Growing Contempt



Name: _________________________________ Date: _________________________ Periods ________

IB HOTA 1 Early Presidents

James Madison 1809-1817

Growing Contempt [anger]

While Britain and France were at war, the British outraged Americans by seizing American merchant ships trying to reach France. President Jefferson passed the Embargo Act of 1807- which prohibited trade with other nations as an attempt to punish the British. Unfortunately, this embargo actually hurt the American trade and economy more then the British. The act was repealed (removed) in 1809, but Britain continued to violate American Freedom the seas. The British continued with their policy of impressing US sailors; this caused a great deal of anger in the United States. Many Americans believed that their independence was being challenged by their former colonial master.

Non-Intercourse Act

On 1 March 1809, the Nonintercourse Act replaced the Embargo Act, allowing transatlantic trade to resume. The act, which went into effect on May 20, 1809, suspended trade with only France and England until one of them would "revoke or modify her edicts, as that they shall cease to violate the neutral commerce of the United States." The act prohibited their ships from entering American ports and decreed it illegal for citizens of the United States to have "any involvement with, or to afford any aid or supplies" to any French or English ships. The act also authorized naval officers and customs officials to seize merchandise from ships in violation of the law. Unfortunately, the Nonintercourse Act, like the Embargo Act, failed to change French and English policy. It was repealed on May 1, 1810 in favor of what became known as Macon's Bill No. 2, which conceded defeat and reopened trade with both nations.

Smelser, Marshall. The Democratic Republic: 1801–1815. New York: Harper, 1968

Building support for Mr. Madison’s War

While the British insults continued, especially the practice of using the Royal Navy to intercept unarmed American merchant ships and Impress (conscript) all sailors, Madison's protests were ignored by the British. Madison worked to stir up public opinion in the west and south for war. One argument by the so-called "war hawks" was that an American invasion of British Canada would be easy and if successful would force the British to leave American shipping to Europe alone. Madison carefully prepared public opinion for what everyone at the time called "Mr. Madison's War". Much less time and money was spent building up the army, navy, forts, and state militias. After he convinced Congress to declare war, Madison was re-elected President by a slim margin.

Events of the War of 1812/ Second War for Independence

Congress declared war on Britain in 1812. When the war began, the British and Canadians won a number of victories. These victories included the capture of Detroit which was surrendered to a smaller force without a fight. Madison was forced to flee from Washington and watch as the White house was burned to the ground by the British. The burning of the White house was revenge against the Americans who had on two separate occasions entered Canada occupied the city of York, and burned Parliament and public buildings to the ground. The British gained support in some Native American tribes, who were hoping to stop the American encroachment onto their lands. Tecumseh and his allies fought along side the British against the Americans in an effort to ensure the protection of Native American property. The Americans built warships on the Great Lakes faster than the British and defeated the British fleet to avoid a catastrophic invasion of New York in 1814. At sea, the British blockaded the entire coastline, cutting off both foreign trade and domestic trade between ports. These blockades caused economic hardships but encouraged US manufactures to create their own factories and helped spark the industrial revolution in America.

Treaty of Ghent

Madison faced a number of issues as the war dragged on. He was stuck with poor generals, militia men who refused to fight outside of their states and a serious lack of unified popular support for the war. There were threats of succession from New England, which smuggled massive amounts of goods to Canada in an effort to recover revenues lost because of Britain’s blockade. Despite these issues, generals such as Andrew Jackson, and William Henry Harrison destroyed the main Indian threats by 1813. After the defeat of Napoleon in Europe the British had become exhausted of war. Many Americans did not support the war to begin with and the loss of shipping caused by the British blockade had hurt shipping tremendously. Both sides decided to settle the dispute and called for an armistice on Christmas Eve of 1814. That night the Americans and the British signed the Treaty of Ghent and agreed to end the fighting. **(Andrew Jackson actually fought his most famous battle against the British-The battle of New Orleans- 15 days after the treaty had been signed. His victory solidified the end of the war of 1812).**

Monroe (1817-1825)

Era of Good Feelings

The era of good feelings began with the end of the War of 1812, but is typically what historians refer to James Monroe’s two terms in office from 1817-1825. The nation was politically united behind the Democratic-Republican Party. The Era of Good Feelings started after the War of 1812. Nationalism surged even though the issues that had started the war were still somewhat present. America had not only survived the battle against the British they had scored a few land and sea victories of their own. The battles of the Thames, Lake Champlain and Baltimore were all American victories. These victories were obtained against the worlds most powerful navy. These victories instilled pride in the new nation. In the election of 1820, Monroe was re-elected with all but one electoral vote- thus demonstrating the political unity that existed in the country during this time. A myth has arisen that one elector deliberately voted against him so that George Washington would remain the only unanimously elected president.

Panic of 1819

The Panic of 1819 was the first major financial crisis in the United States, after the depression of the late 1780s. The depression of the 1780s led to the establishment of the dollar and in part to the calls for the Constitutional convention. The panic of 1819 resulted in widespread foreclosures, bank failures, unemployment, and a slump in agriculture and manufacturing. It was the end of the prosperity that America had experienced since the end of the war of 1812. Many believe that the economic problems were caused when the Second bank of the United States was re-chartered in 1816. The Second bank of the US had more conservative lending policies and called in loans that had previously been made. When people were unable to pay these loans, foreclosures began and many people ended up on the streets. Difficulties obtaining money because of the banks stricter lending polices made the manufacture of goods difficult and contributed to the economic downturn.

Adams- Onis

The Adams – Onis Treaty of 1819 settled the boarder dispute between the expanding United States and the Spanish. There were increasing tensions between the US and Spain over territories west of the Louisiana Purchase. At this time the power of Spain was declining and her Empire was shrinking. In 1817 and 1818 Adams and President James Monroe resumed efforts to acquire Florida and a western boundary for the Louisiana Purchase. After months of negotiations, the Adams-Onís Treaty was signed on February 22, 1819 The Adams-Onis Treaty granted Florida to the United States and settled a boundary dispute along the Abine River in Texas. The Spanish retained their claims to Texas, California, and New Mexico.

Missouri Compromise/ “Compromise of 1820”

In 1820, the issue of slavery was becoming more of a concern. As the country was expanding (as a result of the Louisiana Purchase) questions began to rise over whether newly added states would be allow or prohibit slavery. Since the American Revolution, the country had grown from 13 states to 22. The country had managed to maintain a balance between slave and Free states. There were 11 Free states and 11 slave states, a situation that gave both the slave states and Free states equal representation in the Senate. The Missouri compromise was the agreement achieved between pro and anti- slavery factions- divisions- in the United States. When Missouri sought to join the union as a slave state the balance of power would have shifted in favor of the slave states. Thankfully, Maine petitioned Congress for statehood at the same time. Both states were admitted, a free Maine and a slave Missouri, and the balance of power in Congress was maintained as before. In an attempt to address the issue of the further spread of slavery, the Missouri Compromise stated that all the Louisiana Purchase territory north of the southern boundary of Missouri, would be free, and the territory below that line would be slave.

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