APUSH AMSCO Main points of Unit 4 (4.3
and 4.4)
4.4 - ANS-
Causes of the War of 1812 - ANS--Free seas and trade, or the lack thereof, was a
contributing factor to the war. Britain and France were both unwilling to stop impressment or
the seizing of US ships so they were locked in an eternal struggle.
-Americans longed for lands of British Canada and Spanish Florida, however the British and
their Spanish Indian allies were standing in the way.
-War Hawks: group of young demo-repubs known as War Hawks. They came from frontier
states and had gained influence in the House after the congressional election in 1810. They
were led by Henry Clay and John Calhoun. War Hawks received this name due to their
eagerness to go to war with Britain and they believed that going to war would be the only
way to defend American honor, gain Canada, and destroy American Indian resistance on the
Frontier
Challenges to US Neutrality and Chesapeake-Leopard Affair - ANS-Napoleonic Wars
dominated Europe. and France and Britain attempted to blockade enemy ports, seized
neutral ships, and confiscated cargoes. British were the main offenders to the US because of
their practice of impressment, which meant that they would capture US naval ships, claim
that the men were British, and force them to fight for the British navy.
(*Chesapeake-Leopard Affair* - in 1897, off the coast of Virginia, British ship Leopard fired at
the US ship Chesapeake, which killed 3 Americans and four were taken and impressed into
the British Navy. Many Americans demanded war because of this event but Jefferson
attempted to solve this problem by using diplomacy.)
Concerns about Westward Expansion - ANS--"Cheap Money" easy credit from state banks
rather than getting it from the National Bank
-Low prices for land that was sold by the government (little chance of profit and could create
issues)
-Improved transportation
Along with these issues, westerners disagreed on the expansion of slavery into these
territories. Those settling to the South were for slavery while those settling to the north were
against slavery. When Missouri applied for statehood in 1819, the expansion of slavery
became a heated and angry debate.
Embargo Act of 1807 - ANS-This act issued by Jefferson forbade American trading ships
from leaving the U.S. It was meant to force Britain and France to change their policies
towards neutral vessels by depriving them of American trade. It was difficult to enforce
because it was opposed by merchants and everyone else whose livelihood depended upon
international trade. Unfortunately, this act severely damaged the American economy.
Specifically, the New England shipbuilding industry was hurt so badly that New England
states were threatening to secede. In the final days of his presidency, Jefferson repealed the
Embargo Acts in 1809.
and 4.4)
4.4 - ANS-
Causes of the War of 1812 - ANS--Free seas and trade, or the lack thereof, was a
contributing factor to the war. Britain and France were both unwilling to stop impressment or
the seizing of US ships so they were locked in an eternal struggle.
-Americans longed for lands of British Canada and Spanish Florida, however the British and
their Spanish Indian allies were standing in the way.
-War Hawks: group of young demo-repubs known as War Hawks. They came from frontier
states and had gained influence in the House after the congressional election in 1810. They
were led by Henry Clay and John Calhoun. War Hawks received this name due to their
eagerness to go to war with Britain and they believed that going to war would be the only
way to defend American honor, gain Canada, and destroy American Indian resistance on the
Frontier
Challenges to US Neutrality and Chesapeake-Leopard Affair - ANS-Napoleonic Wars
dominated Europe. and France and Britain attempted to blockade enemy ports, seized
neutral ships, and confiscated cargoes. British were the main offenders to the US because of
their practice of impressment, which meant that they would capture US naval ships, claim
that the men were British, and force them to fight for the British navy.
(*Chesapeake-Leopard Affair* - in 1897, off the coast of Virginia, British ship Leopard fired at
the US ship Chesapeake, which killed 3 Americans and four were taken and impressed into
the British Navy. Many Americans demanded war because of this event but Jefferson
attempted to solve this problem by using diplomacy.)
Concerns about Westward Expansion - ANS--"Cheap Money" easy credit from state banks
rather than getting it from the National Bank
-Low prices for land that was sold by the government (little chance of profit and could create
issues)
-Improved transportation
Along with these issues, westerners disagreed on the expansion of slavery into these
territories. Those settling to the South were for slavery while those settling to the north were
against slavery. When Missouri applied for statehood in 1819, the expansion of slavery
became a heated and angry debate.
Embargo Act of 1807 - ANS-This act issued by Jefferson forbade American trading ships
from leaving the U.S. It was meant to force Britain and France to change their policies
towards neutral vessels by depriving them of American trade. It was difficult to enforce
because it was opposed by merchants and everyone else whose livelihood depended upon
international trade. Unfortunately, this act severely damaged the American economy.
Specifically, the New England shipbuilding industry was hurt so badly that New England
states were threatening to secede. In the final days of his presidency, Jefferson repealed the
Embargo Acts in 1809.
