Hist 221 test 2 day 10

• Thomas Jefferson's Presidency

  • Elected in 1800, re-elected in 1804.

  • Popularity highlighted by electoral victories: 62 to 14 against the Federalists in 1804.

  • Federalists retain some influence but are declining, likely to fade by the 1820s.

• Major Achievements of Jefferson's First Term

  • Successful in the undeclared war against the Barbary States.

  • Engaged in political battles with Federalists, particularly regarding judiciary issues (e.g., Barbary vs. Madison case).

  • Landmark event: The Louisiana Purchase.

  • Driven by Napoleon’s need for funds due to impending European wars.

• Challenges in Jefferson's Second Term

  • War breaks out in Europe in 1804/1805, pulling the U.S. indirectly into conflict due to its neutral trading interests.

  • American desire for free trade clashes with British and French restrictions:

  • British Orders in Council: Restricted trade with France.

  • French Continental System: Forbade trade with Britain and its allies.

  • Both European powers begin seizing American ships.

• Impressment of American Sailors

  • British forcibly recruit American sailors into their navy, a practice known as impressment.

  • Conditions in the British navy were poor, leading to desertions and seizure of American sailors.

  • This method of recruitment infuriates Americans, contributing to rising tensions with Britain.

• The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair (1807)

  • US Navy ship Chesapeake attacked by British ship Leopard; several American sailors killed and seized.

  • In response, Jefferson pushes for economic measures rather than military action.

• Embargo Act of 1807

  • Congress passes the Embargo Act to restrict American trade with foreign nations as retaliation against British and French practices.

  • The embargo cripples American economy more than it affects British or French economies.

  • Contributes to the revival of the Federalist party and is seen as a significant political miscalculation by Jefferson.

• Political Climate Leading to the War of 1812

  • 1808 elections bring James Madison as the Republican nominee; Federalists gain seats in Congress but lose the election.

  • Continued tensions over trade regulations and impressment leads to increased calls for war.

  • Non-Intercourse Act of 1809 replaces the embargo, allowing trade with all nations except Britain and France.

• Causes of the War of 1812

  1. Trade issues: Seizure of American ships and restrictions on trade stirred resentment.

  2. Impressment: Forcibly drafting American sailors incited anger amongst the populace.

  3. Tecumseh's Rebellion: Native American resistance against U.S. expansion, with British support seen as a threat to American territory.

  4. American Expansionism: Desire for territorial acquisition, particularly Canada and Florida.

  5. National Pride: Growing sentiment that Britain did not respect U.S. independence leading to calls for reaffirmation of sovereignty.

• Conduct of the War

  • Considered poorly executed, with significant early losses and Washington D.C. being burned in 1814.

  • American military largely unprepared; issues with recruitment and militia effectiveness hamper efforts.

• Conclusion of the War and Impact

  • 1814 sees different strategies from Britain post-Napoleon, leading to peace negotiations.

  • Tensions lead to a divided American sentiment about the war with significant opposition in New England (Federalists), but support generally in the Southern and Western states.

  • The War of 1812 termed sometimes as the "Second American Revolution", reflects the quest for respect and recognition in international affairs.

___________________________________________________________________________

more detailed below

• Thomas Jefferson's Presidency

  • Elected in 1800, re-elected in 1804 as a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, marking a significant shift in American politics as it was the first time a president was elected from a party other than the Federalists.

  • Jefferson's electoral victories were notably highlighted by his overwhelming 62 to 14 win against Federalists in the 1804 election, reinforcing his popular support and the declining influence of the opposing party.

  • Even though the Federalists retained some influence through their support in northern states, their political power was on a downward trend and was likely to diminish significantly by the 1820s.

• Major Achievements of Jefferson's First Term

  • Successfully led the U.S. in an undeclared war against the Barbary States (1801-1805), protecting American shipping interests and establishing the principle that the U.S. would not pay tribute to foreign powers.

  • Engaged in intense political battles with Federalists on multiple fronts, particularly over judiciary issues, which became evident in the famous Barbary vs. Madison case that brought executive authority into question.

  • Landmark achievement during his presidency was the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, which doubled the size of the United States. This acquisition was partly driven by Napoleon Bonaparte's need for funds due to impending European wars, and it opened vast territories for exploration and settlement to American citizens.

• Challenges in Jefferson's Second Term

  • The outbreak of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe in 1804/1805 pulled the U.S. indirectly into conflict due to its interests in maintaining neutral trade routes.

  • American desire for free trade increasingly clashed with British and French restrictions, leading to heightened tensions and difficulties in diplomatic relations.

  • British Orders in Council: These laws restricted American trade with France, significantly disrupting commerce.

  • French Continental System: Aimed to block trade with Britain and its allies, further complicating the U.S. trading position.

  • Both British and French naval powers began seizing American merchant ships, inflaming public outrage and leading to calls for retaliatory measures.

• Impressment of American Sailors

  • The British practice of forcibly recruiting American sailors into their navy, known as impressment, was a major irritant. Conditions in the British navy were notoriously poor, which led to desertions among its crew.

  • This practice not only angered Americans but also escalated tensions and contributed to the growing divide between the U.S. and Britain.

• The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair (1807)

  • A significant incident known as the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair involved the U.S. Navy ship Chesapeake, which was attacked by the British ship Leopard. This attack resulted in several American sailors being killed and others seized.

  • In response to this aggression, President Jefferson advocated for economic measures—such as the Embargo Act—rather than resorting to military conflict, demonstrating his preference for diplomacy even in the face of provocation.

• Embargo Act of 1807

  • Following the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair, Congress passed the Embargo Act of 1807, which sought to restrict American trade with foreign nations as retribution against British and French practices.

  • This legislation was ultimately detrimental to the American economy, harming merchants and traders more than it affected British or French economies.

  • The Embargo Act contributed to the revival of the Federalist Party, which capitalized on public discontent, and was widely regarded as a significant political miscalculation on Jefferson's part.

• Political Climate Leading to the War of 1812

  • The 1808 elections brought James Madison forward as the Republican nominee; although the Federalists gained seats in Congress, they lost the presidential election, highlighting ongoing political tensions.

  • Ongoing tensions over trade regulations, impressment, and national sovereignty led to increasing public calls for war against Britain.

  • The Non-Intercourse Act of 1809 replaced the Embargo Act, permitting trade with all nations except Britain and France, a move intended to alleviate economic distress while still signaling American discontent with British actions.

• Causes of the War of 1812

  1. Trade issues: Ongoing seizure of American ships and trade restrictions created significant resentment and unrest among merchants and the general populace.

  2. Impressment: The forcible drafting of American sailors into service incited widespread anger and resistance, leading to calls for military action.

  3. Tecumseh's Rebellion: Native American resistance against U.S. expansion, with perceived British support, served as a direct threat to American territorial claims and heightened fears of foreign influence.

  4. American Expansionism: The desire for territorial acquisition was strong, with particular interest in Canada and Florida, as expansionists took a more aggressive stance.

  5. National Pride: There was a growing sentiment that Britain did not respect U.S. independence, prompting a push from the general populace for the reaffirmation of American sovereignty and honor.

• Conduct of the War

  • The War of 1812 is often regarded as poorly executed by the American military, characterized by significant early losses and strategic failures, including the burning of Washington D.C. in 1814.

  • The military was largely unprepared; issues such as recruitment challenges and ineffective state militias significantly hampered American efforts during the conflict.

• Conclusion of the War and Impact

  • By 1814, British strategies shifted post-Napoleon, leading to peace negotiations as combat fatigue influenced both nations.

  • Despite a divisive sentiment towards the war—especially in New England where Federalist opposition was prevalent—support generally remained strong in Southern and Western states.

  • The War of 1812 is sometimes referred to as the "Second American Revolution," reflecting its role in affirming American resolve and quest for respect on the world stage and solidifying a sense of national identity among its citizens.