Unit 3, Part 3

Conflict with England and France

A Tension-Filled Time

Early US history was full of tension with Britain, as the US sought respect as an independent nation.
France and Britain fought the Napoleonic Wars, and both wanted US support.
The US wanted to remain neutral, causing conflict with both European powers.

Americans caught in the Middle

The British required the United States to get permits to trade.

France would not trade with the United States if it traded with the British

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

Describe the causes of the War of 1812.
Explain the effects of the War of 1812 on politics, foreign relations, and AMerican Indian issues.
Describe the reasons for the establishment of the Monroe Doctrine
Identify the United States’ territorial gains in the early 1800s.

Lesson Question

How did US relations with the powers of Europe change in the early 1800s?

The War of 1812
American Territorial Gains
The Monroe Doctrine

Problems on the Seas

The conflict between Great Britain and France had a powerful impact on the United States

Both France and Britain were interfering with US trade

The British Navy stopped American merchant ships.

They seized trade goods.
They impressed American sailors, or forced them to serve in the British Navy

Problems in the Northwest Territory

In the Northwest Territory, settlers met resistance when trying to take over American Indian lands.

American Indians attacked settlements.

The Question of War

Leaders disagreed about whether to go to war with Britain.

War Hawks pushed for war in order to win British territory.
Federalists wanted to avoid war that would shut down all trade.
On June 18, 1812, the United States declared war on Britain.

Tecumseh (1768-1813)

Was leader of the Shawnee people
Brought together many different American Indian tribes to resist expansion
Led the resistance against white settlement on American Indian lands

The Course of the War

August 1812 - USS Constitution sinks British ship HMS Guerriere

September 1813 - Battle of Lake Erie

March 1814 Battle of Horseshoe Bend

September 1814 - Battle of Fort. McHenry

December 1814 - Treaty of Ghent signed

The War’s End

By late 1814, the war was near an end.

Neither side was clearly winning.
British citizens were tired of the war’s expenses.
Americans were worried the war would lead to more economic problems.
Leaders signed the Treaty of Ghent in December of 1814, ending the war.

The Battle of New Orleans

The Last Battle occurred after the peace treaty was signed

Jackson was warned the British were coming and prepared for their attack.

The US won a clear but needless victory.

Jackson became a hero.

International Impact

Though the war ended without a clear victor, the war had a significant impact in many ways

The United States was seen as a greater military power.
European countries gained greater respect for America.

Impact in the United States

The economy grew quickly.
Patriotism and national pride grew.
American Indian power declined.
The Federalist Party, which had opposed the war, lost support.

The Louisiana Purchase

America had already begun to expand in the early 1800s.

The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 was the first major US expansion

The purchase doubled the size of the United States.
The expansion would continue after the War of 1812

The Treaty of 1818

The United States was concerned about European influence near its borders

America signed a treaty with Great Britain that:

Improved relations
Established joint control of the Oregon Country
Set the US-Canada border at the 49th parallel.

West Florida

In the early 1800s, the United States and Spain both claimed the land known as West Florida.

American settlers rebelled against Spanish rule in Baton Rouge.
US forces seized Mobile during the War of 1812
Spain could not stop the United States from taking West Florida.

The Invasion of Florida

The United States also wanted to take the rest of Florida from the Spanish.

Jackson led troops into Florida in 1818, pursuing American Indians
American forces captured Spanish forts.
Spain threatened war but was actually powerless.

The Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819

Spanish officials worried that Americans might try to take Texas.

Spain agreed to the Adams-Onis Treaty in 1819.

Spain gave Florida to the US
The US gave up any claims to Texas.
Spain and the US divided the remainder of North America

Latin American Independence

In the 1810s, a series of revolutions broke out in Latin America

Paraguay gained independence in 1811
Argentine declared independence in 1816
Chile declared independence in 1818
By the end of the 1820s, nearly all of Latin America was independent

America Concerns

The United States became concerned about European ambitions in the Americas.

New republics in Latin America could be conquered by European countries.
Russia hoped to expand its territory down the Pacific coast.
Americans feared that European powers could return to the Americas

The Monroe Doctrine

In 1823, President MOnroe issued the Monroe Doctrine, which declared that the US:

Would not interfere in European conflicts.
Would not interfere with existing European colonies in the Americas.
Would oppose any European attempt to control any nation in North or South America
The Monroe Doctrine declared that the Americas were closed to new colonization.

Reaction to Monroe’s Statement

European powers did not seek to recolonize the Western Hemisphere

Monarchs were offended by Monroe’s bold statement.

Britain supported the Monroe Doctrine.

British warships ruled the oceans
British power helped to make sure colonization would not happen.

Short-Term Effects of the Monroe Doctrine

At the time it was issued, the Monroe Doctrine:

Was a symbol of growing American nationalism and pride.
Showed that the US was more confident about foreign policy
Represented a stronger relationship with Great Britain.