promised to end Frances the restriction.
Unfortunately for Madison and his administration, they had been tricked and the French continued to seize American ships, selling them, and pocketing the proceeds.
Americans became divided as it seemed they were on the verge of war but was Britain or France the enemy?
Despite knowing he had been tricked by France, Madison still felt that Britain was the bigger threat.

13. Frontier Conflicts
While dealing with the difficulties with European powers, more issues arose out West.
Ohio had become a state in 1803.
Between 1801 and 803 white settlers continued to press for more land in the Ohio Valley, of which had been given to the Native Americans by treaty.
Native Americans began to renew contacts with British agents and fur traders in Canada.
Tecumseh – Powerful Shawnee chief who built a confederacy among Native American nations in the Northwest.
He believed that this along with help from the British in Canada could stop white movement onto Native American lands.
He spoke powerfully on how the treaties with the U.S. were worthless.
“The Great Spirit gave this great island to his red children.” meaning no one nation had the right to give it away.

14. Frontier Conflicts
Tecumseh had a powerful ally in his brother, known as the Prophet.
The Prophet urged all Native Americans to return to the customs of their ancestors and give up customs learned from the white settlers (drinking alcohol, using firearms, wearing western clothing, etc.)
He established a town near present-day Lafayette, where the Tippecanoe and abash Rivers meet known as Prophetstown.
He founded this town for the huge following he had of Native Americans.

15. A Meeting with Harrison
The American governor of the Indiana Territory, William Harrison becomes concerned with the power the two Shawnee brothers had attained.
He writes a letter to Tecumseh saying the British informing him that the British can barely defend themselves and there were more American troops than all the Indian Nations put together.
Tecumseh meets personally with Harrison informing him that despite asking for peace they taken land, and have influenced the Natives to do harmful things, as well as keep them separate.

16. The Battle of Tippecanoe
Battle of Tippecanoe (1811) - Harrison attacks Prophetstown during Tecumseh’s absence.
He was in the South expanding his confederacy.
After more than two hours, the Prophet’s forced were forced to retreat.
The battle was proclaimed a glorious victory for the Americans and had given the nickname “Tippecanoe” to Harrison which he used when he ran for president in 1840.
The battle resulted in Tecumseh joining forces with the British, which provided guns to the Natives.

17. War Hawks
Madison was faced with demands for a more aggressive policy toward the British.
The most insistent voices came from a group of Young Republicans elected to the Congress in 1810, known as the War Hawks.
They were from the South and West and pressured the President into declaring War against Britain.
Although they wanted to avenge the British actions against Americans, they also wanted to expand the nation’s power
Their Nationalism (loyalty to their country) appealed to a renewed sense of American patriotism.
The leading members of the War Hawks were Henry Clay (Kentucky) and John Calhoun (South Carolina) who were both in their 30s.
Hunger for land heightened war fever.
Westerners wanted to move north into the forests of southern Canada while the Southerners wanted control of Spanish Florida.

18. Declaring War
Madison concludes that war is inevitable with Britain in 1812.
He asked congress for a declaration of war.
The British had already decided to end their policy of search and seizure on American ships but, due to the amount of time it takes for news travel across the Atlantic, Washington (Our Capitol) did not know in time, and the war had already begun to start.