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in the arms of the same officer who had caught General Ross as he fell at Baltimore.
[Footnote: Jackson at first made his intrenchments in part of cotton-bales, but a red-hot cannon-ball having
fired the cotton and scattered the burning fragments among the barrels of gunpowder, it was found necessary
Brief History of the United States 83
to remove the cotton entirely. The only defence of the Americans in this battle was a bank of earth, five feet
high, and a ditch in front.]
[Footnote: The British were tried and disciplined troops, while very few of the Americans had ever seen
fighting. Besides, the British were nearly double their number. But our men were accustomed to the use of the
rifle, and were the best marksmen in the world.]
Neither discipline nor bravery could prevail. General Lambert, who succeeded to the command, drew off his
men in the night, hopelessly defeated, after a loss of over two thousand; while the American loss was but
seven killed and six wounded.
[ILLUSTRATION: BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS.]
RESULTS OF THE WAR.--The treaty left the question of impressment unsettled, yet it was tacitly
understood, and was never revived. The national debt was $127,000,000, but within twenty years it was paid
from the ordinary revenue. The United States had secured the respect of European nations, since our navy had
dared to meet, and often successfully, the greatest maritime power in the world. The impossibility of any
foreign ruler gaining a permanent foothold on our territory was shown. The fruitless invasion of Canada by
the militia, compared with the brave defence of their own territory by the same men, proved that the strength
of the United States consisted in defensive warfare. Extensive manufactories were established to supply the
place of the English goods cut off by the blockade. This branch of industry continued to thrive after peace,
though for a time depressed by the quantity of English goods thrown on the market. The immediate evils of
the war were apparent: trade ruined, commerce gone, no specie to be seen, and a general depression. Yet the
wonderful resources of the country were shown by the rapidity with which it entered upon a new career of
prosperity.
[Footnote: The Algerines had taken advantage of the war with England to renew their depredations on
American commerce. Decatur, in May, 1815, was sent with a squadron to right matters in that quarter.
Proceeding to Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, he obtained the liberation of American prisoners, and full indemnity
for all losses, with pledges for the future. The United States was the first nation effectually to resist the
demands of the Barbary pirates for tribute.]
POLITICAL PARTIES.--When Madison's term of office expired, the federalist party had been broken up by
its opposition to the war. James Monroe, the Presidential candidate of the republican party, was almost
unanimously elected. He was generally beloved, and all parties united in his support.
MONROE'S ADMINISTRATION.
Monroe's administration was one of general prosperity. After the ravages of war, the attention of all was
turned to the development of the internal resources of the country and to the building up of its industries.
[Footnote: James Monroe was born 1758; died 1831. As a soldier under General Washington, he bore a brave
record, and especially distinguished himself in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth.
Afterward, he studied law, and entered political life. Having been sent by Washington as Minister to France,
he showed such marked sympathy with that country as to displease the President and his cabinet, who were
just concluding a treaty with England, and wished to preserve a strictly neutral policy; he was therefore
recalled. Under Jefferson, who was his warm friend, he was again sent to France (1803), when he secured the
purchase of Louisiana. He is said to have always taken particular pride in this transaction, regarding his part in
it as among the most important of his public services. Soon after his inauguration as President, he visited all
the military posts in the north and east, with a view to a thorough acquaintance with the capabilities of the
country in the event of future hostilities. This tour was a great success. He wore a blue military coat of
homespun, light--colored breeches, and a cocked hat, being the undress uniform of a Revolutionary officer.
Brief History of the United States 84
The nation was thus reminded of his former military services. This, with his plain and unassuming manners,
completely won the hearts of the people, and brought an overwhelming majority to the support of the
administration. Monroe was a man more prudent than brilliant, who acted with a single eye to the welfare of
his country. Jefferson said of him: "If his soul were turned inside out, not a spot would be found on it." Like
that loved friend, he died "poor in money, but rich in honor;" and like him also, he passed away on the
anniversary of the independence of the country he had served so faithfully.]
(FIFTH PRESIDENT--TWO TERMS: 1817-1825.)
DOMESTIC AFFAIRS. The Missouri Compromise.--When the admission of Missouri as a State was
proposed, a violent discussion arose as to whether it should be free or slave. Through the efforts of Henry
Clay, it was admitted as a slave state (1821), under the compromise that slavery should be prohibited in all
other territories west of the Mississippi and north of parallel 36 degrees 30 minutes--the southern boundary
of Missouri.
[Footnote: The question of slavery was already one of vast importance. At first slaves were owned in the
northern as well as the southern States. But at the North, slave labor was unprofitable, and it had gradually
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