Sea Power and Maritime Affairs

1
Sea Power and Maritime Affairs

• Lesson 5.2 The U.S. Navy in the Napoleonic Era,
• 1783-1815

2
Enabling Objectives

• UNDERSTAND the historical context for the time
  period as it relates to U.S. history.
• EXPLAIN the influence of European events upon
  American Trade.
• IDENTIFY the causes and operations of the
  Quasi-War with France.
• DESCRIBE the Battle of Annihilation and Guerre
  de Course.
• DESCRIBE the background of Jeffersons defensive
  naval strategy.

3
Enabling Objectives

• RECALL operations against the Barbary corsairs.
• EXPLAIN the effect of the European war on the War
  of 1812.
• DEFINE U.S. and British Naval strategies during
  the War of 1812.
• EXPLAIN the contributions of the U.S. Navy during
  the War of 1812.

4
A New Government and a New Navy

• 1785 - All Continental Navy warships
  decommissioned.
• 1788- U.S. Constitution ratified
• The Congress shall have Power To provide and
  maintain a Navy.
• 5 years after Constitution signed, merchant
  shipping triples.
• Federalists vs. Republicans

5
Rebirth of the U.S. Navy

• Navy Act of 1794
• Six frigates authorized
• Cancellation Clause
• 1797 United States, 44, Constellation, 36, and
  Constitution, 44 completed.
• 1798 Department of the Navy established

• Guerre de course vs Guerre de escadre

6
Quasi War with France, 1798-1800
Millions for defense, not one cent for tribute!
USS Constellation and the Insurgente
Commodore Thomas Truxton
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Jeffersonian Naval Policy

• Large reductions in Naval funding.
• Reduced federal taxation and spending.
• Inward expansion -1803 Louisiana Purchase.
• Only 13 Navy ships sold except 13 frigates.
• Jeffersons Gunboat Navy - a strictly defensive
  strategy.
• Static and weak defense of American coast.
• Floating gun platforms - reduced maneuverability.

8
Barbary Wars 1801-1805

• War against the Barbary States begins
• Tripoli demands 200K for peace.
• Jefferson sends frigates instead.
• Commodore Edward Preble
• Prebles Boys will command ships in the War of
  1812.

This is the United States ship Constitution, 44
guns, Edward Preble, an American commodore who
will be damned before he sends his boat onboard
any vessel! Blow your matches boys!
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Barbary Wars 1801-1805

• 1804 USS Philadelphia held under Tripolis
  guns.
• Lieutenant Stephen Decatur
• Promoted to CAPT at age 25 2 months extra pay
  for crew.
• Marines march on Tripoli.

The most daring act of the age. - Admiral
Horatio Nelson
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England expects that every man will do his
duty.

• French Empire established under Napoleon.
• Napoleons France (Land Power) versus Coalitions.
• 1805- France severely weakened at sea by defeat
  at Trafalgar.
• 1814- Napoleon defeated
• Effect on U.S.?

11
The Clouds of War Form

• 1807 Chesapeake-Leopard Affair
• Neutral rights and sanctity of a
  warship.
• President Madison - 1809
• Impressment
• British seizure of U.S. Sailors.
• New England vs War Hawks

Never since the Battle of Lexington have I seen
this country in such a state of exasperation. -
Thomas Jefferson
12
The War of 1812 (1812-1814)

• 1812
• British impressment of U.S. sailors
• U.S. declares war against England
• U.S. unsuccessfully invades Canada
• 1814
• Aug British forces raid Chesapeake
• Washington DC burned
• Sep Baltimore -Fort McHenry
• Francis Scott Key pens the Star Spangled Banner.
• Naval Lesson Gunboats ineffective for coastal
  defense.

13
The War of 1812 (1812-1814)

• U.S. Naval Victories
• USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere
• USS United States vs HMS Macedonian
• USS Constitution vs HMS Java
• The Navy increases morale during the war and
  post-war support for the Naval service.

14
We have met the enemy and they are ours.

• The Battle of Lake Erie
• Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry
• Ft. Detroit cut off from supplies.
• Oregon and Michigan territories secured.
• Battle of Lake Champlain
• Commodore Thomas MacDonough
• Prevented British invasion of New York from
  Canada.

15
Battle History Video

• Chapter 1 "Born Into War", Time 0615 - 0902

16
Enabling Objectives

• UNDERSTAND the historical context for the time
  period as it relates to U.S. history.
• EXPLAIN the influence of European events upon
  American Trade.
• IDENTIFY the causes and operations of the
  Quasi-War with France.
• DESCRIBE the Battle of Annihilation and Guerre
  de Course.
• DESCRIBE the background of Jeffersons defensive
  naval strategy.

17
Enabling Objectives

• RECALL operations against the Barbary corsairs.
• EXPLAIN the effect of the European war on the War
  of 1812.
• DEFINE U.S. and British Naval strategies during
  the War of 1812.
• EXPLAIN the contributions of the U.S. Navy during
  the War of 1812.

18
Questions?