Chief Justice John Marshall issued several of the most important Supreme Court decisions during his tenure from 1801-1835. His 1810 decision in the Fletcher v. Peck case is among those with the greatest historical significance. Fletcher v. Peck centered around the Contract Clause of the Constitution (Article I Section 10 Clause I). In his decision …
When it comes to discussion around the causes of the War of 1812, one event stands out above the rest. Just what was the historical significance of the Chesapeake-Leopard affair and how did it help lead to the War of 1812? The Chesapeake-Leopard affair would not have occurred if not for the British policy of …
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Of the many factors that led to the War of 1812, British impressment of American sailors was one of the most consequential. Since colonial times the British Royal Navy practiced the policy of impressment, or forcibly seizing men against their will and “pressing” them into military service in the Royal Navy. Impressment was one of …
In 1807 President Thomas Jefferson helped to pass one of the most controversial laws in US history. Just why Jefferson’s Embargo Act of 1807 failed is a topic for debate amongst historians, though several theories are more widely accepted. The Embargo Act was passed in response to repeated British and French violations of American neutrality …
In the early 19th century Thomas Jefferson signed into law one of the most consequential pieces of legislation in US history: the Embargo Act. The significance of the Embargo Act of 1807 lies in how ineffectual it was at preventing war with Great Britain and the massive backlash it faced from the American populace. Tensions …
One of the most influential members of the early United States was Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson’s beliefs are commonly referred to as “Jeffersonian democracy,” which became the dominant political view during the early 19th century. Two political parties emerged in the United States despite George Washington’s warnings in his Farewell Address: the Federalist Party and the …
There were many economic measures that the United States utilized in the early 1800s in hopes of persuading Great Britain and France to honor its commercial rights as a neutral nation. The true significance of Macon’s Bill No. 2, the last economic measure, is in its failure and how it ultimately pushed the United States …
The War of 1812 is often overlooked in American history given that the war ended with virtually no changes to pre-war conditions. This position downplays the fact that the War of 1812 was extremely important on several fronts and helped to transform society in the United States. There were many causes of the War of …
In the early 1800s tensions increased between Native Americans and American frontier settlers in the Northwest territories. These tensions culminated in the important Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811 that saw US forces defeat a coalition of Native American warriors. The old Northwest territories included land in the modern-day Midwest including Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Following …
One of the most overlooked parts of the War of 1812 was the Creek War in the south. The major Battle of Horseshoe Bend between Creek warriors and the United States militia was an extremely important engagement and held great significance in the following years. The British overwhelmingly relied upon their Native American allies to help …
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At the end of the War of 1812 the United States fought a major battle against Great Britain. Just why is the Battle of New Orleans of 1815 important and what was so unusual about it? In American history the War of 1812 is largely a forgotten war. For almost the entirety of the war …
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The War of 1812 is often one of the most overlooked wars in US history, along with the treaty bringing it to an end. From a historical perspective, why is the Treaty of Ghent important and what long term results did it bring? Early on in the War of 1812 the United States struggled militarily …
