HA! Foreign Policy 2: Madison & Monroe, pp. 232-237
1. What was 4th President James Madison’s approach to protecting Americans at sea? Result?
He asked both France and Great Britain to cease attacking American ships. Whichever one quit, the US would stop trading with the other country. The result was the Napoleon took the offer, but secretly continued attacking US ships. Meanwhile, the US cut off trade with Britain.
2. When Britain continued attacking ships, what did Madison consider?
He wanted to abandon George Washington’s policy of isolationism and go to war with Britain
3. Who opposed war with Great Britain? Why?
New Englanders and Federalists opposed going to war, because they knew that would would mean a blockade of their ports by the British navy.
4. Who supported war with Great Britain? Why?
Southerners and people in the West supported going to war because the resented the British for their impressment of US sailors, and for stirring up trouble among the Native Americans in the states and territories in the northwest.
5. What did Tecumseh and the Prophet try to do? What happened at the Battle of Tippecanoe?
They tried fighting back. The tribes along the Mississippi united into one Indian nation. At Tippecanoe, General William Henry Harrison defeated Indian forces. Harrison’s men found that the Indians were being armed by the British.
6. What did War Hawks want? Who were the loudest?
They wanted war with Britain. The most prominent were Henry Clay (KY), and John C. Calhoun (SC).
7. What reasons did the US have for going to war?
a. Losses at sea, b. national pride, c. a desire to make the frontier safe for settlement.
8. What did Oliver Hazard Perry do? Why did it matter?
He captured a British fleet of 6 ships on Lake Erie. This helped Harrison push into upper Canada and defeat the British in a major battle. Chief Tecumseh was killed in this battle.
9. How did the end of the Napoleonic War between England and France affect Americans in the War of 1812?
Britain could send more troops to fight in Canada, so the American plans to conquer the territory came to an end.
10. What happened to Washington, DC, in 1814?
A British army invaded and burned the Capitol, the White House and several other buildings.
11. What happened at Fort McHenry?
British attacked the port at Baltimore, Maryland – defended by Fort McHenry. Civilians were evacuated. Francis Scott Key watched the battle from a ship in Baltimore harbor, as bombardment went on all night. In the morning, seeing the flag over Ft. McHenry still waving, he was inspired to write a poem, The Star-Spangled Banner, which would be set to music and adopted as the national anthem.
12. Why was the Battle of New Orleans unnecessary?
British fleet had already surrendered and the Treaty of Ghent had been signed 2 weeks earlier, but word had not yet reached the American forces.
13. What did the Treaty of Ghent accomplish?
Nothing, really; both sides claimed victory although neither really won. Issues of impressment and attacks on shipping just faded away as peace came in.
14. List the results of the War of 1812.
· Tecumseh’s death in the war weakened Native American resistance in Northwest Territory. Eventually, most tribes would be driven out.
· Nationalism – surge in pride in the U.S. For the first time, people think of themselves as Americans first, not Virginians, New Yorkers, Georgians, Pennsylvanians, etc.
· Federalist party was ended – due to their opposition to what, after the Battle of New Orleans, had become a very “popular” war. William Henry Harrison and Andrew Jackson would later be elected president.
· We enter a period with only one political party, the Democratic-Republicans. Without the political fighting, this period becomes known as the Era of Good Feelings.
· The situation after the War of 1812 sets up favorable conditions for the Industrial Revolution.
15. What was 5th President James Monroe’s view of foreign policy?
He wanted to return to an isolationist policy after the War of 1812. He will end up getting involved in Mexican and South American politics.
16. Discuss the accomplishments of Miguel Hidalgo, Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin.
· Miguel Hidalgo – issued the grito de delores – the first call for Mexican Independence from Spain in 1810 – he was unsuccessful, but he inspired other movements; Mexico gained independence in 1821.
· Simon Bolivar – liberated Venezuela and several other South American nations, including Bolivia which is named for him, from Spanish control
· Jose de San Martin – freed Argentina from Spanish control
· By 1825, the last Spanish troops had been driven from South America
17. Why did Britain support Central and South American revolutions? What did Spain and other European nations want?
Britain wanted to trade with the newly independent nations for their natural resources (prohibited under mercantilism as long as they were controlled by Spain)
European nations who had suffered during the Napoleonic Wars began to talk about retaking their New World colonies to build their nations back up, so they supported Spain in its desire to regain its lost colonies
18. What was the Monroe Doctrine? Why was it important to American foreign policy?
5th President James Monroe, with Britain’s support/backing, made a speech announcing a policy known as the Monroe Doctrine. It declared the nations of North and South America free and independent and closed to any future attempts at European colonization.
The US didn’t have the power to back up the policy, but Britain defended it because of their interest in trade.
It joined US isolationism as US foreign policy up into the 20th century. Through it, the US demanded the respect of other nations of the world.
19. Read the Chapter Summary on pg. 237.