Midterm Flashcards
When was the continental Navy founded?
Oct 13, 1775
What was the primary naval strategy of the colonies during the American Revolution?
Guerre de course; “ War on Commerce”
What event encouraged France to officially join the American Revolution?
American victory at the battle of Saratoga
Who is known as the “Father of the American Navy”?
John Paul Jones
Pros and Cons of Creating a Navy
Navalist: Symbol of Power, Protect Commerce, Offset European Powers
Anti-Navalist: Too expensive, Leads to unnecessary conflict, Privateers are cheaper
Four Different Navies and their purposes.
Coastal - Defend territorial waters
Commerce - Defends trade
Regional - Operates in nearby seas
Capital - Challenges other nations for sea dominance
Why did congress pass the Naval Act of 1794? What was the goal and what did it authorize?
To create a commerce navy. Goal was to protect merchant ships. It authorized the building of 6 frigates.
What was the cause of the Quasi-War? What major action did it encourage the U.S. to take?
The U.S. refuses to continue loan payments to France after the French overthrow of the monarchy. It encouraged the U.S. to build the other three frigates from the Naval Act of 1794.
(T/F) The U.S. Navies new frigates thrived in one-on-one duels during the war of 1812.
True
What was “Manifest Destiny”?
The idea that Americans were destined to settle the entire continent of North America.
Why and how was the American Navy effective during the Mexican-American War?
With no opposing Mexican Navy, the U.S. Navy could easily set up a blockade and resupply/move troops via sea.
What were the landings at Vera Cruz and why were they significant?
The U.S. first major amphibious landing. It facilitated the successful siege of Mexico City.
Why were steam powered ships slow to adopt into the Navy?
They were expensive to build, dirty and unreliable, and needed constant upkeep.
What were the first armored ships made of? What were they called?
Ironclads, Iron over wooden hulls.
What battle marked the beginning of the Civil War?
Battle of Fort Sumpter, 1861.
What advantages did the Union have over the Confederacy during the Civil War?
More population, resources, and soldiers.
What were the different Naval Strategies of the Union and Confederacy?
Union: Anaconda Plan, Naval Blockade, Split south into two through the Mississippi River
Confederacy: Guerre De Course, Blockade Runners, Erode Union Political Will/Encourage Foreign Intervention (Great Britain).
What was the Anaconda Plan? What was the main goal?
Union’s Naval Strategy to “suffocate” the confederacy by setting up a blockade and capturing their major ports to prevent them from receiving foreign resources.
What advantage did capturing New Orleans give the Union during the Civil War?
Allowed Union control of the Mississippi River.
Throughout early American History, the size and strength of the U.S. Navy fluctuates for a variety of reasons. Discuss some examples that caused these fluctuations.
American Revolution (build up) and then disbanded due to financial constraints. Quasi-War (build up) lead to more frigate construction to protect commerce. Built up strong for the Mexican American War and then settled down afterwards during peacetime.
