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The Jefferson Era
The Coming of War
Chapter 8, Section 3
Pages 278 - 283
Building Background
The United States tried to stay neutral in the conflicts
between France and Great Britain, but it was impossible to
avoid getting involved.
French and British ships interfered with American trade
across the Atlantic.
The British also caused trouble along the western frontier.
Many Americans began to want to wage war with Great
Britain.
Violations of Neutrality
While overseas trade was profitable for American
merchants, it was also risky.
Ships had to travel great distances, often sailing through
violent storms.
Merchant ships sailing in the Mediterranean risked capture
from pirates from the Barbary States of North America.
Attacks continued until the U.S. sent the USS Constitution
and other ships to end them.
Violations of Neutrality
In 1804 the pirates seized the United States warship
Philadelphia and towed it into Tripoli Harbor.
When a United States navy captain and his raiding party
burned the ship, a British admiral called it a “bold and
daring act.”
The conflict ended in June 1805 when Tripoli agreed to
stop demanding tribute. However, the United States had to
pay a ransom of $60,000 to release American prisoners.
Violations of Neutrality
While the Barbary pirates were a serious problem, a
greater threat troubled the Americans.
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Both Britain and France wanted to stop the U.S. from supplying
goods to the other.
Each government passed laws designed to prevent American
merchants from trading with the other.
In addition, the navies of both nations captured many American
ships searching for war supplies.
Trouble on the Seas
The British needed sailors, so they kidnapped American
sailors.
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Their naval patrols claimed the right to stop American ships at
sea. They seized sailors though to be British deserters and
forced them into service.
This practice of impressment did catch some deserters, but
thousands of the impressed sailors were native-born and
naturalized American citizens.
Attack on the Seas
The British attacked the American ship Chesapeake in
June 1807.
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The British warship Leopard intercepted the Chesapeake and
demanded to search the ship for British deserters.
The British opened fire when the Chesapeake’s captain refused
to let the British search his ship.
American Reaction
Americans were furious at the British when they heard of
the attack.
Many demanded war. However, Jefferson chose another
path.
Congress passed a disastrous trade ban in December
1807 called the Embargo Act.
The Embargo Act
The intent of the Embargo Act was to hurt Britain. Instead,
the embargo banned imports from and exports to all foreign
countries.
 The act was a disaster. It wiped out all American commerce with
other nations.
 It was also ineffective against Britain because it traded with Latin
America for agricultural goods.
 On March 1, 1809, Congress repealed the act and passed the
Nonintercourse Act. This act prohibited trade with only Britain
and France and their colonial possessions.
Conflict in the West
Disagreements between Great Britain and the U.S. went
beyond the neutrality issue.
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In the early 1800s, Native Americans in the old Northwest
Territory continued to lose land as thousands of settlers
moved into the region.
British agents from Canada began arming Native Americans.
Rumors of British activity in the old Northwest Territory began
to anger Americans.
Tecumseh Resists
Tecumseh, a Shawnee chief, watched angrily as the
Native Americans were being pushed off their lands.
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He warned other Native American groups about the dangers
that they faced from the settlers.
He believed that the Native Americans had to do what the
white Americans had done – unite.
Tecumseh hoped to united that Native Americans of the
northwestern frontier, the South, and the eastern Mississippi
Valley.
Tecumseh
Tecumseh
Tecumseh met with the white people and the governor of
the Indiana Territory, General William Henry Harrison.
Harrison warned him on the weakness of a Native
American-British alliance and the power of the United
States against them.
Tecumseh said that it was the Americans who were killing
the Native Americans, taking away the land and pushing
the Native Americans to do mischief, and keeping the
tribes from uniting.
Battle of Tippecanoe
In 1811 William Henry Harrison attacked Tecumseh’s
brother, the Prophet, at the Battle of Tippecanoe.
The Americans proclaimed a victory, while the Prophet’s
forces fled.
Unfortunately for the Americans, Tecumseh and the British
forces united as a result of the American victory.
The War Hawks
The War Hawks, led by Henry Clay from Kentucky and
John Calhoun from South Carolina, pushed for the
president to declare war with Britain.
The Federalists in the Northeast remained opposed to
war.
● The War Hawks were eager to expand the nation’s power.
● By their efforts, the size of the army quadrupled through
military spending.
The Opposition
The strongest opponents of the War Hawks were New
England Federalists.
British trade restrictions and impressment had hurt New
England’s economy.
People there wanted to renew friendly business ties with
Britain instead of fighting another war.
Declaring War
Republican James Madison was elected president in 1808.
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He faced the difficulty of continuing an unpopular trade war
begun by Jefferson.
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He also felt growing pressure from the War Hawks.
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By 1812 he decided that Congress must vote on war.
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Madison blasted Great Britain’s conduct and asked Congress to
decide just how the nation should respond.
Congress decided to declare war.