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Naval captains had the right to stop ships at sea, search for deserters and other British citizens, and force them to join the crews of warships, this is called impressment. Some British captains seized almost any English-speaking sailors they could find. Almost 6,000 American sailors were impressed in the period, and American outrage over the practice contributed to the War of 1812.
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On April 22nd, 1793, President Washington passed a Neutrality Proclamation to define the policy of the U.S in response to the spreading war in Europe. The Proclamation warned Americans that the federal government would prosecute any violations of this policy by its citizens, and would not protect them should they be tried by a belligerent nation.
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On November 19th, 1794 representatives of the U.S. and Great Britain signed Jay’s Treaty (sought to settle outstanding issues between the two that were never resolved since the American Revolution). The treaty proved unpopular with the American public but still didn’t cause peace between the two nations.
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In 1796, George Washington decided to not serve for a third term. In his address, Washington called for unity and focused on threats home and abroad. He warned the public of the dangers of foreign entanglements/alliances. He said for the people to survive their elected leaders had to commit to lives of civic republican virtue meaning they they had to value reason over passion and the public good over private self-interest.
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The Chesapeake-Leopard affair was a fight between the British warship, the HMS Leopard, and the USS Chesapeake. The British confronted the Americans ship in search of the 4 of its members who had deserted the Royal Navy. This took place off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia. The 4 deserters were removed from the Chesapeake ship and tried for desertion. The British crew was under the command of Captain Salusbury Pryce and the American vessel was under the command of captain James Barron.
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The Embargo Acts of 1807 were a series of laws passed by the U.S. in an attempt to protect American interests during a time of tensions with Britain and France. These acts were passed to prevent American ships from engaging in foreign trade to avoid being involved in conflicts and to pressure Britain and France to respect American neutrality, trade, and commerce. This proved to be futile as illegal trade was promptly instituted by merchants and the acts were quickly repealed.
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Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun were leaders of the War Hawks. they pushed for a more aggressive foreign policy, advocating for the annexation of Canada and the protection of American shipping rights. They believed that war with Britain would defend American sovereignty, open new territories for expansion, and safeguard maritime trade. The War Hawks greatly influenced the progression of tensions between Europe and the War of 1812. It deepened the troubles of American citizens and hindered trade.
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Tecumseh, a chieftain of the Shawnee tribe, led the movement towards gaining territorial freedom for Native Americans. In 1811 Tensions rose drastically between American settlers and Tecumseh’s Confederacy so in an effort to intimidate the confederation, William Henry Harrison led a troop of American soldiers towards Prophetstown. On November 7th 1811, Native warriors launched an attack on American troops and the battle that followed was, in effect, the first engagement of war the of 1812.
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The War of 1812 was initiated on June 18, 1812. The United States formally declared war against Great Britain. The escalation of tensions resulted from British practices such as impressment of American sailors, trade limitations imposed by the British, and disputes over territorial expansion. These accumulating issues, compounded by the American desire to safeguard national sovereignty and honor, converged to prompt the decision to engage in military conflict.
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Between December 15, 1814, and January 5, 1815, the Hartford Convention took place through multiple meetings. Delegates from the New England states gathered in Hartford, Connecticut, due to concerns of the perceived negative repercussions stemming from the War of 1812. This convention mainly focused on New England. With intricate effects on American society and tensions with Native American tribes, the war's resolution influenced negotiations and deliberations during the Hartford Convention.
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The Treaty of Ghent was signed on December 24, 1814, in Ghent, Belgium, ending the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain. The returned both nations to the conditions before the war. It didn't address many of the grievances that had led to the conflict, such as impressment and trade issues, but it stopped hostilities and established a framework for resolving future disputes. The treaty ended the war without any significant damage being dealt, and very little territorial changes.
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The Battle of New Orleans took place on January 8, 1815, during the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain. It was a significant American victory led by General Andrew Jackson. Despite occurring after the Treaty of Ghent had ended the war, the battle boosted American morale and showcased the military prowess of American forces. The Battle of New Orleans was marked as the last battle of the extensive war of 1812, and for the most part, ended conflict with Great Britain.