Part 28 (1/2)

12. This embargo was the result of an act of Congress which forbade the exportation of all goods from the United States to Great Britain or her dependencies. It was very similar to the expedient resorted to by the Second Continental Congress for a like purpose, but was not enforced by any voluntary a.s.sociations of the people, as it was in 1775.

1812.

13. This extreme measure failed to bring Great Britain to a surrender of her claim to search American s.h.i.+ps; and on the 19th of June, for this and other just causes, war was declared against her. Mr. Madison would have temporized and still deferred the dreadful expedient, but the American people were resolved upon indemnity for the past and security for the future; and thus two kindred nations were to waste blood and treasure in an unnecessary quarrel.

QUESTIONS.

1. Who was President of the United States at this period? What is said of Jefferson's rule?

2. What States were added to the Union? What great territory was purchased?

3. How had Great Britain kept the treaty of Paris? What indignities were offered to the American people? How were these things affecting the people?

4. What is said of educational matters?

5. What mention is made of the Bingham school? What other schools are mentioned?

6. What was the condition of free education?

7. In what things were the people of the interior and west becoming specially interested?

8. What is said of the production of turpentine and tar?

9. What was proposed by General James Wellborn to the Legislature of 1805?

10. Give a general description of coast navigation at this time.

11. Give some particulars concerning trade.

12. Explain the embargo act.

13. What war was declared in 1812?

CHAPTER XLIII.

SECOND WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN.

A. D. 1812 TO 1815.

James Turner, of Warren; Nathaniel Alexander, of Mecklenburg; David Stone, of Bertie, and Benjamin Smith, of Brunswick, had served in turn as Governors of North Carolina during the years of growth and expansion described in the last chapters. William Hawkins, of Granville, was chosen to the same high office in 1812, and, as Commander-in-Chief of all the State's forces, felt unusual responsibility in prospect of war even then begun between Great Britain and the United States.

1813.

2. It was the purpose of the American government to seize Canada and carry on hostilities, as much as possible, in that portion of America. As no great army was a.s.sembled at any one point, no call was made upon North Carolina for troops to be sent outside of her borders, except to Norfolk, in Virginia. At that place Major-General Thomas Brown, of Bladen, was in command of a division sent from North Carolina.

3. General Brown was a veteran of the Revolution, and had rendered heroic service at Elizabethtown and elsewhere during that long and arduous struggle. His brigade commanders were General Thomas Davis, of Fayetteville, and General James F.

d.i.c.kinson, of Murfreesboro.

4. Camps were also established and troops held for action at other points. The western levies were collected at Wadesboro, under General Alexander Gray, and were drilled and kept in readiness to be marched to the relief of either Wilmington or Charleston. Colonel Maurice Moore, at Wilmington, and Lieutenant- Colonel John Roberts, at Beaufort, commanded garrisons for the defence of these seaports.