APUSH Unit 3 - 234-241

Impressment

The searching of American merchant ships for British deserters

• Used by the British navy to replenish its crews

• Sometimes included U.S. citizens

Chesapeake-Leopard Affair

A naval confrontation in which the HMS Leopard attacked, boarded, and seized four alleged deserters from the U.S. Frigate Chesapeake off Virginia

• An example of impressment—outraged Americans

• Damaged Anglo-American relations

Significance:

• A major precursor for the War of 1812 and it violated the sovereignty of the U.S.

• Launched the Embargo Act of 1807

Embargo of 1807

An act that prohibited American ships from leaving their home ports until Britain and France stopped restricting U.S. trade

• Hurt the U.S. economy

• Merchants feared the act would ruin them; created tension

Non-Intercourse Act (1809)

An act reopening American trade with all nations except Britain and France

Goal:

• Pressure both nations to respect U.S. neutrality during the Napoleonic Wars by hurting their economies

• Meant to replace the failed Embargo Act of 1807

Significance:

• Further contributed to the tensions leading to the War of 1812 and weakened the U.S. economy more

Marcon’s No.2 Bill (1810)

A law that attempted to motivate Britain and France to respect American neutrality by restoring trade with whichever nation ceased restrictions against the U.S. first

• Napoleon declared that France would respect the neutral rights of the U.S.—U.S. merchant ships were now able to pass

• Napoleon lied :(—Exploited the bill for his own gains

Significance:

• U.S. set an embargo on trade with Great Britain

War Hawks

members of Congress who put pressure on President James Madison to declare war against Britain in 1812

• led by Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun

• Tended to be from Southern and Western states

• Desired to add the Canada territory to the U.S.

Causes of the War of 1812

1. British Impressment of American Merchant Ships

2. British Influence with American commerce

   • Napoleon cut off commerce with Britain and American merchant ships in British ports—Britain responded with a naval blockade

3. British Aid to the Native Americans on the Frontier

• Assisted Indians in the Western frontiers

• Harmed those attempting to migrate westward

• Violated the Treaty of Paris and Jay’s Treaty—supplied them with guns

The Hartford Conveition

A meeting in Connecticut where New England Feds. proposed a constitutional amendment limiting the office to a single 4-year term and rotating it among citizens from different states

• Suggested amendments restricting embargoes to 60 days

• Required 2/3 of majority in Congress to: Declare war, prohibit trade, and admit a new state

Significance:

• Federalist opposition to the War of 1812 motivated them to restrict the power of the Federal government by controlling war-making abilities