Reading 26 The End of Neocolonialism

- The War Of 1812
The election of 1810 brought war hawks or, new Jeffersonian leaders, into office. The War Hawks believed that the US had tolerated Britain’s presence in America, Indian Raids, and attacks on American commerce for too long. President Madison asked congress to declare war on June 1, 1812. Britain beat back American Forays and blockaded American coastal Waters. A British force occupied Washington, torched the capitol, and sent the presidents, congress, and the people off to Virginia in a panic. During the war people were beat in the streets. Before the war ended American forces won several victories in which ended any threat of British invasion from Canada and weakened the British –Indian alliance. The British government was concerned about Europe so the offered to begin negotiation and America accepted. The two sides reached the agreement and Britain would leave western posts and fighting would come to an end. The war mad a huge impact on America. African Americans fought in the war and began to be looked at in a different way.

- United States and the America
After the war the president and congress proposed new policies for Latin America. Europe talked of helping Spain build an empire which alarmed Great Britain and the US. The British foreign secretary proposed the idea of Anglo- American cooperation to prevent Spain’s intentions and John Quincy Adams opposed the idea. A new Latin American Policy was now proposed. The Doctrine stated that the American continents were closed to the New European Colonization, Political systems were separated from Europe, US would consider Europe as dangerous, and the US would not interfere with existing colonies.