A Young Nation Jefferson, Expansion, Exploration, and War

Election of 1800: Adams vs. Jefferson Candidates engaged in a letter writing campaign to leading citizens and newspapers. Jefferson who believed in freedom of religion was accused of being “godless”. Adams was accused of only supporting the wealthy and wanting to bring back a monarchy.

Election of 1800: Adams vs. Jefferson Jefferson narrowly won and became the 3rd President of the United States.

Laissez-faire French term meaning “let people do as they choose.” Jefferson believed deeply in this idea and limiting the size and power of the federal government.

The Western Frontier In 1800 the U.S. only stretched east as far as the Mississippi River. The Louisiana Territory west of the Mississippi belonged to Spain.

The Western Frontier Spain allowed American trade ships to sail on the lower Mississippi and trade in New Orleans.

The French Threat In 1802, the Spanish suddenly stopped allowing American ships to pass New Orleans. Spain had secretly agreed to transfer the Louisiana Territory to France.

The French Threat Napoleon who at that time was conquering much of Europe had plans of establishing an American Empire.

The Louisiana Purchase By 1803, Napoleon’s plan of an American Empire fell apart with the fall of Santa Domingo where he planned to have a naval base. Napoleon now had little use for the Louisiana Territory and he needed money to finance his wars in Europe.

The Louisiana Purchase The French agreed to sell the territory to the U.S. for a price of $15 million dollars. 828,000 square miles The size of the U.S. gained control of the Mississippi River and the our size doubled.

The Louisiana Purchase

Lewis and Clark Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were commissioned by President Jefferson to explore the Louisiana Territory. The expedition would document findings about the territory’s plants and animals and recommend sites for future forts.

Lewis and Clark The expedition was also to search for the fabled “Northwest Passage” or pathway to Asia. The expedition left St. Louis in the spring of 1804 going up the Missouri River.

Lewis and Clark A young Native American, Sacagawea joined the group as a guide. After 18 month the group reached the Pacific Ocean. Their expedition inspired others to move west.

France and Britain at War In 1803 France and Britain went to war. American merchants had prosperous trade connections with both countries.

France and Britain at War The U.S. did not get involved in the conflict and had neutral rights, or the right to sail the sea and not take sides.

France and Britain at War By 1805 however both Britain and France lost patience with the U.S. neutral position and both began to seize ships trading with the enemy.

Britain needs Sailors The British were in desperate need for sailors for their naval war. The British routinely practiced impressment, or forcing sailors of captured ships to serve in the British Navy.

Attack on the Chesapeake In 1807 a British warship stopped the Chesapeake, an American trade ship. The British demanded searching the ship but the Chesapeake captain refused and the British opened fire killing three crew members.

Attack on Chesapeake Americans were outraged and now demanded war with Britain. The attacks had stirred a new sense of nationalism, or loyalty to one’s country or American patriotism.

War Hawks By 1810, James Madison had been elected President and faced strong pressure to declare war on Britain.

War Hawks The War Hawks were a group of young Republicans led by Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun.

War Hawks The War Hawks were primarily from the West and South and supported more military spending and were driven by a desire for more land. Federalists remained opposed to war.

Declaring War By 1812 Madison saw no other course than war with Britain. Madison became the first President to asked Congress for a declaration of war.

Declaring War However, by the time the U.S. declared war on Britain, Britain had changed its policy on searching American ships. But the war machine had already begun.

The War of 1812 or was it? The U.S. had declared war, but Britain was much too occupied with Napoleon and France to react to it. The true war is not fought until 1814.

Attack on Washington D.C. In August of 1814 the British land near Washington D.C. and quickly take the city. The British proceed to burn the capitol building and president’s mansion (or the White House).

Attack on Washington D.C. On August 25, a tornado roars through the heart of Washington putting out many of the fires and actually forcing the British to retreat. The British never set foot in Washington again.

Baltimore holds Firm In September the British attempted to capture the city of Baltimore by taking Fort McHenry. The British launch a brutal assault but the fort stood.

Baltimore holds Firm Francis Scott Key views the bombardment and writes “The Star Spangled Banner”

British defeated After the defeat at Washington and Baltimore, the British decide that the war was too costly and unnecessary to continue.

British defeated The British had defeated Napoleon in Europe and fighting the U.S. offered little gain and was not worth the effort.

Treaty of Ghent In December of 1814, American and British representatives met in Ghent, Belgium to sign a peace agreement to end the conflict.

Battle of New Orleans Before word of the peace agreement could reach New Orleans one final battle took place. American troops led by Andrew Jackson awaited an assault by British troops.

Battle of New Orleans On January 8, 1815, the British attacked but the Americans were well fortified and the British suffered hundreds of casualties.

Battle of New Orleans

Battle of New Orleans The victory made Andrew Jackson a hero and led to him eventually becoming President.