Chapter 11 section 2

Threats to American Trade Threats to American trade soon forced Jefferson to turn to foreign affairs. In 1801, Jefferson sent the navy to the Mediterranean Sea to stop attacks on American ships by Barbary Pirates. The American navy was too weak to defeat the pirates. Finally, in 1815, the American and European fleets united to destroy the pirate bases.

Barbary States The Barbary States are four states in North Africa that you must pass after entering the Strait of Gibraltar to enter the Mediterranean Sea. The four states are: Morocco (present day Morocco) Algiers (present day capital of Algeria) Tunis (present day capital of Tunisia) Tripoli (present day capital of Libya)

Barbary States

Barbary States (Today)

Barbary Raids

Strait of Gibraltar

Problems with Britain In the face of war between France and Britain, Jefferson declared the United States neutral. In spite of this, both France and Britain seized American ships heading for the other’s ports. The British also impressed American sailors. Impressed- when someone is forced to work in another nation’s navy

The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair In 1807 the Leopard, a British warship, stopped the Chesapeake, an American naval ship off the coast of Virginia. The British were looking for deserters. When the Chesapeake Captain James Barron explained there would not be any deserters on his ship, the British retaliated. The Leopard opened fire on the Chesapeake, killing or wounding 21 American sailors. The British found only one deserter aboard and promptly hung him. The Chesapeake-Leopard affair angered Americans about impressments that they demanded war. Instead, Jefferson proposed an embargo to force Britain and France to stop attacking American ships.

Chesapeake

Jefferson’s Embargo Embargo- a complete halt on trade Jefferson’s embargo policy did not prove effective though. Americans suffered more than France and Britain did. In 1809, just days before the end of his term, Jefferson ended the embargo and signed the Non-Intercourse Act. It said America could trade with any nation except France and Britain. Like the embargo, the Non-Intercourse Act was a failure. When this policy also failed a growing number of Americans saw war as unavoidable. The question was: War with France or Britain?

Election of 1808 In the presidential election of 1808, opposition to the embargo was an issue. Jefferson threw his support behind fellow Virginian James Madison. Madison easily won defeating Charles C. Pinckney James Madison 4 th POTUS Vice President-George Clinton

James Madison 4 th POTUS

George Clinton V.P.