4.4 America on the World Stage

Barbary Pirates

To protect US merchant ships from being attacked by barbary pirates, presidents Washington and Adams paid a tribute to the Barbary governments. The leader demanded a higher tribute of Jefferson, which he refused. Jefferson sent a small US fleet to the Mediterranean, the US did not get a decisive victory, but they did gain some respect.

Chesapeake-Leopard Affair

British warship Leopard fired on US merchant ship the Chesapeake, killing 3 Americans and impressing 4 others into the British navy. Anti-British sentiments increased and many Americans demanded war.

Embargo Act

in order to avoid war with Britain, Jefferson convinced congress to pass the embargo act. This prohibited any US merchant ship from sailing to any foreign port. Because Britain was the US’s biggest trading partner, Jefferson hoped this would stop them from threatening neutral nations.

Was the embargo acct successful

NO. Britain instead got its foreign imports from South America instead, and the act devastated the US’s economy. This led to Jefferson repealing the act in 1809.

President Madison

Nonintercourse Act

Americans could trade with all foreign nations except Britain and France

Macon’s Bill No. 2

restored US trade with Britain and France, however, if either Britain or France decided to acknowledge the US’s neutrality, the US would cut off trade with the opposing nation

Napoleon’s Deception regarding Macon’s Bill

Napoleon announced his intention of revoking decrees that violated the US’s neutrality. However, after Madison stopped trade with Britain, it was evident that the US had been lied to, as France continued to seize merchant ships.

what were the causes of the War of 1812

violation of US neutrality rights at sea

American’s desire for lands of British Canada and Spanish Florida

War Hawks

young democratic republicans elected into congress who were eager for war with Britain

What groups were against the War of 1812

New England merchants, Federalists and Quids

why were new England merchants against the War of 1812

because after the repeal of the embargo act,, the were making sizeable profits, they viewed impressment as a minor inconvenience.

why were federalists against the war of 1812

they saw it as a Democratic-Republican scheme to gain control of Canada and Florida to increase Democratic-Republican voting strength

why were the Quids against the War of 1812

it went against the Democratic-Republican belief of limited government and maintaining peace

what did the Treaty of Ghent do for the sides of the War of 1812

nothing, it said nothing of the grievances that led to war and Britain made no concessions regarding impressment,, blockades or other maritime differences. The war ended in a stalemate

Hartford Convention

Just before the War of 1812 came to a close, the delegates of the New England states met in Hartford Connecticut and threatened to secede from the union. Shortly after, news of the victory in New Orleans and the Treaty of Ghent arrived. This weakened the Federalists and they were deemed unpatriotic

impacts of war of 1812

1. abandoned by the British, Natives were made to open land to white settlement

2. Federalist party comes to an end as a national force after talks of secession

3. US gains respect of other nations after beating Britain in 2 wars

4. talk of nullification and secession in New England set a precedent that would later be used by the south