A Time of Conflict

American Ships Sailing -United States traded on the High Seas (China, India, South America, Europe) -France and Britain were at war

Piracy on the Seas -Pirates were more common on foreign waters (particularly Northern Africa) -Northern Africa = Barbary States -Barbary States demanded tribute to allow countries to send their ships through safely -United States refused to pay

War with Tripoli -Jefferson sent ships to blockade Tripoli -Pirates took the Philadelphia captive -An American sailor snuck back into the harbor and destroyed the ship so the pirates could not use it. -Tripoli and United States signed a treaty where Tripoli stopped demanding tribute, but the U.S. paid $60k to get sailors back -U.S. still paid tribute to other Barbary States

Impressment Part II -British need sailors for their war with France. -British stopped American ships where they suspected British deserters hid -They forced the deserters back into the navy -Hundreds of American citizens were impressed into the British navy -British attacked an American ship off U.S. Coast -Secretary of State Madison was outraged! -Many demanded war, Jefferson asked for patience

More Trade Issues -Embargo Act U.S. no longer traded with other nations -Unemployment rose in New England -Farmers in the South could not trade their cotton or tobacco -Economy was crippled

Election of Jefferson decides to follow Washington’s precedent -Republicans choose James Madison as their nominee -Federalists chose Charles Pinckney -Madison wins!

Early Madison -Embargo Act -Issues with Native Americans -Calls for war with GB

War Looms Congress passes law saying they will open up trade with France or GB -Depended on who lifted their trade restrictions first -Napoleon said he would -Still seized and stole from American ships -Some Americans wanted war with France -Some wanted war with Britain -Madison thought Britain was the larger threat

Broken Treaties -American settlers wanted Ohio River Valley -That land belonged to Native Americans -Capital was Prophetstown -Native Americans had already given up millions of acres of land -Treaty said Americans would stay out of that territory -Settlers violated the treaty -Native Americans started developing relations with Canada and GB -Chief Tecumseh tried to build a Native American Confederacy

Tecumseh and the Governor -William Henry Harrison was governor of Indiana Territory -Harrison warned Tecumseh that the United States was stronger -Tecumseh did not care

Battle of Tippecanoe -Harrison attacked Native American territory while Tecumseh was trying to expand -Big victory for United States -Tecumseh joined sides with the British

The War Hawks Call for War -Some people wanted Madison to be more aggressive -These people were called War Hawks -Led by Henry Clay and John Calhoun -War Hawks = Mainly Western and Southern states -Known for their nationalism -Federalists opposed the War Hawks

Henry Clay -From Kentucky -Elected to the Senate originally -Preferred his time working in the House of Representatives -Became Speaker of the House multiple times -Fantastic speaker -Worked with John Calhoun early on with War Hawks

The Eve of War -Madison knew war was unavoidable -Madison asked Congress to declare war -Why would he ask Congress to declare war? -British had already planned to stop impressment -That news did not reach the United States in time -Spring of War has begun