War of 1812 and Beyond

European Background to War

France and Great Britain fight to control Atlantic Ocean sea tradeResult: U.S. caught in middleRights as a neutral nation violated by “impressment”

Impressment

By 1807, high desertion rate in British navy – many desert to join U.S. merchant marinesBritish Navy declares its right to stop any U.S. merchant marine vesselThey would take any British subject and impress into British Navy – Americans were also being seized

Neutrality ProblemsJefferson (2nd Term): problems protecting American neutralityEmbargo Act (1807): Stopped all U.S. exports until British/French interference with U.S. ships ceased

did not change British policy caused a deep economic depression in U.S.

Embargo Act was repealed in 1809Replaced by Non-Intercourse Act:

allowed trade with all countries except Britain/France (Repealed 1810)

U.S. Background to War

Jefferson promotes white settlement of Native American territory (IN, IL, OH, MI, GA, TN, MS)Tries to have Indian tribes fight one another – this works as these areas become more populated with whites

Indian Resistance

Tecumseh: Young Shawnee ChiefEnvisioned Indian Confederacy strong enough to keep whites out of their lands – Unsuccessful Battle of Tippecanoe with Indians, backed by Britain, start cries for war“War Hawks” in Congress start agitation (Henry Clay & John C. Calhoun)

War Begins!!

Britain turned full attention to America after war with France endedNaval superiority by Britain took control of Chesapeake Bay and Washington D.C.Started fires in D.C. – even the White House and Capitol were destroyed

A Moving War

A lawyer witnessed the bombing of Fort McHenry, which guards the Baltimore HarborHe watched from a high bluff overlooking the harbor and wrote a world-famous poemThe lawyer’s name: Francis Scott Key

Star Spangled BannerStar Spangled Banner

Oh say can you see by the dawn's early lightWhat so proudly we hail at the twilight's last gleaming.

Whose broad strips & bright stars, through the perilous fight,O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming.

And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

War Ends!!

Treaty of GhentNo one wanted this warBritish realized couldn’t winFormal agreement to end war

Battle of New OrleansTwo weeks after treaty – slow communicationStunning victory for U.S. – Gen. Andrew JacksonRestored nation’s confidence – Nationalism!!

Results of War

Second War of IndependenceBritain’s hopes of regaining U.S. is over

U.S. industry and economy boomsBlockade by Britain forces U.S. to rely on its own industries

Slavery becomes a hot topic

Missouri Compromise

1819 Congress began debating Missouri as a stateSlavery was the issueNorthwest Ordinance of 1787

No state northwest of Ohio River could be a slave state – Missouri is an exception

Why Concerned?

Increase power of slave states in SenateSouthern states feared if federal government could restrict slavery in one state, they could in others

Debate Results - 1820

Slavery allowed in MissouriMaine, which was originally part of Massachusetts, would be admitted as a free stateStates north of 360 30N Latitude would be free states

Missouri Compromise