Lesson 3: A Time of Conflict
American Ships on the High Seas 1785 the ship Empress of China returned to NY from China The ship’s cargo of tea and silk sold for a great profit This inspired many more to sail to China and India, as well as South America, Africa, and lands along the Mediterranean Sea By 1800, the United States had almost 1,000 merchant ships trading around the world
Piracy on the Seas Piracy: robbery on the seas Pirates from Morocco, Algiers, Tripoli, and Tunis (North Africa, Barbary states) terrorized European ships sailing on the Mediterranean Sea These pirates demanded that governments pay tribute (protection money) if they wanted safe passage If not paid, the pirates attacked and imprisoned the crews
War with Tripoli The Barbary Pirates demanded tribute from the United States 1801 the ruler of Tripoli asked the U.S. for even more money Jefferson refused to pay, Tripoli declared war, Jefferson sent ships to blockade Tripoli 1804 Pirates seized U.S. warship Philadelphia and threw the crew in jail in Tripoli Stephen Decatur, 25 year old U.S. Navy Captain, snuck out and burned the ship so the pirates could not use it 1805 Peace treaty and war was ended…U.S. agreed to pay $60,000 for the release of prisoners and did not need to pay more tribute
American Trading on the Seas 1803 France and England went to war….again America enjoyed having neutral rights meaning its ships could sail the seas and not take sides However, by 1805, England and France were trying to block America from trading with the other country England once again started their practice of impressment, not only on their own citizens but American ones as well English ship Leopard stops and wants to board the American ship Chesapeake. American Captain refuses, British general opens fire and kills three Americans. Americans are outraged and demand war, President Jefferson did not want war
Embargo Act Passed December 1807 Embargo- prohibits trade with another country Was passed to retaliate against England for attacked the Chesapeake Embargo Act was a disaster It prevented trade with all foreign countries No ships could leave the harbor, unemployment rose in New England The South lacked a market for its cotton and tobacco England just went elsewhere to get their goods March 1809 the act was repealed and replaced with Nonintercourse Act (prohibited trade with just England and France)
Election of 1808 Federalists: Charles Pinckney Republicans: James Madison Outcome: Madison 122 electoral votes and Pinckney 47 votes
Broken Treaties When Madison became President he faced issues with France/England and issues in the West 1803 Ohio became a state and settlers wanted to take even more land in the West from the Native Americans Tecumseh, a powerful Shawnee chief, tried to build a confederacy of Native Americans in the Northwest Tecumseh wanted to halt white movement into Native American lands He said that treaties between the U.S. government and individual tribes was worthless He believed that no one tribe could give away land
The Battle of Tippecanoe Governor of Indiana Territory: William Henry Harrison Harrison attacked Prophetstown (Tecumseh’s brother’s village) while Tecumseh was trying to expand his territory After two hours of battle, the Prophet’s forces fled This was a victory for Americans The downside: Tecumseh joined forces with England
War! Warhawks: a group of young Republican Congressmen They supported increased in military spending and were driven by their hunger for land Their nationalism (loyalty to their country) appealed to many Americans The Federalists were strongly against war Spring 1812, Madison knew he could no longer avoid war with England England had already stopped seizing and searching American ships, but America did not get the message yet It was too late…war was declared