Dealing with Other Nations PAGES 345 348 Objectives

Dealing with Other Nations PAGES 345 -348

Objectives o Explain why Spain ceded Florida to the United States o Describe how Spanish territories in the Americas gained their independence o Explain why the Monroe Doctrine was issued o Discuss how Canada became self-governing

Focus Question o How did U. S. foreign affairs reflect new national confidence?

Spain & the Americas o 1812: Spain controlled more territory in the Americas than any other European country o Spain’s control was weak in Florida – enslaved African Americans from Georgia and Alabama escaped into Florida and joined the Seminole Nation o The Seminoles often raided American settlements

How did the U. S. deal with the escapees? o 1817: sent Andrew Jackson to recapture those who had escaped slavery o Jackson attacked and destroyed Seminole villages o Went far beyond orders: seized two important Spanish towns and forced the governor to flee Florida o Jackson’s attack on Florida proved that Spain could not protect Florida

What do you think Jackson’s personality must have been like? An excerpt from his presidency (later down the road): “Jackson's powerful personality played an instrumental role in his presidency. He indulged in violent hatreds, and the extent to which his political positions reflected mere personal animus is still debated. Jackson demonized many of those who crossed him, including John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay, Bank of the United States president Nicholas Biddle, and Cherokee Indian chief John Ross. Jackson's own character polarized contemporaries and continues to divide historians. Some praise his strength and audacity; others see him as vengeful and self-obsessed. To admirers he stands as a shining symbol of American accomplishment, the ultimate individualist and democrat. To detractors he appears an incipient tyrant, the closest we have yet come to an American Caesar. ”

Do you understand how Jackson’s personality could lead others into thinking of him like this?

The Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819 o Since Spain could not protect Florida, it decided to give up the territory and a sign treaty o Spain ceded, or gave up, Florida to the United States o How did Andrew Jackson’s actions against the Seminoles demonstrate the power of the United States? o By seizing Spanish towns as well as destroying Seminole villages, he showed Spain that the U. S. could take Florida any time it wanted

Other Spanish Colonies o The American and French Revolutions inspired Latin Americans o Revolutionary movements were growing in almost all of the Spanish colonies

Mexico Breaks Away o 1810: Miguel Hidalgo organized an army of Native Americans that freed several Mexican provinces o Hidalgo was captured and executed by troops loyal to Spain o 1820: Another revolution broke out – Spain could not handle the fighting and agreed to Mexico’s independence

Independence for South and Central America o Simon Bolivar: led independence movements in the northern part of South America o Defeated the Spanish and became president of the independent Republic of Great Colombia o Includes today’s nations of: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama o By 1825, most parts of Latin America followed suit and had thrown off European rule

European Powers (like France and Russia) indicated they might help Spain regain its colonies… o Why might this worry President James Monroe? o What might the United States do in response?

The British were also worried… o Both nations wanted to protect trade with Latin America o 1823: Britain suggested that the two countries issue a joint statement o Statement would announce their determination to protect the freedom of the new nations of Latin America o How do you think the U. S. responds?

The Monroe Doctrine o Secretary John Adams told President Monroe he thought the U. S. should take action alone o Believed a joint statement would make the U. S. look like Britain’s junior partner o In a message to Congress in December 1823, the President stated what is known as the Monroe Doctrine: The United States would not allow European nations to create American colonies or interfere with the free nations of Latin America

Colonial Canada o Canada remained a British colony after the American Revolution o 1791: divided into two parts – Upper Canada (British) and Lower Canada (French) o British learned a lesson from the United States: they could no longer deny rights from the Canadians o What do you think the British did to maintain control of Canada?

Colonial Canada o British gave Canadians more powers of selfgovernment… what is self-government? o the right of people to rule themselves independently o A step in that direction--- The Act of Union of 1841: merged Canada’s two parts into a single Canadian legislature o However, Britain still had ultimate control

Contrast the British reactions to rebellions by Canadians and the American colonists. o Britain learned a lesson from the American experience and realized it would have to grant Canadians some self-government to keep Canada loyal to Britain

U. S. relations with Canada o had their own disagreements o tensions were high when the U. S. unsuccessfully tried to invade Canada in the War of 1812 o Eventually, the U. S. and Canada ended their border disputes and established excellent relations o Relations remain strong to this day

Focus Question Re-visited o How did foreign affairs reflect new national confidence? o The United States signaled that it was ready to take an active role in shaping events in the Western Hemisphere