American Sea Power: 1775 – 1812

Lesson Objectives Know significant milestones in the early history of the Navy and USMC including prominent leaders and their contributions Understand the role the US Navy played in US national strategies and policies during peacetime and war 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 2

Colonial Period (1492 – 1775) Colonization by the Europeans began soon after discovery of the New World Main countries involved included: – Spain, – Portugal, – Great Britain, – France, – Holland 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 3

Colonial Period (1492 – 1775) Mercantilism: – An economic system practiced by the colonizing European nations – Involved colonies supplying the mother country with valuable commodities and providing a protected market for manufactured goods – Goal was to enrich the mother country by protecting home industries, promoting economic self-sufficiency, and accumulating bullion 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 4

Colonial Period (1492 – 1775) Various trade routes developed – Reciprocal: between two locations – Triangular: between three locations North America primary source of raw materials including Naval stores (oak, pine tar, hemp) for England 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 5

Triangular Trade 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 6

Colonial Period (1492 – 1775) Increasing tensions between the Colonies and Great Britain: – Colonies grew to compete with the empire that nurtured it – British enacted additional laws to restrict colonial competition 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 7

Colonial Period (1492 – 1775) Navigation Act of 1651 – Designed to strengthen the British economy and weaken continental rivals – Restricted British colonial trade to British ships and British market – Examples of Cabotage Laws: trade or transport in coastal waters or between two points within a country 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 8

Colonial Geography 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 9

Seven Years’ War ( ) First true World War Nations involved: Britain, France, Austria, Prussia, Spain American Phase: called the French and Indian War Ended with Treaty of Paris in October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 10

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American Revolution: October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 12

American Revolution: Causes: – End of the Seven Years War (1756 – 1763) and the reassertion of British authority: – Revenue Act 1764 – Stamp Act 1765 – Townshend Acts 1767 – Coercive Acts - response to Boston Tea Party AKA Intolerable Acts – Boston Port Act – Massachusetts Government Act – Administration of Justice Act – Quartering Act – Quebec Act 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 13

American Revolution: Birth of the Navy and Marine Corps – Navy : Established October 13, 1775 – Marine Corps: Established November 10, 1775 – Primary Mission of the Continental Navy was commerce raiding – Too small for large scale conflict with British warships 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 14

American Revolution: Privateering: Government issued “Letters of Marque” to attack enemy merchant ships. – More effective than Continental Navy in commerce raiding 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 15

American Revolution: John Paul Jones – Most successful among Naval officers – Called “Father of the U.S. Navy” – Battle of Flamborough Head in 1779 As Captain of the Bonhomme Richard, defeated the HMS Serapis 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 16

Bonhomme Richard v. Serapis 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 17

Father of the U.S.Navy 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 18

American Revolution: Battle of Valcour Island, Lake Champlain (1776) – American sea power was indirectly involved in victory – British lack of naval strength on the Great Lakes forced delay of attack – As a result, Americans were better prepared, British more poorly supplied, allowing for an American victory in the Battle of Saratoga – Saratoga was the turning point in the Revolution 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 19

American Revolution: Battle of the Virginia Capes (1781) – British fleet arrived to support General Cornwallis – French fleet under Compte de Grasse met and defeated the British fleet – Without reinforcements, General Cornwallis was forced to surrender to General Washington at the Battle of Yorktown 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 20

American Revolution: October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 21

Bushnell’s “Turtle” 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 22

Decline of the Navy: After Revolutionary war, – Congress decided Navy was expendable luxury – Navy disbanded – By 1785, all warships sold, turned into merchant ships, or disposed of 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 23

Rebirth of the Navy: U.S. Constitution authorized Congress: – “to provide and maintain a Navy” Actual appropriations for the Navy did not come until: – Navy Act of 1794 – In response to the Barbary states 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 24

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Barbary Wars 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 26

Rebirth of the Navy: Barbary Wars – Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli – Barbary System involved paying tribute in order to avoid ships from being seized and crews being captured – Conflict ensued when states demanded more tribute 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 27

Barbary Wars 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 28

Rebirth of the Navy: Quasi -War with France (1798 –1800) – Congress never officially declared war – Response to Jay’s Treaty between U.S. and Britain – X, Y, Z affair – U.S. Navy proved a force to be reckoned with 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 29

Questions? 9 October 2015DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL SCIENCE 30