CHAPTER XVIII

THE WAR FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SEAS

Cause of the War.-When George Washington became President in 1789, the people of the United States hoped to enjoy their freedom without any more wars, but they soon found that they were to be disappointed. In a few months war broke out in Europe between France and Great Britain. The people in the United States at once took sides. Some favored France, and others favored Great Britain. Washington declared that the United States ought to be neutral and help neither country in this war. As a result both countries were offended, and both began to injure our commerce upon the seas. They captured hundreds

of our merchant vessels.

The American Commodore Truxton was sent against the French and captured two of their ships. All America thrilled with joy and excitement. A Philadelphia lawyer wrote "Hail Columbia," and soon thousands were singing this new song. Napoleon Bonaparte now came into power as the head of the Government in France. He soon pretended to make peace with our country, but the British continued to capture our ships. They also took our sailors and compelled them to serve Great Britain on board British ships. Moreover, the British refused to surrender Oswego, Niagara, Detroit, and other forts which they held at the close of the Revolutionary War and which they promised to give up. These things kept the United States and Great Britain in a quarrel for more than twenty years. In 1812, just twenty-nine years after the

close of the Revolutionary War, war broke out in earnest to protect the lives and property of Americans on the sea. There was much fighting on the sea and on the Great Lakes and some on land. The British captured the city of Washington and burned the Capitol and the other Government buildings, as well as the President's home.

Captain James Lawrence, commander of the United States frigate Chesapeake, was mortally wounded in an engagement with the British frigate Shannon off Boston on June 1, 1813. His words as he was carried below, "Don't give up the ship," belong to the famous heroic utterances of our history.

Close of the War.-Even before the last battle at New Orleans in 1815 the British were ready to make peace, and the United States were free to sail their ships upon the ocean without fear of being attacked by either France or Great Britain. The war in which the United States won the freedom of the seas is usually called the War of

1812. Sometimes it is called the Second War for Independence. It was the last war between the two great branches of the English-speaking race.

Our National Hymn.-It was an incident during this war that gave the United States "The Star-Spangled Banner. Baltimore was attacked by a British fleet, and Fort McHenry was heavily bombarded for forty-eight hours. On board one of the British warships was a young American prisoner, Francis Scott Key. Looking toward the city in the "dawn's early light" of September 14th, 1814, Key saw his beloved flag still flying over the fort. In an intense feeling of gratitude and patriotism he composed the song that was later adopted as America's national anthem.

1. Where did war break out while Washington was President? 2. What did Washington advise the United States to do about it?

3. What was the result?

4. What song was written at this time?

5. What caused much trouble between Great Britain and the

United States?

6. How long did the trouble continue?

7. Tell about the war that followed.

8. What did the United States gain by this war?

CHAPTER XIX

THE MEXICAN WAR

Cause of the War.-Another war followed in less than forty years. This time the quarrel was over our southern boundary line.

Texas had once belonged to Mexico. A great many people from the United States had gone over the line into Texas and settled there. They disliked the Mexican government and determined to govern themselves. This led in 1836 to a war between the Texans and the Mexicans. The Texans won and set up an independent state. Then this Republic of Texas asked to be admitted into the United States. Congress granted permission, and Texas became a part of our country in 1845.

Soon there was a dispute over the boundary line between Texas and Mexico. Both claimed a strip between the Neuces River and the Rio Grande. The United States sent soldiers into this disputed strip to protect it. Some Mexicans early in 1846 crossed the Rio Grande and attacked our soldiers. This meant war. The United States sent two armies into Mexico. General Zachary Taylor commanded one army, and General Winfield Scott commanded the other. When General Scott's army reached and captured the city of Mexico, the Mexican Government was ready to make peace.

Treaty of Peace.-Mexico gave up her claim to the disputed strip of territory that had caused the war, and when the treaty of peace was signed, she ceded to the United States all the territory west of this strip as far

as the Pacific Ocean. As compensation for this ceded territory, the United States paid Mexico $15,000,000 and settled claims of American citizens against Mexico to the amount of about $3,500,000 more.

The new territory proved to be very rich in gold, silver, and other minerals, and it has added untold millions to the wealth of our country. Large areas of the territory are also remarkably productive of farm and garden crops.

1. How did Texas become an independent state?

2. How did Texas become a part of the United States?

3. What caused a dispute between the United States and

Mexico?

4. How did war begin?

5. How many armies were sent to Mexico?

6. What was the result of the war?

7. What can be said of the new territory that was added to the

United States?