Jefferson’s Foreign Problems

Pirates and The Barbary States

Tensions with Britain and France

JEFFERSON’SSECOND TERM

Essex Decision (1805)Essex Decision (1805)

The British ruled that trade closed during peacetime could not be reopened during wartime and US shippers would be prohibited from trading with the French West Indies.

Berlin Decree (1806), Milan Decree (1807):Berlin Decree (1806), Milan Decree (1807):

These decrees issued by Napoleon dealt with shipping and led to the War of These decrees issued by Napoleon dealt with shipping and led to the War of 1812. The Berlin Decree initiated the Continental System, which closed 1812. The Berlin Decree initiated the Continental System, which closed European ports to ships which had docked in Britain. The Milan Decree European ports to ships which had docked in Britain. The Milan Decree authorized French ships to seize neutral shipping vessels trying to trade at authorized French ships to seize neutral shipping vessels trying to trade at British ports. British ports. 

Orders-in-councilOrders-in-council

British laws which led to the War of 1812. Orders-in-council passed in 1807 British laws which led to the War of 1812. Orders-in-council passed in 1807 permitted the impressment of sailors and forbade neutral ships from visiting permitted the impressment of sailors and forbade neutral ships from visiting ports from which Britain was excluded unless they first went to Britain and ports from which Britain was excluded unless they first went to Britain and traded for British goods. traded for British goods. 

1806: England closed ports under French

control to foreign shipping (incl. US), seized US ships & impressed Americans.

Napoleon ordered seizure of all merchant ships that

entered British ports.

impressment

ImpressmentImpressment An act of kidnapping An act of kidnapping a ship, its contents, a ship, its contents,

men and forcing men and forcing them into your navythem into your navy

•1806, Chesapeake was a US merchant ship 10 miles off the coast of Virginia. A British ship in the region ordered it to stop.

•British ship Leopard fired 3 shots at the Chesapeake before it surrendered

•3 Americans were killed, 18 wounded and 4 sailors impressed

•1806, Chesapeake was a US merchant ship 10 miles off the coast of Virginia. A British ship in the region ordered it to stop.

•British ship Leopard fired 3 shots at the Chesapeake before it surrendered

•3 Americans were killed, 18 wounded and 4 sailors impressed

Chesapeake affair

Most Americans were angered over this incident and public opinion was to go to war with the British.

Most Americans were angered over this incident and public opinion was to go to war with the British.

Chesapeake article

Regarding the Chesapeake Affair, the Washington

Federalist reported,

“We have never, on any occasion, witnessed the spirit

of the people excited to so great a degree of indignation, or such a thirst for revenge,

as on hearing of the late unexampled outrage on the

Chesapeake. All parties, ranks and professions were

unanimous in their detestation of the dastardly

deed, and all cried aloud for vengeance.”

embargo1

•Jefferson’s response to the

Chesapeake Affair was the Embargo

Act of 1807….

•Short of war, Jefferson

attempted to defend our

neutrality by stopping all

American exports to the world.

•Jefferson’s response to the

Chesapeake Affair was the Embargo

Act of 1807….

•Short of war, Jefferson

attempted to defend our

neutrality by stopping all

American exports to the world.

•Reasoning: Since England and France were at war with one another and traded for most of their natural resources with U.S., if we cut off

our exports to them it would force them to respect our neutrality….THIS IS CALLED

ECONOMIC COERCION. •It would have the reverse effect……

•The Embargo Act not only hurt France and Britain but it also hurt U.S. trade which was our

economic survival as a nation. As a result, many Americans defied the law and began to

smuggle goods from these countries as well as others.

•Hurt American businesses•New Englander’s shift from trade to industry•U.S. smuggled•New England talked of secession…..•Lasted 15 months, repealed in March of 1809

•Reasoning: Since England and France were at war with one another and traded for most of their natural resources with U.S., if we cut off

our exports to them it would force them to respect our neutrality….THIS IS CALLED

ECONOMIC COERCION. •It would have the reverse effect……

•The Embargo Act not only hurt France and Britain but it also hurt U.S. trade which was our

economic survival as a nation. As a result, many Americans defied the law and began to

smuggle goods from these countries as well as others.

•Hurt American businesses•New Englander’s shift from trade to industry•U.S. smuggled•New England talked of secession…..•Lasted 15 months, repealed in March of 1809

embargo2

•American people were hostile towards Jefferson

•Referred to the Embargo as “Dambargo, Mobrage,

Go Bar Em”….

•Would be replaced by the Non-Intercourse Act by

President Madison which allowed U.S. exports and trade but not with France

and Great Britain……

embargo2

“Our ships all in motion,Once whiten’d the ocean;

They sail’d and return’d with a Cargo;Now doom’d to decayThey are fallen a prey,

To Jefferson, worms and EMBARGO.”

A Federalist circular in Massachusetts A Federalist circular in Massachusetts against the embargo cried out,against the embargo cried out,

““Let every man who holds the name of Let every man who holds the name of America dear to him , stretch forth his hands America dear to him , stretch forth his hands

and put this accursed thing, this Embargo and put this accursed thing, this Embargo from him. Be resolute, act like sons of liberty, from him. Be resolute, act like sons of liberty,

of God, and your country; nerve your arms of God, and your country; nerve your arms with vengeance against the Despot (Jefferson) with vengeance against the Despot (Jefferson)

who would wrest the inestimable germ of who would wrest the inestimable germ of your Independence from you---and you shall your Independence from you---and you shall

be Conquerors!!!”be Conquerors!!!”