the British should obtain possession of it, they would control the Mississippi and the Western country. Andrew Jackson was in command of the Southwestern forces, and moved rapidly to the coast. Andrew Jackson. The British had been prevented by Fort Bowyer from taking Mobile, and they abandoned Pensacola when Jackson approached. They were more intent on New Orleans, and moved their men and vessels to Lake Borgne. Jackson hurried after them, and made vigorous preparations to defend New Orleans. He called upon everybody, white and black, to help build fortifications. He led his men out of the town, and attacked the enemy in their camp at night. His energy inspired the greatest enthusiasm. General Sir Edward Pakenham and General Gibbs were in command of the British forces. Their men were miserably encamped in a marsh. They made defenses of hogsheads of sugar, while Jackson used cotton bales for the same purpose. The guns on each side quickly destroyed these temporary barricades, and Jackson used the black mud of the river bank with which to make earthworks. 117. Battle of New Orleans. - After a fortnight's siege, the British determined to storm the American works. Early in the morning of January 8, 1815, they made the attack. Jackson's men, trained to rifle shooting, and aided by artillery, met them with coolness. A second attack was made, but in less than half an hour from the first assault, the battle was over. General Pakenham was killed; General Gibbs was mortally wounded; a Highland regiment which had made a brave and stubborn assault was cut to pieces. The British withdrew, completely disheartened. The fleet failed to pass the fort which guarded the town, and the whole expedition was abandoned. Dec. 24, 1814. 118. The Treaty of Ghent. The victory was a complete one for the Americans; yet the battle was unnecessary. A fortnight before it was fought, a treaty of peace between the two countries had been signed at Ghent, in Belgium. Neither army knew of it, nor did the news at once reach the scattered vessels of the navy. These continued their operations until one by one they learned that the war was over. So bitter had been the continued opposition to the war in New England, that while the battle of New Orleans was going on, a convention of the New England States was sitting at Hartford, Connecticut, and passing resolutions very like the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions of 1798. In those days news traveled slowly, and a delegation was on its way from Hartford to Washington when the word came that peace had been declared. 119. The independence of the United States was securely fixed by the War of 1812. Although in the treaty of Ghent there was no word about the impressment of seamen, that grievance was not again to arise. The country was not only established in its own domain, but it had equal rights with Europe on the broad seas. It was henceforth to be one of the great powers of the world. The last vestige of subjection to the Old World disappeared when Decatur sailed into the harbor of Algiers in June, 1815. That country had again declared war upon the United States. Decatur compelled the Algerines to meet him on his own ship and give up forever all their demands. The other Barbary States signed similar treaties, and American commerce was free. QUESTIONS. What were the causes of the war with Great Britain? Where did operations begin? What was the result of the first encounter? Narrate the affair of Queenstown Heights. What was the size of the American navy at this time? Tell of the exploits of Rodgers; of Isaac Hull; of Decatur. What is the history of the ship Constitution? How was the navy reënforced? Narrate the beginning of Harrison's campaign. Tell of Perry's victory. Proceed with Harrison's movements. What went on in the Southwest? Describe the campaign of 1814. What was the British plan of operation? Give an account of the affair out of which the "Starspangled Banner arose. What was the battle of Plattsburg? Narrate the incidents which led up to the battle of New Orleans. What was the Need it have been fought? result of the battle itself? Hartford Convention? the United States ? What was the What was the final sign of the independence of SEARCH QUESTIONS. What were the terms of the treaty of Ghent? How much of the old Constitution remains in the vessel now to be seen? DEBATE: SUGGESTIONS FOR LITERARY TREATMENT. Resolved, That the Hartford Convention was a secession movement. TOPICAL ANALYSIS FOR REVIEW. I. THE GOVERNMENT IN OPERATION. 1. The Executive Department. a. The President and Vice President, 67. b. The Cabinet, 68. 2. The Judiciary, 69. 3. The Legislature, 67. 4. The first work of Congress a. Upon the Constitution, 70. b. In the payment of the debt, 71. c. In establishing a bank, 72. d. In raising revenue, 72. e. In enlarging the Union, 73. 5. The rise of parties, 71. II. THE CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE. 1. In the East and South. a. The population and its distribution, 74. b. The occupation of the people. i. At the North, 75, 77. i. At the South, 75-77. c. The development of natural resources, 78. 2. In the West. a. The movement thither, 80. b. Constituents of the population, 80. c. Complications with Indians, 80. d. Voluntary political organization, 80, 82. e. Political organization under the Constitution, 81, 82, 83. f. Mode of life, 84. III. RELATIONS WITH EUROPE DURING WASHINGTON'S ADMINISTRATION. 1. Commercial relations, 85. 2. The interest of Europe in America, 85. 3. The interest of the United States in France, 85. 4. The effect upon political parties, 85. 5. Effect of the European war. a. On commerce, 86. b. On politics, 86. 6. The treaty with England, 87, 88. 7. Washington's views on foreign relations, 90. IV. INTERNAL AFFAIRS DURING WASHINGTON'S ADMINISTRATION. 1. Difficulties with Indians, 88. 2. The Whisky Rebellion, 89. 3. Washington's views on domestic relations, 90. V. RELATIONS WITH EUROPE DURING JOHN ADAMS'S ADMINISTRATION 1. The behavior of France, 91. 2. The embassy sent by Adams, and its treatment, 91. 3. The effect upon the country a. In strengthening the national feeling, 91. b. In provoking the Alien and Sedition Laws, 92. 4. The policy of Napoleon Bonaparte, 94. 5. The Spanish treaty, 97. VI. INTERNAL AFFAIRS DURING JOHN ADAMS'S ADMINISTRATION. The death of Washington, 95. VII. RELATIONS WITH EUROPE DURING JEFFERSON'S ADMINISTRATION. 1. The war with the Barbary pirates, 101, 102. 2. The effect of the European war on American commerce, 104. 3. The efforts made by Jefferson to meet the difficulty, 104, 105. VIII. INTERNAL AFFAIRS DURING JEFFERSON'S ADMINISTRATION. 1. The occupation and organization of Ohio, 96. 2. The exploration of Louisiana territory, 99. 3. Burr's adventure, 100. IX. RELATIONS WITH EUROPE DURING MADISON'S ADMINISTRATION. 1. The Non-Intercourse Act, 106. 2. Effect of foreign policy upon domestic parties, 106, 109. 3. The break with England, 108, 109. 4. The settlement of the Barbary troubles, 119. X. THE WAR OF 1812-1815 1. Movements on the Canada border, 110, 111. 3. The operations on and about the Lakes, 113. XI. DEALINGS WITH THE INDIANS. 1. The pioneer and the Indian, 80, 84. 2. Frontier fighting, 88, 107. 3. Fights growing out of the war with England. a. The Indians in alliance with the English, 111, 113. |