The 2nd War for Independence & the Upsurge of Nationalism

1812-1824 American Pageant Chapter 12 Part 1

War of 1812

On to Canada over Land & Lakes

British: Energy & vitality Early victory at Fort Michilmackinac Brilliant defensive campaign Rebuffed U.S. advances in Canada several times in 1813 America: Army ill-trained & scattered Canada important battleground Poor 3 pronged offensive strategy
Detroit, Champlain, & Niagara All beaten back

But more success on the water

On to Canada over Land & Lakes

American craft
More skill Better gunners Angry at impressment Frigatesthicker sides& heavier firepower
I.E. The Constitution Old Ironsides

On to Canada over Land & Lakes

Control of Great Lakes--vital
Oliver Hazard Perry victory
Lake Erie Infused new life into U.S. cause

Battle of the Thames Oct. 1813

British fleeing from Lake Erie battle Defeated by General Harrison

On to Canada over Land & Lakes

Late 1814
U.S. defending own land Napoleon defeatedBritish no longer distracted

British try to take New York

Through river/lake route Thomas Macdonough challenges bigger British fleet Victory forces British retreat & saves N.Y.

Washington Burns & New Orleans Defended

"Will you believe it my sister, we have a battle or skirmish near the city. I am still within sounds of the cannons, Mr. Madison comes not. May God protect us. Two messengers come in and asked me to leave the capitol, I must stay here and wait for my husband." ~Dolly Madison

Washington Burns & New Orleans Defended

Washington Burns:
The 25th of August 1814, the British marched down Constitution Avenue bearing a flag of truce and demanded a surrender. The flag of truce--fired upon from a house. The British troops rushed into the house, put all who were in it to the sword & then reduced the house to ashes. British then burn and destroy every building connected to the government.

Washington Burns & New Orleans Defended

Washington Burns continued:
While Washington burned, the President and his cabinet fled westward in to the hills of Virginia. At the White House, Mrs. Madison was persuaded to leave. British soldiers arrived at the President's house & found a dinner prepared for 40 people. They first ate every bit of food and drank every bottle of wine, then destroyed the White House.

Washington Burns & New Orleans Defended

Fort McHenry & the Star Spangled Banner: Francis Scott Key
September 1814, Baltimore, an attorney Went aboard British ship to negotiate release of a prisoner Not allowed to leave until after British attacked Fort Mc Henry Had to watch heavy bombardment on his own country for 25 hours.

Washington Burns & New Orleans Defended

Fort McHenry & the Star Spangled Banner: Francis Scott Keys feelings are best described in his own words, from a speech he delivered years later at Frederick, Md., before a hometown audience:

Washington Burns & New Orleans Defended

I saw the flag of my country waving over a citythe strength and pride of my native Statea city devoted to plunder and desolation by its assailants. I witnessed the preparation for its assaults, and I saw the array of its enemies as they advanced to the attack. I heard the sound of battle; the noise of the conflict fell upon my listening ear, and told me that the brave and the free had met the invaders.

Washington Burns & New Orleans Defended

In the same speech, he described how his tense emotions were suddenly released at the sight of the American flag still waving defiantly over the ramparts of Fort McHenry at dawn on September 14: Through the clouds of the war the stars of that banner still shone in my view, and I saw the discomfited host of its assailants driven back in ignominy to their ships. Then, in that hour of deliverance and joyful triumph, my heart spoke; and Does not such a country and such defenders of their country deserve a song? was its question. With it came an inspiration not to be resisted...

Washington Burns & New Orleans Defended

Andrew Jackson (Battle of Horseshoe Bend) Battle of New Orleans:
British superior in #, but Mistakenly attacked entrenched U.S. Victory occurred 2 weeks after Treaty of Ghent Brought wave of nationalism

British reaction--naval blockade

Hurt U.S. economy & bankrupt Treasury

The Treaty of Ghent

Tsar Alexander I offered to mediate Met in Ghent (in Belgium) in 1814 U.S. diplomats included John Quincy Adams & Henry Clay British made sweeping demands Americans rejected News of British losescompromise Signed Dec. 24, 1814 Not One Inch of Territory Ceded or Lost

Federalist Grievances & the Hartford Convention

Defiant New England
Worsened by Blockade Extremists Blue Light Federalists

Hartford Convention--1814
Minoritysuccession Majorityaddress grievances
Financial assistance, Amendment for embargoes, abolish 3/5 Clause Single term presidents, no successive presidents from same state

Arrived in D.C. same time as news of New Orleans & Ghent

Envoys slunk away in disgrace and into obscurity

The 2nd War for American Independence

War globally unimportant; huge consequence in U.S.
New respect for U.S. forces & diplomats Sectionalism(temporarily) discredited Andrew Jackson & William Henry Harrison
War heroes & future presidents

Indian cede more land in treaties Manufacturing prospered Rush-Bagot agreement 1817
Reduce naval arms in Great Lakes Leads to longest unguarded border in world

Nascent Nationalism
By-product of warNationalism National literature
Washington Irving, James Fenimore Cooper
American scenes & themes

American textbooks

ArtAmerican landscapes Revived Bank of United Stated1816 Army expanded Navymore glory w/victories
sound beating to Barbary pirates

The American System

After warBritish dumping manufactured goods Tariff of 1816sole purpose--protective tariff American SystemHenry Clay
Strong Banking system Protective tariffs Network of roads & canals
Better transportation needed in west (& why Canada battles lost) Madison vetoes $1.5 million given to state for internal improvements not Constitutional Individuals statesown construction programs

The So-Called Era of Good Feelings

James Monroe
Election of 1816
Won 183 to 34 in Electoral College

VA Dynasty Level headed & sober Goodwill tour

Received well even in Federalist New England Era of Good feelings--unity
Misnomersectionalism, etc. brewing

The Panic of 1819 & the Curse of Hard Times

Panic of 1819
1st panic since Washington Over-speculation of frontier lands Wildcat western banks
Bank of United States forces them to foreclose on farms
Bank of U.S. financial devil to west

Poor classesmost severe

Seeds of future Jacksonian Democracy Leads to remedial legislation for treatment of debtors

Growing Pains of the West

1791-18199 new frontier statesFree or Slave?
Westward movement Cheap land appealed to European immigrants Land exhaustion in South Economic distress, i.e. embargo Building of highways, i.e. Cumberland Road Steamboat

Land Act of1820

80 acres for $1.25 an acre

West needs: cheap money & transportation

Slavery & the Sectional Balance

Missouri applies for statehood1819 Tallmadge amendment
No more slaves brought in Gradual emancipation of next generation of slaves Southerners defeat law in the Senate Worrieddangerous precedent towards abolition?

Sectional Congress
North more populousmajority in House Equal representation in Senate (11 slave/free each)

Slavery issue increases as a moral question

 1820Proposed by Henry Clay:

The Uneasy Missouri Compromise

Missouri (slave) Maine (free) (kept even Senate) No slavery north of the line 36 30except Missouri

Neither North or South pleased

Postponed sectional conflict

James Monroeelection of 1820

Popularity overshadowed unpopular compromise Received all E.V. but 1 (only G.W. unanimous)