HIST 105 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: French West Indies, Embargo Act Of 1807, The Dilemma
Document Summary
How people remember their past can affect their future: war of 1812: a necessary story. Very messy: no clear winner, initial causes very unclear, many citizens protest the war. Brought us into era of good feelings : neutral rights. Causes treated in this lecture: the pocketbook, honor, ambition, stalemate of france and britain, profits of neutrality. Us wanted to trade with britain and france: un-neutral neutrality (re-export trade) Sent ships over to france and then re-traded the goods to french. Blockade: neutral vessels to be searched and purchase expensive license: meant to stop imports of contraband; definition was very murky and up to individual interpretation. Threat of confiscation: napoleon"s berlin and milan decrees. Any ship trading with the british might be seized by french. Any ship who stopped in gb was subject to seizure once they entered europe: the dilemma of american commerce. If they submit to british blockade, risk seizure by french.
