Navy in the Napoleonic Era

1. Sea Power & Maritime Affairs Lesson 3 Navy in the Napoleonic Era 1783-1815

2. Admin • Anything you want to include • Quizzes • Assignments • Etc

3. Last Class American Revolution • Causes • Battles • Outcomes • Role of Navies

4. Today • Navy after American Revolution • Barbary Wars • Reestablishment of Navy (1794) • Piracy • Anglo-French (“Napoleonic”) Wars • Quasi War • War of 1812

5. 8 Key Themes • Navy as an instrument of foreign policy • Interaction between Congress and Navy • Interservicerelations • Technology • Leadership • Strategy & Tactics • Evolution of US Naval Doctrine • Future missions of Navy and USMC

6. Warning For the sake of clarity, this information is presented in thematic order, rather than chronological order. Please be mindful of this as you study it.

7. Napoleonic and Barbary Wars Video

8. 1783 Treaty of Paris US Independent • Must organize itself Key issues • Defense • GB/Spain/France/Native Americans • No maritime protection • Trade • Between states • On oceans • Brit trade advantage lost • Protection from pirates • States v. Central Gov’t • Division of power?

9. Fate of Navy and Marines Articles of Confederation • Ratified 1781 • “No state may maintain a peace-time standing army or navy.” • Congress must collect taxes to create Navy Results • Continental Navy and Marine disbanded • All ships sold by 1785

10. 2nd Constitution Convention Problems with Articles of Confederation • States too powerful | central gov’t too weak • Saw military as “rifle on mantelpiece” • Federalist Papers • Federalist No. 11: Hamilton argues for Navy New Constitution • Ratified 1788 • Expands powers of central government • Article 1, Section 8: • “…Congress shall have Power…to provide and maintain a navy” (but none created until 1794)

11. Continued Debate Navalists Non-Navalists Want large navy for: • Symbol of national greatness • Balance of power in Europe • Protect commerce Want small/no navy because: • Expensive • Provocation for war • Didn’t want drawn into European wars • Hire fleet if needed Who are they? • Citizens of merchant towns • Particularly north-east • Federalists • John Adams, Hamilton, John Jay Who are they? • Rural farmers • Particularly south • Democrats • Thomas Jefferson

12. Barbary Pirates Drive to re-establish Navy and Marine Corps (1794)

13. Barbary Pirates Reason for Navy/USMC: Barbary Pirates • No Navy to protect commerce • Pirates began capturing American merchantmen in Med and Atlantic • We create fleet to quash them

14. Barbary States

15. Barbary Pirates Tribute System • Most countries paid a “tribute” to Barbary Pirates • Colonies no longer protected under British tribute • Pirates began attacking American merchantmen • Started during revolution | increased after • Captured and sold US ships • Sold crew for ransom or into slavery Reaches a boiling point when • Portugal signs treaty with pirates • No longer policing them, or keeping them pinned in Med • Pirates take a few American ships in a few weeks

16. Congress Debates Response • Pay tribute? Declare war on pirates? How to fight without Navy? Agreement:Naval Act of 1794 • Build Navy while seeking treaty • One-time authorization for “6 Frigates” • Explicit purpose to defeat Barbary pirates • If treaty signed, ships will not be completed • Ships designed with 44 guns because largest Barbary warship had 44 guns • Secretary of War responsible for Navy Dept.

17. Humphrey’s Frigates 3 of 44 guns, 3 of 36 guns • Joshua Humphreys designed them • Highly advanced ribbed design • Made to last 100 years • Georgia live oak exterior • Rated to 50+ guns • Establish five Navy shipyards to build them • Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Portsmouth, Baltimore, Norfolk • Logistical mess Humphreys

18. Treaty with Pirates US signed treaties • Algiers (1795) | Tripoli (1796) | Tunis (1797) • Pay tribute for safe passage Big Question: Complete the ships? • Navalists want all six • Non-navalists want zero • Settlement: Complete three • United States (44), Constellation (36), Constitution (44)

19. USS United States USS Constitution USS Constellation All commissioned by 1797

20. 1st Barbary War 1801-1805

21. 1st Barbary War Short Video 1.5 min 1st Barbary War Longer Video 13 min

22. 1801 - 1805 1st Barbary War Cause • Pirates continued to harass American shipping • Despite treaty and tribute • Dey of Tripoli demanded higher tribute Congress debated • Tribute or war? • Jefferson’s opinion: • Always opposed tribute • Maintain a navy squadron in Med for protection Decision: Sent a squadron to defeat pirates

23. 1st Barbary War Commodores Tipoli declared war while Dale enroute The Man Richard Dale Edward Morris Edward Preble 1801-1802 • Divided fleet • Weak blockade of Tripoli harbor • Escorted merchantmen • Ineffective, but • Inadequate force • No US declaration of war 1802-1803 • 7 frigates, 1 sloop • Family with him • Disobeyed orders • “Lie off Tripoli” • Commits force to convoy escort • Highly ineffective • Recalled and dismissed from Navy 1803-1805 • Adept leader/fighter • “Preble’s Boys” • Credited with defeating Pirates

24. Preble 1802-1804 1st Barbary War Blunders and Heroes • USS Philadelphia • Decatur & USS Intrepid • Gunfire against fort • Gunboats • Action at other Barbary States

25. 1st Barbary War William Eaton • Eaton, Hamet, O’Bannon Dey agrees to terms • $60,000 for release of prisoners • No more tribute payments Presley O’Bannon

26. 1st Barbary War What it taught U.S. • Diplomacy • Validates Navy = useful & effective • First example of “gunboat diplomacy” • Tactics • Gunboats with forts = effective • Validates blockading • Heroes & heroics = national pride

27. Jeffersonian Naval Policy President(1801-1809) • Wanted navy for: • Defense • For ports: Gunboats and forts • For coast: Small cruising frigates & ships-of-the-line • Settle manageable disputes • Ability to fight weak adversaries • i.e. Barbary Pirates • Congress cuts Navy funding

28. Jefferson Presidency: 1807-1809 Gunboat Navy Cost: • Frigate: $300,000 • Gunboat: $10,000 Crew: 20 Propulsion: • Small sails and oars Guns: 2 or 3 cannon • 18-, 24-, and 32-pound • Stationed in major cities • 172 at peak, but utter failure during War of 1812 without support of forts.

29. Anglo-French “Napoleonic” Wars 1792-1815

30. Anglo-French “Napoleonic” Wars Resumed with French Revolution (1789) • Monarchy overthrown • French King & Queen beheaded (1793) • Brits declared war • 7 wars over 22 years • World War: all European nations entwined • Napoleon rises to power (1799) • Conquers most of Europe • France controlled the land (5x size British Army) • Brits controlled the seas (2x size French Navy)

31. Anglo-French “Napoleonic” Wars France America in the middle – Mixed allegiances and motives • Alliance with France • Trade issues • British blockaded France across globe • “Orders in Council” – no foreign trade with France • “Continental System” – French response • Difference: British could enforce it Great Britain • Formal treaty with France • American-style revolution • Pro: Thomas Jefferson • Trade/heritage with Britain • British invasion dangerous • Pro: John Adams & Hamilton

32. Anglo-French “Napoleonic” Wars Official US policy: “Neutral” Reasons • No appetite for ongoing European wars • 7 Years War, Am Revolution, now more wars • Money • Economy booming • Trade with both was enormously profitable Washington declared • American alliance was only with French king • His execution ended American military obligation • US proclaims right to trade with both nations

33. Anglo-French “Napoleonic” Wars Neutrality Issues • Adams Administration • US merchant ships captured by French & British • Adam’s reaction: • Jay’s Treaty (1797) • Quasi War (1798) • Jefferson Administration • More merchant ships captured • Jefferson’s reaction: Embargo Act (1807) • Highly unpopular= destroyed merchant economy • US navy ordered to blockade its own coast • Did not work. James Madison repealed

34. Anglo-French “Napoleonic” Wars Neutrality Issues • Madison Administration • Repealed Embargo Act • Passes Non-Intercourse Act of 1809 • Trade with everyone but France and England. • Macon's bill No. 2 (1810) • Trade with everyone including France and England • US would reward whichever would first repeal its trade restrictions against US. • Napoleon agreed, and US re-imposed embargo on England in February 1811

35. Battles & Wars GB v. France US v France US v GB 7 Wars in 22 years • 1792-1815 Land war • Culminates in failed French invasion of Russia Sea war • Culminates at Battle of Trafalgar (1805) Quasi War • 1798 - 1800 • Where? • Caribbean • First US naval victories War of 1812 • 1812-1815 • Where? • Great Lakes • Chesapeake • Atlantic • Gulf • Europe • Pacific • Stunning victories, but US doesn’t really win or lose war

36. 1805 Battle of Trafalgar Culmination of naval war • Napoleon wanted to invade Britain • Had conquered most of Europe except Britain • British Navy was only thing stopping him • Napoleon ordered fleet out of port • French & Spanish reluctantly got underway • Engaged British off Trafalgar, Spain • British: ADM Horatio Nelson | 27 Ships-of-the-line • French/Spanish: ADM Villeneuve | 33 ships-of-the-line

37. 1805 Battle of Trafalgar

38. 1805 Battle of Trafalgar Formal Tactics Melee tactics • French/Spanish • ADM Villeneuve • 33 ships-of-the-line • In port for years • British • ADM Horatio Nelson • 27 Ships-of-the-line • Seasoned fighters

39. 1805 Battle of Trafalgar Outcome: British decimated French/Spanish • Most one-sided victory since Spanish Armada • Brits retained absolute dominance of seas • Lord ADM Horatio Nelson made British hero • No French invasion of Britain • British tightened blockade • Tensions increased with U.S. on seas • Compounded toward War of 1812

40. Quasi War Undeclared war with France 1798-1800

41. Quasi War Who: US v. France Causes • French anger at US • US refusal to honor Revolutionary War alliance against Great Britain • Jay’s Treaty: GB “most favored [trade] nation” • Economic embargos • Continental System | Orders in Council • French privateering • Attacking American merchants in Caribbean

42. Quasi War 4. XYZ Affair (1797) • French refused to receive American ambassador • Adams sent a delegation to peacefully settle issues • French Foreign Minister demanded $250,000 to speak to him • Americans outraged • “millions in defense, but not one cent in tribute.” Angry Congress reacted • Formally annulled Treaty of Alliance with France • Authorized • Attacks on French warships • Letters of Marque & Reprisal

43. Main Players John Adams Benjamin Stoddert • President during war • Outraged at French impudence, but avoids official declaration of war • Appointed 1st SECNAV • Oversees: • Naval war effort • Ambitious ship-building • Very adept SECNAV Benjamin Stoddert John Adams

44. Main Players COMMO John Barry COMMO Thomas Truxton • First COMMO of US Navy • Oversees operations in Caribbean • USS Constellation • Hero of Quasi Wars • Two victories in frigate duals with French COMMO John Barry COMMO Thomas Truxton

45. 1798 - 1800 Quasi War American Advantage • Most of French fleet stuck in Europe behind British blockade • Brits also fight French Navy USS Constellation (Truxton) • Defeated: L’Insurgente • Damaged: La Vengeance USS Boston • Defeated: Le Berceau Other Action • Only one US warship captured • USS Retaliation off NJ. Later recaptured by US. • Multiple amphibious ops • Both nations engaged in • Privateering • Guerre de course

46. Outcome of War No formal declarations of war • But was effectively war for navies Treaty of Mortefontaine(Paris, 1800) • France agreed to end of alliance • Both countries returned captured ships • Free passage of goods (no embargo) Navy outcome: Boon for US Navy • All-Navy war • Navy is source of national pride • Tripled size of fleet • Even now have ships-of-the-line

47. Outcome of War Problem for Navy • Thomas Jefferson elected president • Expected to completely eliminate navy • Navalists voluntarily reduced Navy size to forestall more draconian reductions • Peace Establishment Act (1800) • Congress cut Navy from 50 to 13 ships • Only 17 ships at beginning of War of 1812

48. War of 1812 1812-1814 (1815)

49. War of 1812 Causes • Economic trade sanctions • British Orders in Council • Blockade of France (only legal if effective) • GB violation of neutral commerce • Sanctity of US ships • Merchantmen: • GB stopped and searched US ships for contraband and deserters. Felt they could do it anywhere • Warships: • Illegal search of US warships for British deserters

50. War of 1812 Causes 3. Impressment • Chesapeake-Leopard Affair (1807) • HMS Little Belt (1811) 4. Native American Uprisings Great Lakes • Blamed on British • Warhawks in Congress • Interest in annexing Canada