Admin. Review Lesson 4: The United States Navy 1815-1844: Protector of Commerce.

Admin

Review

Lesson 4:

The United States Navy

1815-1844:Protector of Commerce

Learning Objectives• Comprehend the effectiveness of the U.S. Navy as

an instrument of diplomacy.• Know the state of naval technology and its evolution

during this period.• Know U.S. naval policy as a reflection of the period

of 1815-1844. • Comprehend the Wilkes expedition and assess its

importance to U.S maritime interests.

Remember our Themes!

• The Navy as an Instrument of Foreign Policy• Interaction between Congress and the Navy• Interservice Relations• Technology• Leadership• Strategy and Tactics• Evolution of Naval Doctrine

Period of Expansion

• Monroe Doctrine -- 1823– No European colonization or intervention in the

Americas. • Manifest Destiny

– “Our manifest destiny is to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions.”

» John L. O'Sullivan, 1845

Anglo-American Friendship

• Monroe Doctrine sprung from British interest to prevent Holy Alliance (Prussia, Russia, Austria) from grabbing Spanish colonies

• Began to see eye-to-eye with erstwhile Mother Country

• Love, peace, and harmony…kind of

Barbary Wrap-Up p.60

• Algerian Dey up to old tricks• Madison sends Decatur back to Med after

Treaty of Ghent• “Gunboat Diplomacy”

Monroe’s “Gunboat Diplomacy”

• Increase in Size• Anglo-American Cooperation• Monroe Doctrine (1823)• Squadron Deployment• From periodic scourge to worldwide

policeman

Board of Commissioners

• Secretary of Navy William Jones overwhelmed with paperwork during War of 1812

• Asked Congress to establish three officer “advisory board”

• Congress does so in 1815– John Rodgers– Isaac Hull– David Porter

Naval Warfighting Doctrine

• Primary mission of the Navy = “Gunboat Diplomacy”.– Protect U. S. commercial interests overseas -

“Showing the flag.”

• Overall Doctrine– Focus on Commerce Raiding - “Guerre de Course”.– Command of the sea -- de-emphasized.– Coastal defense - Army forts constructed at entrances

to ports.

Distant Stations p.65

• Mediterranean• West India• East India• Brazilian• E Pacific• N Pacific• Africa• Home

Jackson’s Naval Diplomacy

• “...standing armies dangerous to free governments in time of peace.”

• Enough ships to protect commerce• Bellicose in action

Sumatra

• Natives in Qualla Battoo raided American merchant Friendship

• Potomac captained by John Downes• Amphibious landing in Qualla Battoo

– slaughter• Jackson: publicly praises

The Falkland Islands

• Argentine governor Louis Vernet• Prosecutes illegal seal poacher Harriet• Lexington, Captain Silas Duncan in

Montevideo– Raids the Falklands

• Buenos Aries cuts of diplomatic ties with US• President entirely approves of

Duncan’s]conduct

1837- Handoff to Martin Van Buren

• 21 ships• Five Squadrons

– All operating away from the Atlantic Coast– Anglo-American friendship

• Van Buren not interested in Navy– Depression 1837– Secretary of Navy James K. Paulding kind of

a dud

Wilkes Expedition 1838-1842

• Lieutenant Charles Wilkes

– Six-ship squadron.

• Gathers scientific knowledge.

• Charted much of the Pacific Ocean, Antarctica, and North

American West Coast.

• Recognized growing importance of the Pacific.

– Increasing trade with Asia.

The “Wilkes Expedition” August 1838 - July 1842