THE U.S. NAVY FROM 1783 TO THE CIVIL WAR

THE WAR OF 1812 - 12018_161

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REVIEW 1 QUESTIONS Q1. What was the reason for the formation of the United States Navy? Q2. During the late 18th century, battleships were classified as— Q3. During 1775, a craft was completed to fight the British Navy. What type of craft was this, what was it named, and who was its inventor? Q4. What is the significance of the 1776 raid on the island of New Providence in the Bahamas? Q5. The first official recognition of the American Stars and Stripes flag by a foreign nation was given by (a) what nation in (b) what location? THE U.S. NAVY FROM 1783 TO THE CIVIL WAR Learning Objectives: When you finish this chapter, you will be able to— Recognize the roles and responsibilities of the Navy from 1783 to the Civil War to include the War of 1812. At the end of the Revolutionary War, a new federal government was established. In 1783, the Navy was down to five ships. The Navy was disbanded, and the last frigate, the USS Alliance, was sold in 1785. Soon, Congress saw the need for a Navy. America’s small merchant fleet was being molested on the high seas. In 1794, a Navy-conscious Congress authorized the construction of six frigates. They were to be of a new d e s i g n — l o n g a n d s t r o n g . T h e s e s h i p s h a d a combination of firepower and class. One of these was the USS Constitution (fig. 5-2), which was completed in 1798. This ship was equipped with 44 guns, could sail at 13 1/2 knots, was 175 feet long (at its gundeck), and had a tonnage rating of 1,576 tons. Its mainmast towered 105 1/2 feet above its decks. NOTE The USS Constitution is still in commission and can be seen at the Boston Navy Yard. The USS Constitution fulfilled the thoughts and dreams of President John Adams, who did so much to form the U.S. Navy. John Adams established the Navy Department in 1798. THE EARLY YEARS Between America’s first two wars with Great Britain (the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812), 5-6 Student Notes: Figure 5-2.—The new and radical USS Constitution, built for speed and firepower, helped to rid the Mediterranean of the Barbary pirates.

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