Sea Power and Maritime Affairs: Sea Power and Maritime Affairs Lesson 6: The United States Navy, 1815-1860: The Search for Professionalism


Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives Comprehend the effectiveness of the U.S. Navy as an instrument of diplomacy. Know the state of naval technology and its evolution during this period. Know U.S. naval policy as a reflection of the period of 1815-1860. Comprehend the Wilkes and M. C. Perry expeditions and assess their importance to U.S maritime interests. Know the technical advances used in the Crimean War and lessons learned.


Period of Expansion: Period of Expansion Monroe Doctrine -- 1823 No European colonization or intervention in the Americas. Manifest Destiny “Our manifest destiny is to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions.” John L. O'Sullivan, 1845


Anglo-American Friendship: Anglo-American Friendship Monroe Doctrine sprung from British interest to prevent Holy Alliance (Prussia, Russia, Austria) from grabbing Spanish colonies Began to see eye-to-eye with erstwhile Mother Country Love, peace, and harmony…kind of


Continuing Problems with Barbary States: Continuing Problems with Barbary States


Barbary Wrap-Up: Barbary Wrap-Up Algerian Dey up to old tricks Madison sends Decatur back to Med after Treaty of Ghent MFN - Sets standard for US maritime pacts in 19th century The Golden Age of “Gunboat Diplomacy”


Monroe’s “Gunboat Diplomacy”: Monroe’s “Gunboat Diplomacy” Increase in Size Anglo-American Cooperation Monroe Doctrine (1823) Squadron Deployment From periodic scourge to worldwide policeman


Board of Commissioners: Board of Commissioners Secretary of Navy William Jones overwhelmed with paperwork during War of 1812 Asked Congress to establish three officer “advisory board” Congress does so in 1815 John Rodgers Isaac Hull David Porter


Naval Warfighting Doctrine: Naval Warfighting Doctrine Primary mission of the Navy = “Gunboat Diplomacy”. Protect U. S. commercial interests overseas - “Showing the flag.” Overall Doctrine Focus on Commerce Raiding - “Guerre de Course”. Command of the sea -- de-emphasized. Coastal defense - Army forts constructed at entrances to ports.


Initial Squadrons (1826): Initial Squadrons (1826) Mediterranean West India Brazilian Pacific East India (1835)


Permanent U.S. Navy Squadrons: Permanent U.S. Navy Squadrons


Permanent Squadrons: Home Squadron Atlantic coast. Mediterranean Squadron Barbary states’ tribute demands. West Indies Squadron David Porter battles Caribbean and Gulf Coast piracy. Brazil Squadron Enforcement of the Monroe Doctrine. African Squadron Enforcement of ban on the slave trade (Enacted in 1807). Pacific Squadron Chile and Peru, later Hawaii - protection of whaling fleets. East Indies Squadron Protect expanding U.S. trade in Asia. Permanent Squadrons


West Indies Squadron: West Indies Squadron Spanish degenerates to outright piracy Monroe turns to Navy 1821 Adams-Onis Treaty WI Squadron cleans out Caribbean Based in Key West James Biddle, David Porter 1841 Absorbed into “Home Squadron”


Pacific Squadron: Pacific Squadron Isaac Hull Anglo-American relations Dolphin to Hawaii Peacock to Honolulu MFN


President Andrew Jackson: President Andrew Jackson


Jackson’s Naval Diplomacy: Jackson’s Naval Diplomacy “...standing armies dangerous to free governments in time of peace.” Enough ships to protect commerce But Bellicose in action


Sumatra: Sumatra Natives in Qualla Battoo raided American merchant Friendship Potomac captained by John Downes Amphibious landing in Qualla Battoo slaughter Jackson: publicly praises


The Falkland Islands: The Falkland Islands Argentine governor Louis Vernet Prosecutes illegal seal poacher Harriet Lexington, Captain Silas Duncan in Montevideo Raids the Falklands Buenos Aries cuts of diplomatic ties with US President “entirely approves of [Duncan’s] conduct


Turkish-American Treaty- 1830: Turkish-American Treaty- 1830 Most Favored Nation status Opened Black Sea to American merchantmen Confirmed principle of extra-territoriality Guranteed human treatment of shipwrecked sailors Set standard for 19th century American diplomacy outside of Europe


1837- Handoff to Martin Van Buren: 1837- Handoff to Martin Van Buren 21 ships Five Squadrons All operating away from the Atlantic Coast Anglo-American friendship Van Buren not interested in Navy Depression 1837 Secretary of Navy James K. Paulding kind of a dud


A word on Science and Technology...: A word on Science and Technology...


Industrial Revolution: Industrial Revolution Affects naval technology. Propulsion Sail to Steam Armor Wood to Iron Weapons Solid Shot to Shell


Steam Power: Steam Power James Watt -- Steam Engine advances made in 1770’s. Robert Fulton - Steam-driven “paddle wheelers”. Clermont - 1807 First practical steamship. Demologos (Fulton) - 1814 First steam warship. Engines and paddles take gun space and are vulnerable to attack. M. F. Maury, Robert Stockton and M.C. Perry: Leading naval advocates for steam power. Fulton II - 1837 -- Commanded by M.C. Perry. Mississippi and Missouri - 1842. Princeton - 1842-43 “Screw” propeller warship. Stockton brings John Ericcson from Europe to design. All machinery below decks. Merrimack - class “fast screw” frigates - 1850’s. European navies also develop steam power and screws.


Robert Fulton: Robert Fulton


USS Mississippi: USS Mississippi


USS Princeton, 1842-43: USS Princeton, 1842-43


USS Mississippi: Battle of Vera Cruz M.C. Perry’s Flagship USS Mississippi


Wilkes Expedition 1838-1842: Wilkes Expedition 1838-1842 Lieutenant Charles Wilkes Six-ship squadron. Gathers scientific knowledge. Charted much of the Pacific Ocean, Antarctica, and North American West Coast. Recognized growing importance of the Pacific. Increasing trade with Asia.


The “Wilkes Expedition” August 1838 - July 1842: The “Wilkes Expedition” August 1838 - July 1842


MatthewFontaineMaury: Matthew Fontaine Maury Pathfinder of the Seas “Father of Naval Oceanography” Studies of weather and currents allow preparation of detailed navigation charts.


Back to the action...: Back to the action... Manifest Destiny The Mexican-American War The Ante-Bellum period


“Tippecanoe and…”: “Tippecanoe and…” Abel P. Upshur SECNAV under President Tyler Tyler Doctrine: No one colonizes Hawaii Bureau System Continued Naval Increase Guerre de Course


The “Bureau System”: The “Bureau System” Secretary of the Navy Upshur -- 1841-42 Proponent of expansion, modernization, and reform. Five “bureaus” established to replace the Board of Commissioners in 1842. Bureau of Navy Yards and Docks Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography Bureau of Construction, Equipment, and Repair Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Bureau of Provisions and Clothing


Slide35: “We have tried every effort at reconciliation… But now, after reiterated menaces, Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States (Rio Grande), has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon American soil…. The two nations are at war.”


Mexican-American War 1846-48: Mexican-American War 1846-48 Republic of Texas Independent from Mexico: 1836. Annexed by United States: 1845. Southern border in dispute with Mexico. General Zachary Taylor Operations against Mexican Army in Texas - 1846. Picking a fight 25 April 1846: clash on the border


Naval Action: Naval Action


Gulf of Mexico - 1847: Gulf of Mexico - 1847 SECNAV George Bancroft Home Squadron David Connor Blockade, bombardment, amphibious assault Where is the gurre de course? We are the stronger power! Kept to our guns “Free ships make free goods” Legal blockades...pretty boring


Gulf of Mexico - 1847: Gulf of Mexico - 1847 U.S. Navy establishes command of the sea. Blockade and capture of Mexican ports. Marines used as a garrison force. Combined Army-Navy operations at Vera Cruz. Commodore M.C. Perry takes command of Home Squadron Amphibious landing including Marines. General Winfield Scott marches to Mexico City. Accompanied by a regiment of Marines. Marines in the Battle of Chapultepec. “The Halls of Montezuma”


GeneralWinfield Scott: General Winfield Scott


CommodoreMatthew Calbraith Perry: Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry


Battle of Vera Cruz: Battle of Vera Cruz


Battle of Vera Cruz: Battle of Vera Cruz


Pacific Squadron: Pacific Squadron Initially under Commodore John Sloat. Monterey and San Francisco captured by joint American forces - Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. Commodore Robert Stockton - Los Angeles. California and Oregon occupied by the end of the war.


Battle of Monterey: Battle of Monterey


GeneralZacharyTaylor: General Zachary Taylor


Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo - 1848: Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo - 1848 Rio Grande established as Texas-Mexico border. Western United States ceded from Mexico. Mexico kept Baja (lower) California


Crimean Peninsula: Crimean Peninsula The Crimean War 1853-56


Crimean War 1854-56: Crimean War 1854-56 Russian invasion of Ottoman Empire in Europe. Battle of Sinop Russian fleet annihilates Turkish fleet by use of shell fire. Proves wooden-hulled ships are obsolete -- unable to withstand explosive shell fire. Great Britain and France allied with Ottoman Turks. Sevastopol Campaign Sailing ships inadequate compared to steam ships for maneuver. Importance of proper planning and coordination of amphibious assaults. Kinburn Ironclad armor on French ships used for protection.


Secretary of Navy James C. Dobbin: Secretary of Navy James C. Dobbin Hagan: “godfather of modern American Sea Power” Modernized fleet in order to maintain “our proper and elevated rank among the great powers of the world.”


U.S. Navy Expedition to Japan - 1854: U.S. Navy Expedition to Japan - 1854 Acquisition of California and Oregon - 1848. U.S. is now a power in the Pacific Ocean. Japan Island nation closed to foreign influence. Commodore M.C. Perry U.S. Navy squadron to Japan - 1853. Returns to Tokyo Bay - 1854. Treaty of Kanagawa - 1854 Protection of American seamen. Two ports opened to American shipping.


CommodoreM.C. Perry: Commodore M.C. Perry


USS Susquehanna - Commodore Perry’s Flagship during mission to Japan.: USS Susquehanna - Commodore Perry’s Flagship during mission to Japan.


Armor: Armor Korean “Turtle” Ships Japanese-Korean War 1592-1598 Iron deck on galleys provided protection from boarding and projectiles. French ironclad frigate Gloire - 1859. 36 guns in broadside. 5,600-tons displacement. Wooden hull with iron armor plating. British ironclad battleship Warrior - 1860. 40 guns in broadside. 9,000-tons displacement. Iron hull with iron armor plating. First “modern” warship -- sometimes referred to as first battleship.


HMS Warrior: HMS Warrior Portsmouth, England First “Modern” Warship


Ordnance: Ordnance USS Princeton ordnance demonstration - 1844. Ericcson’s “Oregon” and Stockton’s “Peacemaker”. “Peacemaker” improperly reinforced. Explosion kills six, including the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy. U.S. naval ordnance development suspended. John Dahlgren -- “Father of Modern Naval Ordnance” “Dahlgren Gun” - 1850’s. Nine inch shell gun. Mounted on Merrimac - class frigates. Bore is smooth - still inaccurate at longer ranges. Experiments with “rifled” cannon begin.


John Dahlgren: John Dahlgren Father of Modern Naval Ordnance


The “Peacemaker”: The “Peacemaker”


Conclusion 1815-1860: Conclusion 1815-1860 Period of U.S. territorial and commercial expansion. Navy grows after War of 1812. Supports American trade overseas. Relative peace throughout period. U.S. -- defensive and isolationist policy for Europe. Popular support of Navy slowly declines. Experiments with new naval technologies.


Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives Comprehend the effectiveness of the U.S. Navy as an instrument of diplomacy. Know the state of naval technology and its evolution during this period. Know U.S. naval policy as a reflection of the period of 1815-1860. Comprehend the Wilkes and M. C. Perry expeditions and assess their importance to U.S maritime interests. Know the technical advances used in the Crimean War and lessons learned.


Slide67: Next time: The Civil War