Napoleonic Wars

1793-1815Napoleon tried to conquer all of EuropeBritain led allies against France

U.S. got dragged in

Neutrality

Jefferson kept the U.S. neutral like the Washington and Adams administrations

American Merchants profiting by trade with both France and Britain

Neutral Rights Violated

France and Britain threaten to search and seize ships trading with the enemy

Impressment◦British sailors often deserted

Poor pay and conditions◦British would stop ships and look for deserters

and force them to serve in navy Forced native born Americans too

◦Still have English accent

Attack on the Chesapeake

British warship, the Leopard intercepted the Chesapeake ◦June 1807 off the coast of Virginia◦Chesapeake captain refused to allow search◦Leopard opened fire

Killed 3, Wounded 18 and crippled the American ship

Americans outraged◦Jefferson avoids war

Embargo Act

December 1807Banned trade with European countriesWas a disaster

◦Britain traded with Latin America for goods◦New England trade hurt

Merchants not happyRepealed March 1809

◦Replaced by Nonintercourse Act Banned trade with France or Britain

◦Also unsuccessful

4th President

Jefferson follows Washington’s precedentJames Madison wins election

◦Not ideal time to be president

Father of the Constitution

The Frontier

Governor of the Indiana Territory making treaties with Natives to gain land◦William Henry Harrison

Powerful and charismatic Shawnee chief uniting the Native American nations◦Tecumseh

Battle of Tippecanoe

Harrison concerned about Tecumseh’s success◦Decided to strike first (1811)

Battle lasted 2 hours

As a result Tecumseh allied himself with the British

War Hawks

Republicans

John C. Calhoun ◦S. Carolina

Henry Clay◦Kentucky

Land Hungry◦Canadian land◦Florida

Congress quadrupled army’s size

War

Madison asks Congress to declare war◦June 1, 1812◦Britain was trying to avoid war, ended search and seizure

policy, but too late

Americans still relying on militia◦Poorly trained and equipped

Nicknames◦“Madison’s War”◦“The Forgotten War”◦The Second War for Independence”

Video

Invasion of Canada

Three-pronged attack

Detroit – July 1812◦General William Hull◦Americans fearful of Indian cruelty and

surrender Niagara

◦American forces defeatedThird attack never happened

Battle of Lake Erie

Prezi

Battle of the Thames

Tecumseh killed◦October 5, 1813

William Henry HarrisonNative Americans will no longer be a

problem

Americans burned parliament buildings◦York (Toronto)

End of Napoleon

Napoleon loses at Battle of Waterloo◦Exiled from the country

With Napoleon out of the way British can focus on U.S.

U.S.S. Constitution

The world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat

Wooden shipUSS Constitution vs. HMS Guerriere

◦August 19, 1812◦Cannon balls bounced off the side of the ship◦An American sailor reportedly exclaimed

"Huzzah! her sides are made of iron!" “Old Ironsides”

42-0

Battle of Horseshoe Bend

Andrew Jackson◦“Old Hickory”

◦ March 1814

◦Attacked Creeks in Mississippi Territory◦Slaughtered more than 550 Creeks

Lost land

Attack on the Capitol

August 1814◦Capitol not well defended

The British sailed into Chesapeake Bay◦Overpowered militia ◦Marched into the city and burned buildings

including the president’s mansion◦A storm prevented some damage

Video

Fort McHenry

The British move onto Baltimore

Baltimore was waiting◦Barricaded roads, blocked harbor, 13,000 militia◦Held back the British attack

Francis Scott Key◦Star Spangled Banner

Battle of Lake Champlain

Naval Battle won by Americans◦September 1814

British decides war is not worth the cost

Treaty of Ghent

Ghent, Belgium◦December 1814

Peace agreement◦Didn't change borders◦Impressment was not mentioned

Battle of New Orleans

Did not know that Treaty of Ghent had been signed

Still takes about a month for news to travel

January 1815Andrew Jackson

◦Leads Americans to victory, becomes hero

Video

Hartford Convention

December 1814New England Federalists met in

Connecticut◦Proposed amendments◦Seen as unpatriotic

Federalist Party loses respect in American politics

Who Won?

The Battle of New Orleans Arrogant Worms

Stalemate

Neither British nor Americans won the war◦Neither gained territory

Although:◦Americans get Star Spangled Banner◦Revived sense of Nationalism (especially after

winning the last major battle)◦Manufacturing developed when weren’t getting

goods from Europe◦Gained respect from other countries

The real winners of the War

Canada◦Held off invasions◦Nationalism

William Henry Harrison◦Gains fame◦Uses Tippecanoe as presidential slogan

Andrew Jackson◦War hero who later becomes president

Erie, PA◦Shipbuilding industry builds the economy and city

And the losers

Native Americans◦Without Tecumseh will not unite

Federalists◦Their lack of support for American cause during

the War will lead this party to disappear