Early American Naval Conflicts
American Revolution
US Navy in the Napoleanic Era
Early American Power Projection (1815-1860)
Two American Navies of the Civil War
100

This conflict, from 1798-1800, saw the newly formed U.S. Navy protecting American shipping in the Caribbean and engaging in naval battles with French warships

Quasi-War with France

100

This European power, seeking to weaken Great Britain, became a key ally to the Americans during the Revolutionary War, providing crucial naval support.

What is France

100

American Naval Officer Stephen Decatur famously burned down this ship in Tripoli harbor to prevent it from being used against the U.S.

What is the USS Philadelphia 

100

This U.S. foreign policy doctrine, issued in 1823, warned European powers against further colonization in the Americas.

What is the Monroe Doctrine

100

This crucial Union strategy during the Civil War aimed to cut off the Confederacy's access to trade and supplies.

What is the Anaconda Plan

200

The actions of Stephen Decatur and the destruction of a captured American warship took place during which early 19th-century conflict?

What is the First Barbary War?

200

This American naval officer famously declared, "We have met the enemy and they are ours," during the Battle of Lake Erie

Who is Oliver Hazard Perry

200

This major naval battle, fought on October 21, 1805, saw the British fleet decisively defeat the French and Spanish, securing British naval dominance

What is the Battle of Trafalgar

200

This U.S. naval policy, which began after the War of 1812, focused on deploying groups of ships to various parts of the world to protect American commerce and interests

What is the Squadron Navy

200

This Confederate strategy relied heavily on the idea that European economic interests would force them to intervene in the Civil War on the side of the Confederacy 

What is the King Cotton thesis

300

The impressment of American sailors by the British was a major cause of this early 19th century conflict

What is the War of 1812?

300

This naval tactic was employed by the Americans during the Revolution using smaller, faster ships to harass British trade and supply lines, rather than engaging in direct fleet battles.

What is "Guerre de Course" or commerce raiding or privateering 

300

This treaty, signed in 1814, officially ended the War of 1812, though it did not resolve many of the issues that caused the conflict.

What is the Treaty of Ghent

300

 This U.S. Naval officer led a famous expedition to Japan in 1852-1854, which led to the opening of Japan to the West.

Who is Matthew Perry

300

This confederate-built vessel was the first submarine to engage another warship in combat

What is the CSS Hunley

400

The Tripolitan War, fought between 1801 and 1805, saw the U.S. Navy engage Barbary corsairs, leading to the phrase " to shores of Tripoli." This war culminated in the USMC-led invasion of this city in Tripoli

What is Denna

400

This treaty, negotiated by John Jay, was meant to resolve tensions with Britain after the Revolutionary War but was hotly debated and unpopular

What is the Jay Treaty

400

This Act, also known as the "Act to provide a Naval Armament," authorized the construction of six frigates that would form the core of the early U.S. Navy.

What is the Naval Act of 1794

400

This conflict from 1846-1848, demonstrated the U.S. Navy's ability to project power by sea and led to significant territorial expansion of the United States.

What is the Mexican-American War

400

This Confederate ironclad ship, originally the USS Merrimack, engaged in battle with the USS Monitor at Hampton Roads, marking a turning point in naval warfare

What is the CSS Virginia 

500

This battle was the first of its kind, fought between two ironclad ships and is considered the end of the "Age of Sail"

Battle of Hampton Roads

500

This key strategic advantage possessed by the British navy allowed them to project power and maintain a blockade of the American coastline.

What is naval supremacy or control of the sea

500

This conflict, occurring between 1801 and 1805, involved U.S. naval actions in the Mediterranean against North African states in response to piracy and tribute demands.

What is the First Barbary War

500

This Treaty, which concluded the expedition to Japan led by Matthew C. Perry, formally opened Japan to the West and led to political modernization and industrialization there

What is the Treaty of Kanagawa

500

These three submarines were built by the Confederacy in response to the overwhelming strength of the Union navy

What are the Pioneer, the American Diver, and the Hunley

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