foreign affairs in the young nationmrscasianoushistory.weebly.com/.../chapter_12_notes.pdf ·...
TRANSCRIPT
Foreign Affairs in the Young Nation
Guidelines for how a country handles political and economic interactions with other countries.
Current Examples: ◦ North Korea
◦ Cuba
When Washington took office in 1789, America was weak ◦ No Army
Government did not have money
Americans believed a standing army could be used to take away their liberty. State militias could handle any threats to the U.S.
French Revolution ◦ Most Americans happy about France becoming a
republic
France goes to war with Britain ◦ 1793
◦ Causes issues with United States
During the American Revolution, the U.S. signed a treaty of alliance with France ◦ Agreements made with other nations to aid and
support each other.
In the treaty, the U.S. promised to aid France in time of war
Washington knew the U.S. was not prepared for war.
Announced a policy of neutrality ◦ A policy of not choosing sides in a war or dispute
between other countries.
The U.S. would do nothing to aid France or Britain in their war with each other.
In his farewell address, Washington said that the U.S. could gain nothing by becoming involved in other nations’ affairs (problems).
Washington’s policy of avoiding alliances with other countries became known as isolationism. ◦ A policy of avoiding political or military agreements
with other countries.
“First in War, First in Peace, First in the Hearts of His Countrymen.”
The Jay Treaty ◦ Britain refused to leave the Ohio Valley ◦ France hoped it would lead to the U.S. going to war
again with England
Chief Justice John Jay ◦ Sent to London to settle with British ◦ British agreed to leave Ohio Valley
France upset ◦ Saw agreement as betrayal ◦ July 1796, French navy began attacking American
ships bound for Britain ◦ In one year, France seized 316 American ships
The XYZ Affair ◦ President Adams sends representatives to France to
end the attacks.
◦ French Foreign Minister Talleyrand refused to see the representatives
◦ Instead, three secret agents, known only as X, Y, and Z met with the American representatives
◦ The agents said no peace talks would happen unless Talleyrand received a large sum of money as a tribute
A payment of money as the price of protection
(think of the Mafia)
XYZ Affair outraged American citizens
“Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!”
America prepares for war ◦ Congress voted to recruit 10,000 men & voted to
build 12 new ships
◦ Congress authorizes American warships & private warships (privateers) to launch a “half war” on the seas.
During the undeclared war, more than 80 armed French vessels are captured.
Adams knew war would not be good for the country.
1799 – sent peace mission to France ◦ Federalists not happy
Napoleon now in control of France ◦ Eager to make peace
◦ Already ordered an end to the seizure of American ships and release of captured American sailors
◦ Most importantly, agreed to end alliance with U.S.
◦ In exchange, Americans did not ask France for all the seized ships.
The U.S. government would have to pay for all the ships France seized.
To Adams, this seemed a small price to pay for peace.
Adams decision cost him reelection in 1800.
Adams left the nation at peace with no permanent alliances that might drag the U.S. into war.
Peace with France did not last long
1803 - France and Britain at war again
Both countries seizing American trade ships
“England has become a den of pirates and France has become a den of thieves.” Jefferson
Britain began impressing American sailors from seized ships & forcing them to serve in the British navy ◦ Impressing = kidnapping
◦ Claimed they were British deserters
Anger peaked in 1807 ◦ British warship, the Leopard stopped the American
warship, the Chesapeake to search for deserters
◦ Chesapeake refused to let them onboard
◦ Leopard opened fire on Chesapeake 21 American sailors killed
Barbary States ◦ North Africa
See map on next slide & page 166 in textbook
◦ Mediterranean Sea
Morocco
Algiers
Tunis
Tripoli
Pirates preyed on merchant ships entering the Mediterranean Sea ◦ Seized ships and held crews for ransom
Washington & Adams both paid tribute to the rulers of the Barbary States in exchange for safety of American ships ◦ This was kept quiet from the American people
(remember America’s reaction to the XYZ Affair)
By the time Jefferson became president, U.S. had paid almost $2 million
The ruler of Tripoli demanded more money in tribute
To show he was serious, Tripoli declared war on the U.S.
Jefferson hated war ◦ Hated paying tribute even more
1802 – sent small fleet of warships into Mediterranean to protect American shipping
1804 – American ships began bombarding Tripoli with cannons ◦ The American ship, Philadelphia, ran aground and
the captain & crew captured and held for ransom.
Stephan Decatur ◦ Young American naval officer
◦ Led a raiding party into the heavily guarded Tripoli harbor and set the ship Philadelphia on fire.
One year later, Tripoli signed a peace treaty agreeing to stop demanding tribute payments.
In return, the U.S. paid $60,000 ransom for the crew of the Philadelphia ◦ Tripoli originally wanted $3 million
Piracy from other Barbary States continued.
1815 – American and European naval forces finally destroyed the pirate bases
Jefferson tried to convince both France & Britain to leave American ships alone. ◦ Failed
◦ Between 1803-1807
Britain seized ~1000 ships
France seized ~500 ships
Jefferson proposed an embargo ◦ A complete halt in trade with other nations
Embargo Act of 1807 ◦ No foreign ships could enter U.S. ports, and no
American ships could leave, except to trade at other U.S. ports.
◦ Jefferson hoped this would hurt France & Britain
◦ Hurt the American trade instead
55,000 sailors lost their jobs
◦ Congress repealed (cancelled) the Act.
◦ France & Britain continued to attack U.S. ships
President James Madison took office in 1809
Offered France & Britain a deal: ◦ If they agree to stop attacking American ships, the
U.S. will stop trading with their enemies.
Napoleon agreed to offer ◦ At the same time, he also ordered his navy to
continue seizing American ships headed for British ports.
◦ Madison ordered trade to be cut off with Britain
Britain continued seizing American ships & impressing sailors
Madison considered going to war with Britain ◦ Merchants in New England knew war would cause a
blockade of their ports by the British navy
A closing off of an area to keep people or supplies from going in or out.
◦ Britain was also accused of stirring up trouble among the Native Americans in the Northwest.
Problems with Indians growing as settlers moved into the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys
Chief Tecumseh and his brother, the Prophet ◦ Shawnee Indians ◦ United Native Americans up & down the Mississippi
River into one Indian nation
Battle of Tippecanoe Creek ◦ Tecumseh & his warriors fight Indiana governor
William Henry Harrison & militia ◦ November 7, 1811 ◦ After the battle, Harrison found British guns on
battlefield. ◦ Fueled the “War Hawks: Congressmen wanting to go to war with Britain
Madison abandons isolationism
Congress declared war on Britain ◦ July 17, 1812
Bold move: ◦ U.S. has army of 7,000 poorly trained men and a
navy of only 16 ships
Conquering Canada ◦ War Hawks thought it would be easy, it wasn’t
◦ U.S. was turned back in 1812, 1813, & 1814
◦ By 1814, Napoleon was defeated so the British was able to send 15,000 troops to Canada
◦ Fight for Canada ended
British attacks Washington ◦ August 1814
◦ Capital & White House burned down
◦ Madison escapes
British attacks Baltimore
September 13, 1814 ◦ American lawyer Francis Scott Key watched the
British attack Fort McHenry throughout the night
◦ In the morning, he saw the American flag still waving
◦ Wrote a poem later put to music
◦ “The Star-Spangled Banner”
◦ British lost battle
The Battle of New Orleans
The city defended by General Andrew Jackson & militia of 7,000
January 8, 1815
7,500 British troops marched into battle
Casualties: ◦ Americans: 20
◦ British: 2,000
Unnecessary battle ◦ Two weeks earlier a peace treaty was signed
Both sides claimed victory
Neither side really won
Treaty of Ghent ◦ Settled none of the issues that lead into the war
◦ Issues of ship seizures and impressment faded away as peace came to Europe
The Results of the War
Indian resistance faded after the death of Tecumseh
National pride surged ◦ Second war for independence
Federalist party badly damaged by their opposition to the war ◦ Two war heroes will later become president:
William Henry Harrison
Andrew Jackson
James Monroe becomes president in 1817.
Returning nation to isolationism
Focusing on areas around America
Latin America’s Revolutions
Mexico ◦ Revolts against Spain
◦ Inspired by Miguel Hidalgo, priest
◦ Mexico won independence from Spain 1821
By the end of 1825, Spain was driven out of South America
The New Latin American Nations ◦ British supported the revolutions
Spain never allowed trade
Now the new nations open to foreign trade
◦ Some European countries not pleased and willing to help Spain recover Latin America
◦ Britain asked U.S. to join in sending a message to all to leave Latin America alone
John Quincy Adams ◦ Secretary of State ◦ Told Monroe it would be better for the U.S. to speak
for itself Not joined with Britain
The Monroe Doctrine ◦ 1823 ◦ Speech made by Monroe to Congress ◦ Stated that the nations of North & South America
were “not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers” Simply: North & South America are hands-off!
In the years ahead, the Monroe Doctrine joined isolationism as the basic principle of U.S. foreign policy.
It asserted that the U.S. would not accept European interference in American affairs.
It also told the world that the U.S. is no longer a weak collection of colonies/states and is now strong and confident to be respected by the world.