Page 31 - NS-2 Textbook

24 MARITIME HISTORY

In the Algerine War, as it was called, the dey's fleet Gradually, ho,vever, American sentiment huned
was quickly defeated by a powerful US. naval squadron against the British because of increasing incidents of im-
comnlanded by Stephen Decatur, no"\v a cOlrunodore. pressments as the war dragged on. According to British
US. victory and the end of our troubles with the Barbary naval custOln, if short of crew, British \varship captains
states finally came in 1816. could stop any British merchantmen and take the men
111e lesson offered by the war with Tripoli has two needed to fill their crews. But problems arose when the
parts. First, giving in to demands for tribute and ransom British began seizing seamen off US. ships, claiming
(appeasement) usually only leads to more demands. Sec- they were deserters from the Royal Navy. This Inay have
ond, a 'weak navy invites aggressive actions by enenlies. had some basis in fact, for conditions in the Royal Navy
Refusing to give in to demands and maintaining a strong ,vere often bad, and u.s. merchant semnen Inade good
navy help to keep a nation out of war. 'vages. It ,vas not tU1ConUllon for British ,varships to lose
a significant part of their crews to desertion ,vhenever
they visited an Alnerican port during these years.
AMERICA MOVES TOWARD WAR
WITH ENGLAND
As mentioned previously, throughout the 1790s Napoleon THE CHESAPEAKE AFFAIR
Bonaparte's France had been at 'war with most of Eu-
Bad as the growing nwnber of impressments on Iner-
rope. In 1797 he attempted to conquer Egypt, but he
chant ships was, irate feelings against the British became
was defeated by Britain's Admiral Lord Nelson at the
even filore inflamed when a U.S. warship was boarded
Battle of Abu Qir Bay in August 1798. Still, he was able
and some of her crew were forcibly removed. In 1807 the
to seize conh'ol of the French govermnent in 1799, and
US. frigate Chesapeake, thirty-six gems, was set upon by
the following year he forced Spain to cede to France the
the HMS Leopard, fifty guns, off Cape Herny, Virginia.
Louisiana Territory in America. In 1802 the British and
The Chesapeake was fired upon and forced to surrender,
French agreed to peace in the Treaty of Anuens, but
after which the British took four of her seamen. One was
Napoleon knew that further conflict with the British
soon hanged as a British deserter.
,vas inevitable. Besides, the Louisiana Territory was far
TIle nation 'vas outraged, and there ,vere many de-
away and difficult to administer. So in 1803, as a way to
mands for a declaration of war against England. Presi-
finance his anticipated war against England, Napoleon
dent Jefferson, howevel~ "vas greatly opposed to any
sold the Louisiana Territory to the United States for
American involvement in the Etu'opean ,val's. So he tried
$15 million. Napoleon also hoped that this would cause
to stop the movement toward war by having Congress
the United States to look 'with favor to'ward France in
pass an embargo (stoppage) of exports of needed raw
its coming struggle with Britain, which began again
materials and food to Europe. He hoped that this would
later in 1803.
force the European powers to respect U.S. rights.
For tV-TO years following the outbreak of 'war between
All that the elnbargo did, hnwevel~ was cause severe
France and Britain in 1803, the U.S. 11lerchant lllarine
economic strain for U.S. shipping companies in New
made great profits as the leading remaining neutral car-
England and for fanners in the South and West. Soon
rier of ocean connnerce. But in 1805 that changed. At the
smuggling became rampant, fmther draining revenue
Battle of Trafalgar that year, the British fleet lmder Ad-
fronl the government. And neither Britain nor France
miral Nelson smashed the combined fleets of France and
stopped impressing American seamen or seizing U.S.
Spain, France's ally, making Britain ruler of the seas. At
merchant ships. By 1812, the English had taken over 900
the Battle of Austerlitz in December 1805 in Austria,
U.S. ships and had impressed more than 6,000 US. citi-
Napoleon crushed the combined Austrian and Russian
zens into duty with the Royal Navy. France had seized
arnties, V\Thich made France master of the European con-
over 500 US. merchant ships.
tinent. England and France then struck against each
other's sea lines of communication, an action that in-
evitably would involve the United States. FINAL MOVES TOWARD WAR
Once again, as had happened in the mid-1790s, US.
merchant ships were subjected to harassment and cap- James Madison became president in 1809. The next year
ture as prizes on the high seas. British Orders in Council congressional elections brought into office young "War
closed French ports to foreign shipping, and French de- Hawks" from the South and West. 111ese men called for
crees ordered French privateers to seize any ships trad- an end to pacifislll and urged an invasion of Canada as
ing with England or carrying British goods to continental punislnnent for the outrages at sea. They also wanted to
European ports. Nevertheless, U.S. merchants continued expand U.S. territory. Madison did not want Wal; so he
to make great profits by trading desperately needed sup- urged Congress to make one last try to halt the harass-
plies with both sides. ment at sea. Congress passed a bill stating that the United