Transcript File

American
Foreign Policy
CHAPTER 9, SECTION 1
PAGES 298 - 301
Building Background
The War of 1812 left the United States strong and more
self-confident.
The new nation had remained strong against a great
European power.
The United States then turn to diplomacy as a way to
settle international issues.
Rush-Bagot Agreement
The Treaty of Ghent had ended the War of 1812, but
there were issues that were left unresolved.
 Both the U.S. and Britain wanted to keep their navies and
fishing rights on the Great Lakes.
 Both sides reached a compromise by the establishing the
Rush-Bagot Agreement.
 This agreement limited naval power on the Great Lakes for
both sides.
Convention of 1818
The issue of fishing rights was addressed in the
Convention of 1818 treaty.
 Britain gave the U.S. fishing rights off parts of the
Newfoundland and Labrador coasts.
 This treaty also set the border between the U.S. and Canada
at 49th parallel as far west as the Rocky Mountains.
U.S. Gains Florida
Secretary of State John Quincy Adams held talks with
the Spanish about letting Americans settle in Florida.
 President James Monroe (1816) had sent U.S. soldiers to
secure the U.S.-Florida border. General Andrew Jackson led
the soldiers.
 During this time conflict began between the Seminole Indians
of Florida and the American settlers.
 The Seminole often helped runaway slaves and sometimes
raided American settlements.
First Seminole War
In April 1818 Jackson’s forces invaded Florida to capture
Seminole raiders. This act started the First Seminole War.
 During the war, Jackson took over most of Spain’s important
military posts.
 Then he overthrew the governor of Florida.
 In 1819 the two countries signed the Adams-Onis Treaty which
settled all border disputes.
 Under this treaty Spain gave East Florida to the U.S. and the
U.S. gave up any claims that it had on Texas.
Monroe Doctrine
After Mexico broke free from Spain in 1821, President
Monroe grew worried.
 Monroe feared that rival European powers might try to take
control of the newly independent Latin American countries.
 He was concerned about Russia’s interest in the northwestern
coast of North America.
 Adams and Monroe put together a document that was intended
to protect American interests.
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was an exclusive statement of
American policy warning European powers not to interfere
with the Americas. The main points of the statement were:
 The U.S. would not interfere in the affairs of European nations.
 The U.S. would recognize and not interfere with European
colonies already established in the Americas.
 Western Hemisphere was off limits to future colonization.
 Any attempt to colonize would be considered to be a hostile act.