A Time of Conflict Section Three

A) Americans Ships on the High Seas

U.S. Overseas Trade In the early 1800s, a great deal of the U.S. economy revolved around our overseas trade. We benefited from the war between Great Britain and France, whose ships stayed home to avoid being attacked. The U.S. fleet at this time was over 1,000 merchant ships.

Tripoli & the Barbary Coast In the Mediterranean Sea, pirates from Tripoli and the Barbary Coast demanded tribute to allow U.S. ships to sail by. Jefferson refused and the leader of Tripoli declared war on the United States.

Tripoli & the Barbary Coast Barbary Pirate

U.S. Blockade of Tripoli In response, Jefferson set up a blockade of Tripoli, but it was not strong enough. In 1804, pirates seized the U.S. warship Philadelphia and towed it into the Tripoli Harbor and threw the crew into jail.

Stephen Decatur & the Philadelphia Stephen Decatur, a 25 year old Naval Captain, took action. He rowed into the port of Tripoli and set the Philadelphia on fire so the enemy would not have access to our ship. He was hailed as a hero and praised for his deed as the “most bold and daring act of the age.” In 1805, Tripoli agreed to stop asking for tribute after the U.S. paid $60,000 in ransom for our sailors. That is no longer the policy – no ransoms.

Election of 1804 In 1804, Jefferson easily won re-election against Charles Pinckney.

U.S. Neutral Rights The United States enjoyed neutral rights in the war between France and Great Britain and were safe to sail as long as they did not join or help out in the war.

British Impressment By 1805, both France and Britain began to stop and seize ships they believed were helping the enemy. At the same time, the British Navy began the impressment of American sailors while looking for British sailors who deserted.

U.S.S. Chesapeake vs. H.M.S. Leopard In 1807, the British ship Leopard fired on the U.S. ship Chesapeake when it would not allow them to board. Several Americans were killed and the ship was crippled.

Embargo Act This political cartoon from 1807, created by Alexander Anderson, addresses the displeasure with Thomas Jefferson's Embargo Act throughout the northern United States. The cartoon depicts a smuggler being bitten by an American snapping turtle called "Ograbme." The name is a play on the word embargo (backwards). Jefferson did not want to go to war, but also needed to respond to Britain’s attacks so he passed the Embargo Act to stop U.S. trade with any other foreign nations. This led to smuggling and hurt the United States economy.

Nonintercourse Act When the Embargo Act failed, the Non-intercourse Act was passed to stop the United States from trading with France and Britain only. They could trade with other nations.

Jefferson Steps Down In 1808, Jefferson decided not to run for re-election and steps down from office. James Madison easily defeated Charles Pinckney for the Presidency.

B) War at Home and Abroad

Election of 1808 Madison became President during a very difficult time in the United States. The economy was poor and war was looming.

Madison’s Dilemma or Congress passed a law allowing the U.S. to trade with either France or Britain, whoever ended their attacks on Americans first. France did, but took advantage of the deal. Madison still viewed Britain as the main enemy even though France had been deceptive.

Ohio Territory In Ohio, American settlers began moving into land promised to Native Americans.

Tecumseh Shawnee Chief Tecumseh created a strong alliance with other Native American tribes (with British influence) to remove Americans from this land.

The Prophet Tecumseh’s brother, The Prophet, encouraged Native Americans to give up their “white way” of life.

Gen. William Henry Harrison General William Henry Harrison warned Tecumseh that resisting was futile, but Tecumseh said he had no choice. Harrison defeated the Shawnee in the Battle of Tippecanoe.

Battle of Tippecanoe

British Interference Tecumseh joined the British in Canada. Many Americans wanted to take Canada from the British.

War Hawks Madison had to deal with the War Hawks led by Henry Clay and John Calhoun in Congress. They demanded war with Britain for the impressment and Native American issues. They also thought the “spirit of nationalism” would make the U.S. stronger.

Madison Asks for War In 1812, Madison decided to ask for war with Britain. It turns out the British had stopped impressing soldiers but Madison did not get the news until it was too late. Many Americans wanted war to take Canada from Britain and Florida from Spain.