The United States Faces Foreign Problems

Problems with Europe France went to war with Spain and Great Britain in The US wanted to remain neutral Neutral = not taking sides

Adams elected 2nd president John Adams was elected the 2nd president in Thomas Jefferson came in 2nd so he became the vice- president.

Alien and Sedition Acts Adams did not like getting criticized and that’s what the Democratic- Republicans were always doing. Sedition Act – Speaking out against the government became illegal. (Kind of a violation of the First Amendment don’t you think) Alien Act – extended the duration of residence required for aliens to become citizens to 14 years. authorized the president to deport any resident alien considered "dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States.” authorized the president to apprehend and deport resident aliens if their home countries were at war with the United States of America.

Problems with France Adams faced problems with France. They were attacking American merchant ships. Many Americans wanted to go to war with France but Congress would not declare war. Congress still wanted the U.S. to be neutral.

Presidential election of 1800 Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic- Republican ran against President Adams, a Federalist in the election of The main issues of the campaign were free speech and the size of government. Jefferson won because many people had begun to not trust the Federalists.

Thomas Jefferson as President Jefferson believed that government should be as small as possible. He thought that under the Federalists, the government had spent too much money. Jefferson spent much less money and he lowered taxes.

The US doubles in size In 1803, Napoleon, the leader of France needed money to fight the war against England. France owned a large amount of land in North America. They offered to sell it to the U.S.

The Louisiana Purchase France wanted to sell the Louisiana territory to the US for 15 million dollars. In 1803, President Jefferson agreed to buy the land, doubling the size of the US.

The Louisiana Purchase

Problems with Great Britain and France In 1803, France and Great Britain went to war again. Both countries put up blockades along the coasts. They did this to stop merchant ships from coming in or going out. Blockade=shutting off of a port by the enemy to prevent passage in or out

Impressment The British started boarding American ships and forcing them into the British navy. This was called impressment. Many Americans wanted to go to war with Great Britain over this.

James Madison becomes president In 1809, James Madison became the fourth president. He asked Congress to declare war against Great Britain for the impressment of American citizens.

The War of 1812 begins On June 12, 1812, Congress declared war on Great Britain. The war was fought in Canada and the United States. In 1814, the British invaded Washington D.C. and burned the Capitol and the White House. As a result, more Americans joined the war effort.

The war ends The war would continue until On January 8, 1815, the Americans led by Andrew Jackson defeated the British army at the Battle of New Orleans. The war accomplished almost nothing, but it did create a feeling of patriotism in the United States. Many people felt that the War of 1812 was the Second American Revolution.