Servo's Historical Poll #2: American War

[colemanfrancisfan]

MaryTRobot said:

No i'd feel even better if you'd give me a well written report over the Louisiana purchase.

How long? Sacagawea was the Native American who helped the guys, Lenny and Carl, get to the ocean on time to see Baywatch live.

Nah just kidding. You have to do some report on it for school or something?

[marytrobot]

yeah and I'm being evil, I'm trying to find a finished report and then translate it all to Spanish. soo I'm sorta cheating. and it needs to be really long so I can get a good grade.

[yousonuva]

Hey! You two are ruining this thread with your banter and I am now locking this thr--no, wait a sec. Someone mentioned my name. I'm joining in.

colemanfrancisfan2 said:

I think yousonuva could figure it out, too.

No speaka el spanol. I cheat

I know a little German though.

[marytrobot]

hey there where a few lines about history, and i want a report on the Luisiana Purchase and exploration that's history now if you could go find it for me....

[colemanfrancisfan]

MaryTRobot said:

yeah and I'm being evil, I'm trying to find a finished report and then translate it all to Spanish. soo I'm sorta cheating. and it needs to be really long so I can get a good grade.

Ok here are the basics: Thomas Jefferson bought the 827,987 square mile area from Napoleon for about 15 million dollars. Spain owned Louisiana and Spanish Florida at the time. They granted Americans the right of deposit at New Orleans, where they could sail up and down the Mississippi River. But in 1798 they stopped allowing this privilege, and they transferred Louisiana to France in 1800 in a secret Treaty of San Ildefonso. With French forces stationed in Louisiana, and Spanish governors still remaining, Jefferson feared that Napoleon and his ambitious nation would seek to present an obstacle to Amrican trading with the western territories owned by France. Jefferson also thought Spain would cede the Spanish Floridas to France. To counteract this, his secretary of state, James Madison, warned France and he told Louis Pichon that the US intended to have an outlet to the sea. And Robert Livingston was sent to France, and he told them that the US would only see that the Spanish Floridas transferred to the US, not France. In 1801, Spain had a treaty that would cede Louisiana to France. Jefferson wanted to prevent this if he could, so he told Livingston to try to stop it, or if had happened to try and get Florida from Spain. If they could get West Florida, which included New Orleans, that would be the optimal choice. France was warned by a friend of Jefferson, Pierre du Pont de Nemours, who in tyurn reported his instructions to Livingston that the US, if France annexed Louisiana, would form an alliance with Britain against France. After the right of deposit at New Orleans had been opened again briefly, in Oct. 18, 1802, Governor Salcedo closed it again, from the orders of the Spanish government, presumably an order dictated by Napoleon. Jefferson warned Napoleon that war might break out between them because of this act. James Monroe was also sent over to France to try and help Livingston settle the matter by purchasing the Floridas and New Orleans, or least the right of deposit. Napoleon feared war would break out with Britain, and as soon as war would break out in Europe, the US would seize New Orleans. He also feared the US and Britain teaming up against him. Napoleon considered ceding all of Louisiana to the US, and he soon instructed his finance minister Francois de Barbe-Marbois to reach a deal with the two AMerican envoys. Thwey were instructed to buy only the Floridas, but they felt confident that the US would appreciate the larger offer. The treaty was dated April 30, signed May 2, and reached the US on July 14, 1803. They ratified the treaty Oct. 20, and they finally took possession of it Dec. 20, 1803 Britain and the US agreed to make the northen boundary the 49th parallel, and that's why that area is so straight. In the Adams-Onis Treary of 1819 with Spain, the US acquired Florida.

How's that?

[CherokeeJack]

I voted for the Empire Strikes Back, err... WWII.

Wasnt slavery? You speak like it wasnt a factor. Even though it wasn't the only factor leading to war it was one of them and its hard for me to believe even after watching Gods and Generals I really dont think they would of freed their slaves, soon anyway. Slavery being a backbone and what not. I had ancestors that fought on both sides, more rebs than yanks though.

Vietnam, wasnt a war? Oh come on... and a list of actionable items isnt a plan. Vietnam still classifies in my book even if the technicalities arent there, but WWII still gets the cookie.

[doctorz]

If "interesting" is the operative word here, I'd put my money on the War of 1812. Obscure? Yes, but what a cast of characters! Tecumsah, Andrew Jackson, Davey Crockett to mention a few. The eastern native americans are still a viable threat on the frontier. Canada finally convinced our leaders they DIDN'T WANT TO BE AMERICANS, THANK YOU by whipping our ass in most of the major land battles on our northern frontier. Francis Scott Key writes a poem that will become our National Anthem during the night bombardment of fort William Henry in Baltimore. Parts of Washington, DC get burned up in a British raid. (British troops eat the president's meal in the White House then they torch the place.) We did better on the high seas with the cruisers Constitution and others scaring the hell out of the Royal Navy. All of this due to diplomatic blundering about on both sides and we were all sorry it happened afterwards and tried to make nice. This war was completely wierd which, in my way of thinking, makes it the most interesting of your poll.

[nightfalcawk]

I'm a fan of not readily known things. I like the War of 1812 for that reason.

[ash2]

I voted for 1812, because most people don't know how badly we got our butt kicked by the British during this war. Hell, they burned the White House (before it was even called that of course).

John

[cornjob]

Wasnt slavery? You speak like it wasnt a factor.

Freeing the slaves was a factor. Lincoln had strong religous beliefs, and he believed slavery was wrong.The two sides never got along decades (probably longer) before The Civil War because of social and economical differences. What really matters is why the soldiers fought.The Union soldies fought because of extreme loyalty to there state.Most northerners could care less about freeing the slaves.

I'll finish this tomorrow.

[Buddhist Kitten]

I voted for World War Two, because I don't know. I would like to read about it more, but in seventh grade, we don't get much past the Civil War.
Curse, I hate American History.