War of 1812 and Beyond

European Background to War France and Great Britain fight to control Atlantic Ocean sea trade Result: U.S. caught in middle Rights as a neutral nation violated by “impressment”

Impressment By 1807, high desertion rate in British navy – many desert to join U.S. merchant marines British Navy declares its right to stop any U.S. merchant marine vessel They would take any British subject and impress into British Navy – Americans were also being seized

Neutrality Problems Jefferson (2 nd Term): problems protecting American neutrality Embargo Act (1807): Stopped all U.S. exports until British/French interference with U.S. ships ceased did not change British policy caused a deep economic depression in U.S. Embargo Act was repealed in 1809 Replaced by Non-Intercourse Act: allowed trade with all countries except Britain/France (Repealed 1810)

U.S. Background to War Jefferson promotes white settlement of Native American territory (IN, IL, OH, MI, GA, TN, MS) Tries to have Indian tribes fight one another – this works as these areas become more populated with whites

Indian Resistance Tecumseh: Young Shawnee Chief Envisioned Indian Confederacy strong enough to keep whites out of their lands – Unsuccessful Battle of Tippecanoe with Indians, backed by Britain, start cries for war “War Hawks” in Congress start agitation (Henry Clay & John C. Calhoun)

War Begins!! Britain turned full attention to America after war with France ended Naval superiority by Britain took control of Chesapeake Bay and Washington D.C. Started fires in D.C. – even the White House and Capitol were destroyed

A Moving War A lawyer witnessed the bombing of Fort McHenry, which guards the Baltimore Harbor He watched from a high bluff overlooking the harbor and wrote a world-famous poem The lawyer’s name: Francis Scott Key

Star Spangled Banner Oh say can you see by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hail at the twilight's last gleaming. Whose broad strips & bright stars, through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming. And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

War Ends!! Treaty of Ghent No one wanted this war British realized couldn’t win Formal agreement to end war Battle of New Orleans Two weeks after treaty – slow communication Stunning victory for U.S. – Gen. Andrew Jackson Restored nation’s confidence – Nationalism!!

Results of War Second War of Independence Britain’s hopes of regaining U.S. is over U.S. industry and economy booms Blockade by Britain forces U.S. to rely on its own industries Slavery becomes a hot topic

Missouri Compromise 1819 Congress began debating Missouri as a state Slavery was the issue Northwest Ordinance of 1787 No state northwest of Ohio River could be a slave state – Missouri is an exception

Why Concerned? Increase power of slave states in Senate Southern states feared if federal government could restrict slavery in one state, they could in others

Debate Results Slavery allowed in Missouri Maine, which was originally part of Massachusetts, would be admitted as a free state States north of N Latitude would be free states

Missouri Compromise