Chapter 10, Section 3

 Jefferson wanted the U.S. to seek friendship of all nations but have “entangling alliances with none.”  His desire to keep the U.S. out of conflict with other nations was doomed from the start.

 In 1803, yet again war broke out between France and Britain.  The U.S. tried to stay out of the war, but Britain begin to capture any ship bound for France, and the French stopped all ships bound for Britain.  Britain had a shortage of sailors, so Britain begin to use a policy of impressment- or kidnapping, of American merchant sailors.  Between 1803 and 1812, the British impressed about 6,000 American sailors.

 Instead of declaring war, Jefferson asked Congress to stop all foreign trade.  Jefferson described this policy as “peaceable coercion.”  In 1807, Congress passed the Embargo Act of 1807, which forbade American ships from sailing to foreign ports.  Also closed American ports to British ships.  The policy harmed the U.S. more than I did France and Britain.  Farmers and manufacturers lost key markets for their products.

 Since the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794, Native Americans had continued to lose their lands to white settlers.  Tecumseh, a Shawnee chief, vowed to stop this.  William Henry Harrison, governor of the Indian Territory, sighed the Treaty of Fort Wayne- the sale of more than three million acres of land- with chiefs of the Miami, Delaware, and Potawatomi Tribes.  Tecumseh declared the treaty void, should have the agreement of all tribes.

 In late 1811, William Henry Harrison's forces defeated the Shawnee.  Following defeat, Tecumseh sided with the British in Canada.  Tecumseh's welcoming in Canada increased anti-British feelings in the west.

 By 1812, more and more Americans were calling for war against Britain.  War Hawks- those who supported the war.  Finally on June 18, 1812, President James Madison asked congress to declare war o Britain.

 Britain concentrated its war on France.  Spent little energy in North America.  Blockaded the American coast.  Gave time for the U.S. to increase and strengthen its navy.

 Most important U.S. Navel victory took place on Lake Erie.  In September 13, 1813, a small British force set out to destroy a new American navel fleet.  For two hours, British and American ships exchanged cannon fire.  American Commodore Perry soon forced the British to surrender.  The British fled to Canada, where they were later defeated at the Battle of Thames in Oct  Tecumseh died in battle, fighting for the British.

 The second phase began after the British defeated Napoleon in Europe in April  Britain's army and navy were now set to attack the U.S.  In August 1814, British forces neared Washington, D.C..  President Madison and other officials fled the city.  Dolly Madison refused to leave the White House, staying behind to rescue important objects.

 The British burned the White House and the Capital building.  Then moved on to attack Fort McHenry in Baltimore.  Dolly Madison as able to save the full length portrait of George Washington.

 Commander of Fort McHenry requested a flag “so large that the British will have no difficulty in seeing it.”  Francis Scott key, an American lawyer, detained on a British ship, watched the all-night battle.  At dawn, Key saw that the flag was still flying with triumph.  He expressed his pride in a poem that is known as “The Star-Spangled Banner” It had later become the American national anthem.

 The British began to move in on the port of New Orleans.  In December 1814, dozens of ships carrying 7,500 British troops approached the coastline of Louisiana.  Under the command of Andrew Jackson, the Americans had organized an army.

 January 8, 1815, British forces attack Jackson’s forces.  Using the earth to build defenses, the American army fended off advancing British troops.  American casualties totaled 71,000 compared to Britain's 2,000.  It was a great victory for Jackson.  Jackson had become an American hero!!!

 The Treaty of Ghent showed that the War of 1812 had no clear winner.  No territory changed hands, and trade disputes remained unresolved.  No side made any significant gains.  Andrew Jackson & Oliver Hazard Perry were claimed heroes, increasing American patriotism.  The American victory also increase optimism about the nation's future.