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Period: to
Expansion and War: Early 1800s
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Harrison Land Law
William Henry Harrison was responsible for the passage of this law which enabled white settlers to acquire farms from the public domain on much easier terms than previously. -
Harrison as Governor
Harrison was appointed governor of the Indiana Territory to administer President Jefferson’s proposed solution to the “Indian Problem.” Jefferson told Native Americans they had the choice of converting themselves into settled farmers and assimilate, or they could migrate to west of the Mississippi. In both cases, they would have to give up their tribal lands in the Northwest. -
The Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars finally began after years of tension rising across Europe. The fighting between Britain and France led both countries to try and block the U.S from trading with the other, in hopes of weakening each other’s economies. -
The Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar resulted in Britain destroying a majority of France’s navy, leaving Napoleon with no choice other than to switch his methods of fighting. Instead of relying on physical warfare, Napoleon aimed to weaken the British economy by establishing the “Continental System,” which restricted British's ability to import and export goods. The British responded by passing their own orders that demanded all trade towards the European continent be done through their ships. -
(Cont.) The Battle of Trafalgar
(cont.)
These conflicting rules that arose from the Battle of Trafalgar left the U.S stuck between the British and the French, violating the U.S’s wishes to remain a neutral nation in the conflict. -
Natives and their Land
The United States gained treaty rights to eastern Michigan, southern Indiana, and most of Ilinois from tribal leaders. In the southwest, white Americans were taking millions of acres from tribes in Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi. After the Chesapeake-Leopard incident, the British renewed their friendship with the Native Americans in anticipation of an American invasion of Canada. -
(Cont.) Chesapeake-Leopard Affair
(cont.) In 1807, the American ship Chesapeake encountered the British ship Leopard, and when the captain of the Chesapeake refused to let the Leopard sailors onboard his ship, the British opened fire and forced Chesapeake into surrendering. This event sparked controversy and anger across the U.S, and worsened their relations with Britain for a time. -
Chesapeake-Leopard Affair
Chesapeake-Leopard incident - The Americans had been long-time victims of Britain’s “impressment,” which was the British’s actions of boarding and searching American ships in search for British sailors that attempted to escape the harsher conditions of the British ships (these people were also called “deserters”). Though the British were only meant to take British sailors that had escaped, there had been several cases where the British actually captured and forced U.S sailors onto their ships. -
The Embargo Act
The Embargo Act was an embargo set in place by Congress in 1807 in order to avoid any conflicts that would result in war. The Embargo prohibited American ships from shipping good to any other port in the world, crippling the American trade and, in the end, the American economy. Though the Embargo was largely ignored, it still impacted the economy enough in order to send the U.S into a minor depression-- the merchants and shipowners taking the largest fall. -
Tecumseh's Plan
Tecumseh set out to unite all the Indians of the Mississippi Valley. He understood that the tribes could only resist the advance of white civilization if they united. He promised that they would halt white expansion, recover the Northwest territory, and make the Ohio River the boundary between the United States and Indian country. -
The Non-Intercourse Act
The Non-Intercourse Act was passed to replace the Embargo just before Madison took office. It reopened trade with all nations but Great Britain and France. -
Macon's Bill No.2
Congress allowed the Non-Intercourse Act to expire and replaced it with Macon’s Bill No. 2 which conditionally reopened free commercial relations with Britain and France. Napoleon announced that France would stop interfering with American shipping and Madison threatened to impose another embargo against Great Britain in 1811 unless they renounced its restrictions on American shipping. The British repealed its blockade of Europe. -
Republic of West Florida
Settlers in West Florida invaded a Spanish fort at Baton Rouge and asked Madison to annex the territory. Madison agreed and the prospects of Florida became a motivation for war. -
Tecumseh Leaves
Tecumseh left Prophetstown and traveled down the Mississippi in hopes of persuading the tribes of the South to join the alliance. -
Battle of Tippecanoe
Harrison attacked Prophetstown during Tecumseh’s absence. Although both sides had heavy casualties, the battle disillusioned many of the Prophet’s followers because they thought his magics would protect them. -
War of 1812 Declared
Madison gave into pressures (most of which were coming from the Northern and Southern borders due to their eagerness to expand into Canada and Florida, which were either protected by Britain or Britain's ally, Spain) and approved a declaration of war against Britain. -
Put-in-Bay and the Battle of the Thames
Americans fended off the British fleet at Put-in-Bay which gave way to an invasion of Canada which resulted in the death of Tecumseh at the Battle of the Thames. This disheartened the natives from fighting the war. -
British Counterattack
British navy successfully counterattacks American frigates after being less preoccupied with Napoleon. -
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
Jackson and his men took revenge on the Creek indians by slaughtering men, women, and children. Resulted in the Creeks agreeing to cede their lands and move west. -
Burning of Washington
British troops invaded Washington and burned down the White House in retaliation for the burning of the Canadian capital at York. -
Battle of Plattsburgh
On September 11th, the Americans turned back a massive British naval and land force thus securing the northern border of the States. -
National Anthem
Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner after watching the bombardment of Fort McHenry on a British ship. He was inspired by the American flag that remained standing after the battle. -
Hartford Convention
New England state delegates met in Hartford, Connecticut to discuss the possibility of secession. This event wasn't taken overly serious by the rest of the nation, however. -
Battle of New Orleans
Jackson defends New Orleans from the British, who finally surrendered after losing several waves of attacks. News of the treaty with Britain did not reach them until after the battle, therefore this battle occured two weeks after the war had officially ended. -
Treaty of Ghent
On Christmas Eve, the Treaty of Ghent was signed. Americans gave up demand for British renunciation of impressment and for the cession of Canada to the United States. The British abandoned their call for the creation of an Indian buffer state in the Northwest. -
Rush-Bagot Agreement
Provide mutual disarmament on the Great Lakes
