Honors U.S.

History Name:
Mr. Irwin
PRP2, Week 9 Period:

Lecture 9
Friction With Great Britain…Again!

THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE – Students will watch the film of the same title.

• As The Louisiana Purchase film indicated, ten years before Lewis and
Clark, and before he was president, Jefferson had already toyed with the
idea of an expedition westward, to try and find a northwest passage to the
Pacific Ocean.

o This would be one of Lewis and Clark’s objectives.

• The Lewis and Clark Expedition left St. Louis, Missouri on May 14, 1804.

• The expedition reached the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean in
November of 1805.

• Lewis and Clark returned back to St. Louis on September 23, 1806.

• Their journey proved that transcontinental travel was possible.

• Although no northwest passage was found, a wealth of information was

brought back about the area by Lewis & Clark.

JEFFERSON IS REELECTED IN 1804 – Friction with Great Britain results in

failed American economic policies based upon embargoes and the boycotting of
British goods.

• In 1807, both Britain and France were frustrated that the U.S. failed to
take sides in the war that was going on between them (the Napoleonic
Wars).

• American merchant ships are seized by both countries.

• The American cargoes and the American sailors are seized.

o Impressment – the forcible seizure of men for military service.

JUNE 1807 – THE CHESAPEAKE-LEOPARD AFFAIR – The British ship,

Leopard, attacks the American, Chesapeake, in American waters because the
American commander refused to let the British search for deserters on the
American ship.
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 • The British prevail in this altercation, board the American ship, and take
back four British deserters.

• Jefferson demands and receives an apology from the British, but the
practice of searching American ships and of impressing American sailors
continues.

DECEMBER 1807 – THE EMBARGO ACT – In an effort to protect its ships, and
impose economic sanctions, the United States passes a law that cuts off
international trade.

• It was intended to punish the economies of England and France.

• The embargo stopped nearly all trade between the U.S. and Europe.

• This Act unfortunately ended up damaging the U.S. economy!

• American merchants complained that their businesses were being hurt.

• Smuggling of goods between Europe and America became a by-product

of the Embargo.

Fourth President, 1809 - 1817

JAMES MADISON, another Democratic-Republican, wins the election of 1808.

Congress modifies the Embargo Act by instituting the Non-Intercourse Act in

1808. This Act loosened up international trade, but outlawed trade with either
Great Britain or France. The seizure of American ships and impressment of
American sailors continues. Overall both the Embargo Act and the Non-
Intercourse Acts are seen as failures. America did not get the respect from
Britain or France. The Acts ended up causing economic distress on our own
economy.

THE WAR OF 1812 – Small scale fighting between Great Britain and the U.S.
that actually began under Jefferson’s presidency, increases during Madison’s
presidency.

• Great Britain and France are still engaged in the Napoleonic Wars.

• American shipping and commerce continues to be negatively affected.

• In 1812, Congress declares war against Great Britain.

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CAUSES OF THE WAR OF 1812:

• Impressment

• British in Canada, supplying weapons to Native Americans, who in turn

attack Americans.

• American “War Hawks” demand that we go to war against Great Britain.

According to the Constitution, it is the Legislative Branch of our government that

has the power to declare war.

• President Madison asks Congress to declare war.

• The war vote passes congress and America is officially at war against
Great Britain.

• America tries to put a navy together for the war effort.

• The U.S. commissions privateers to attack enemy ships, seize enemy

goods and destroy the enemy ships.

o Privateering = legalized piracy.

EFFECTS OF THE WAR:

• The U.S. engages in a war that it is ill-prepared to fight.

• Great Britain fights the French and the U.S. simultaneously, placing a
higher priority on the fight with the French.

KEY EVENTS OF THE WAR:

• After defeating Napoleon in 1814, the British march on our nation’s capitol,
in Washington D.C., and set it on fire!

• The Capital building, presidential mansion and other public buildings are
affected.

• THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS – On January 8, 1815, the British

attack the American port of New Orleans, but are beaten by the
Americans.

o U.S. troops led by General Andrew Jackson of Tennessee, score

an important victory at New Orleans.

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 o By this time however, Great Britain and the U.S. had already signed
a peace treaty, the Treaty of Ghent (Belgium), on Christmas eve of
1814.

o When the news of the treaty finally arrives, the war is over.

OUTCOMES OF THE WAR:

• Neither side really ended up the victor.

• Overall, the British were more successful on land, and the Americans
were more successful at sea.

• The end of the Federalist Party.

• Growth of American industry.

• The war confirmed that the U.S. could protect itself and remain a free and
independent nation.

• The United States ends up with a national anthem, The Star Spangled
Banner!!!

On September 13, 1814, under unusual circumstances, American attorney

Francis Scott Key was detained onboard a British ship in Baltimore harbor. As
the result, he became an eyewitness to the shelling by the British, of Fort
McHenry, and the American defensive responses. In 1931, the U.S. Congress
enacted legislation to adopt his battle inspired poem, “The Star Spangled
Banner,” as our official national anthem.

- End of Lecture -

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