1. Lesson 3: A Time of Conflict

2. American Ships on the High Seas
1785 the ship Empress of China returned to NY from China
The ship’s cargo of tea and silk sold for a great profit
This inspired many more to sail to China and India, as well as South America, Africa, and lands along the Mediterranean Sea
By 1800, the United States had almost 1,000 merchant ships trading around the world

3. Piracy on the Seas Piracy: robbery on the seas
Pirates from Morocco, Algiers, Tripoli, and Tunis (North Africa, Barbary states) terrorized European ships sailing on the Mediterranean Sea
These pirates demanded that governments pay tribute (protection money) if they wanted safe passage
If not paid, the pirates attacked and imprisoned the crews

4. War with Tripoli
The Barbary Pirates demanded tribute from the United States
1801 the ruler of Tripoli asked the U.S. for even more money
Jefferson refused to pay, Tripoli declared war, Jefferson sent ships to blockade Tripoli
1804 Pirates seized U.S. warship Philadelphia and threw the crew in jail in Tripoli
Stephen Decatur, 25 year old U.S. Navy Captain, snuck out and burned the ship so the pirates could not use it
1805 Peace treaty and war was ended…U.S. agreed to pay $60,000 for the release of prisoners and did not need to pay more tribute

5. American Trading on the Seas
1803 France and England went to war….again
America enjoyed having neutral rights meaning its ships could sail the seas and not take sides
However, by 1805, England and France were trying to block America from trading with the other country
England once again started their practice of impressment, not only on their own citizens but American ones as well
English ship Leopard stops and wants to board the American ship Chesapeake. American Captain refuses, British general opens fire and kills three Americans.
Americans are outraged and demand war, President Jefferson did not want war

6. Embargo Act Passed December 1807
Embargo- prohibits trade with another country
Was passed to retaliate against England for attacked the Chesapeake
Embargo Act was a disaster
It prevented trade with all foreign countries
No ships could leave the harbor, unemployment rose in New England
The South lacked a market for its cotton and tobacco
England just went elsewhere to get their goods
March 1809 the act was repealed and replaced with Nonintercourse Act (prohibited trade with just England and France)

7. Election of 1808 Federalists: Charles Pinckney
Republicans: James Madison
Outcome: Madison 122 electoral votes and Pinckney 47 votes

8. Broken Treaties
When Madison became President he faced issues with France/England and issues in the West
1803 Ohio became a state and settlers wanted to take even more land in the West from the Native Americans
Tecumseh, a powerful Shawnee chief, tried to build a confederacy of Native Americans in the Northwest
Tecumseh wanted to halt white movement into Native American lands
He said that treaties between the U.S. government and individual tribes was worthless
He believed that no one tribe could give away land

9. The Battle of Tippecanoe
Governor of Indiana Territory: William Henry Harrison
Harrison attacked Prophetstown (Tecumseh’s brother’s village) while Tecumseh was trying to expand his territory
After two hours of battle, the Prophet’s forces fled
This was a victory for Americans
The downside: Tecumseh joined forces with England

10. War! Warhawks: a group of young Republican Congressmen
They supported increased in military spending and were driven by their hunger for land
Their nationalism (loyalty to their country) appealed to many Americans
The Federalists were strongly against war
Spring 1812, Madison knew he could no longer avoid war with England
England had already stopped seizing and searching American ships, but America did not get the message yet
It was too late…war was declared