1. The Other Constitution

2. Sailing ships used wind for pwr. No wind=No pwr. (becalmed) NY Harbor July 17 th, 1812 USS Constitution was surrounded by the Brit. Fleet 1 of 6 frigates that G. Washington ordered Kedged to get away Put a small anchor in a row boat & rowed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ28WuVgc2M This was done for 3 days & they were able to get away

3. The Other Constitution In the War of 1812 the USS Constitution destroyed the Brit. ship H.M.S. Guerriere Cannonballs bounced off the Constitution=said it was made of iron “Old Ironsides” Made of wood w/thin copper sheathing Symbol of American craftsmanship

4. The Other Constitution USS Constitution was built at Edmund Hartt’s shipyard in Boston Sister ships of USS C. were Chesapeake, Congress, Constellation, Pres., & the US Built from Norfolk, VA to Portsmouth, NH Joshua Humphrey from Philadelphia designed ships Mainly made out of Live Oak=Toughest wood “Best White Oak”, “Carolina pitch pine”, & NH pines Sails were sewn from canvas Paul Revere supplied the copper fittings & ship’s bell

5. The Other Constitution USS Constitution also beat the H.M.S. Java USS Constitution=famous B4 the War of 1812 Part of the official birth of the US Navy-1794 Colonies put together during the Rev. Merchant ships & fishing schooners Brit.=world’s largest navy-US was able to fight scrappy

6. The Other Constitution After the war the navy ended & ships went back to trading Sailed in the Mediterranean S.-Barbary pirates wanted bribe $ to sail the sea 1787-US signed a treaty w/Morocco about reg. bribe payments 1793- 8 US ships captured 1794-126 Americans were slaves in city of Algiers G. Washington authorized the creation of the 6 frigates & smaller ships created 1796-Paid a peace ransom of $1 mil.=Sailors released & sailed freely

7. The Other Constitution Got to Jefferson’s Presidency-US had paid Barbary States almost $2 mil. The Bey or ruler of Tripoli (Libya) wanted more 1801-Morocco declared war on the US=Lasted until 1804 USS Constitution bombarded Tripoli w/cannonballs US ship the Philadelphia was captured-300 men Wanted to use it to fight against the US Lt. Stephen Decatur of the Intrepid sailed into harbor Climbed onto the Philadelphia & set fire to it

8. The Other Constitution William Eaton- Consul in Tunis Hated the pirate princes Afraid that the US attack wouldn’t leave lasting results Created a force-Am., Arabs, & Greeks March from Egypt to Libya Am. warships also helped Eaton capture the city New treaty w/Tripoli created & sailors were released Pirates or thieves of the sea helped the US create their navy The USS Constitution also became famous because of the War of 1812 The 1 st voyage also made the USS C. famous- Race w/ Brit. Ship & Brit. lost

9. The Other Constitution 1830-False story about USS C. being scrapped was published- ppl. upset Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote poem called “Old Ironsides” 1844-USS C. went on a voyage around the world & Symbol of the US Business, Diplomatic, & Scientific affairs 1850-Flagship of the American squadron- Kept slave ships from sailing illegally 1897- John Fitzgerald (JFK’s Grandfather) moved USS C. to Boston for 100 th B-Day USS C. suggested for target practice- school children raised $600,000 to restore 1947-Celebratory stamp was issued w/USS C. pic. 1997- 200 th b-day & sailed to Boston under own pwr. Commissioned as a war ship today