1. Expansion and War Objectives: Do Now: Homework:
Understand the conflicts that led to the War of 1812.
Do Now:
Louisiana Purchase Document in packet
Hand in Louisiana Purchase exercise
Homework:
War of 1812 pg. 208

2. Conflict on the Seas
US shipping expanded to control trade between Europe and W. Indies
Napoleon’s Continental system forbade ships that had docked at any point in British ports from landing on continent
Berlin (1806) + Milan (1807) Decrees
Britain’s “orders in council” required goods to continent be in ships that had at least stopped in British ports
response to Nap’s “Continental System”
American ships caught between countries
England greater threat b/c greater sea power and the worse offender

3. Impressment Brit Navy had terrible conditions,
forced service called “impressments” used
many deserted when possible and joined Americans
to stop loss Brit claimed right to stop and search American merchant ships + reimpress deserters
1807 Chesapeake-Leopard incident:
Brit fired on US ship that refused search
US Minister James Monroe protested
GB refused to renounce impressments

4. “Peaceable Coercion”
To prevent future incidents that might bring war Jefferson proposed The Embargo 1808
prohibited US ship from leaving for any foreign port
Created national depression, ship-owners + merchants of NE (mainly Federalists) hardest hit-before
James Madison, Jefferson’s Sec of State, won election of 1808 but fierce opposition
led Jefferson to end Embargo, replaced with Non-Intercourse Act
reopened trade w/ all nations except GB + France
1810 new Macon’s Bill No. 2 opened trade w/ GB + France but president had power to prohibit commerce for belligerent behavior against neutral shipping
Napoleon announced France would no longer interfere
Madison issued embargo against GB 1811 until it renounced restrictions of American shipping

5. The “Indian Problem” and the British
After dislodgement by Americans, Indians looked to Brits for protection
William Henry Harrison had been a promoter of Western expansion (Harrison Land Law 1800), named governor of Indiana 1801 by Jefferson. Offered Indians ultimatum: become farmers and assimilate or move to West of Miss.
By 1807 tribes mainly ceding land. After Chesapeake incident, however, Brits began to renew Indian friendships to begin defense of invasion into Can

6. Tecumseh and the Prophet
The Prophet was Indian leader inspired religious revival
rejection of white culture.
Attracted thousands from many tribes at Tippecanoe Creek.
Prophet’s brother Tecumseh led joint effort to oppose white civilization
Starting 1809 began to unite tribes of Miss. valley,
1811 traveled south to add tribes of the South to alliance
1811 Battle of Tippecanoe
Harrison defeated Prophet’s followers and destroyed tribal confederacy.
However, thru 1812 continued to attack settlers, encouraged by Brit agents—
Americans believed end only thru Can. Invasion

7. Florida and War Fever “Frontiersman” in N wanted Canada
those in S wanted to acquire Spanish Florida in order to stop Indian attacks, gain access to rivers w/ port access
1810 setters in W. Florida captured Spanish fort at Baton Rouge,
President Madison agreed to annex territory- Spain Britain’s ally, made pretext for war
By 1812 “war harks” elected during 1810 elections eager for war
some ardent nationalists seeking territorial expansion, others defense of Republican values
Speaker Henry Clay of Kentucky and John Calhoun of SC led Republicans in pressing for Canadian invasion
Madison declared war June 18, 1812