ACOS #10: Describe events between 1803 and 1860 that led to the expansion of the territory of the United States ACOS #10a: Trace expeditions of Lewis and Clark in the American West, including the role of Sacagawea ACOS #10b: Identify the purpose of the Monroe Doctrine. ACOS #11: Explain causes of and major events occurring during the War of ACOS 11a: Locate on a map major areas of conflict in the War of 1812, including Washington, DC

Prosperity – economic success and security. Nationalism – a devotion to one’s country. Foreign policy – a government’s actions toward other nations.

 In the early 1800’s, Britain and France were at war.  President Jefferson wanted the United States to stay neutral so they could continue to trade with both countries.  Britain started raiding American ships looking for British sailors. Sometimes in the raids, they would capture American sailors and make them serve in the British navy.  This ‘impressment’ caused American and Great Britain to become enemies.

 In 1810, a group in Congress, the War Hawks, began calling for war against Britain.  The War Hawks were angry for 2 reasons:  Britain impressing American sailors into their navy and because  American Indians continued to fight settlers on the frontier and the War Hawks suspected the British were supplying the Indians with weapons.

 He was a Shawnee chief who wanted to unite all the American Indian nations west of the Appalachian Mountains.  Tecumseh and his brother, the Prophet, wanted to keep the settlers away.  Tecumseh and nearly 1,000 followers lived near the Tippecanoe River in Indian Territory.  William Henry Harrison thought the Indians were a threat.  Harrison and Tecumseh, along with their followers had a battle at Tippecanoe.  After the battle, Tecumseh went to Canada to join the British against the settlers.

Remember what you learned about Tecumseh and his brother,the Prophet, last year in Alabama History. They came into Alabama and “fired up” the Creek Indians. This led to the Creek Indian War. The Red Sticks wanted war, like Tecumseh. The White Sticks wanted peace with the settlers. The Massacre at Fort Mims was a result of the Creek Indian War.

 On June 18, 1812, Congress declared war against Britain.  The United States wanted to stop the impressment of American sailors.  They also wanted to stop the British from helping the American Indians fight the settlers.  Most of the battles took place near Canada.  Captain Oliver Perry forced British ships on Lake Erie to surrender.  Americans won the battle on the Thames (Tims) River and the Battle of Lake Champlain.  Tecumseh died in the battle on the Thames River.  Some Creek and Cherokee Indians still fought on America’s side.

 In August, 1814, Great Britain attacked Washington, D.C.  The President Madison’s wife, Dolly Madison saved some important papers.  She also saved a famous painting of George Washington.  British forces burned the White House and other buildings in Washington, D.C.  Next, the British moved on to Baltimore-Cannons from Britain’s ships fired on Fort McHenry.  The U.S. Army did not surrender.

 He was a lawyer who watched the battle at Fort McHenry at the Baltimore Harbor.  The sight of the American flag flying over the fort in the early morning inspired him to write a poem.  This poem was later set to music and became the ‘Star Spangled Banner’, which is our country’s national anthem.

 After 2 years of fighting, no one was winning the war, so American and Great Britain decided to end it.  A peace treaty was signed in 1814 in Ghent, Belgium.  The treaty did not give either side any new land. Things just returned to what they were.  News of the peace treaty took a long time to reach America.  Meanwhile, British soldiers attacked New Orleans.  Andrew Jackson led the army in New Orleans, and forced the British soldiers back.  Jackson’s brave defense of New Orleans made him a national hero.

 The time after the war was one of peace and prosperity.  Prosperity is economic success and security.  This period was called the ‘Era of Good Feeling’.  During this period of ten years, people had a new sense of nationalism.  Nationalism is a devotion to one’s country.  new sense of pride created more interest in the national flag.  In 1818, Congress passed a law about how many stripes and stars would be on the flag-13 stripes for the 13 original colonies and a star for each state.

 After the War of 1812, the United States wanted to keep European countries out of the Western Hemisphere.  President James Monroe, who was elected in 1816, was worried that European countries would invade the Americas.  He was especially worried that Spain might try to take over former colonies in America.  President Monroe warned European countries to stay out of North and South America and in return, promised to keep America out of European fights.  This was a new foreign policy called the ‘Monroe Doctrine’.  Foreign policy is a government’s actions toward another country.  The ‘Monroe Doctrine’ also warned that United States would act to protect countries in the Western Hemisphere.

 Another sign of growing pride was a new interest in writers from the United States.  In 1828, Noah Webster published the first dictionary of English that was used in America.  Webster’s dictionary showed how people in the United States spoke and included words found only in American-English.  Many words came from American- Indian languages.

Washington Irving wrote The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Rip Van Winkle, and other short stories. James Fenimore Cooper wrote many novels, including The Last of the Mohicans.