American History Assignment: Neutrality, Civil War Analysis

This homework assignment delves into critical periods of American history. The first question examines the challenges the United States faced maintaining neutrality during the Napoleonic Wars, specifically evaluating the effectiveness of Thomas Jefferson's administration's response and suggesting potential improvements. The student analyzes the Embargo Act of 1807, suggesting negotiation as a better approach. The second question explores the Civil War, considering whether it was inevitable and proposing alternative measures that could have been taken in the North and South to prevent the conflict. The student considers political, economic, and social factors, such as the secession of free states, the acceptance of Abraham Lincoln's election, and the management of U.S. Pacific expansion. The assignment offers insights into the complexities of these historical events.

Running head: AMERICAN HISTORY
American military history
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AMERICAN HISTORY 2
Question 1
The United State of America faced a severe test of neutrality when the Napoleonic war
began according to Cunningham, (2014). The battle involved two central states France and
Britain. These two nations made several destructions to each other such as imposing various
trade restriction to every individual with the aim of weakening the opponent’s economic status.
However, the trade restriction was not only affecting the two nations but the United States of
America too. America was committed to the two countries; therefore, it faced a severe challenge
on where it could support or oppose.
Consequently, when the British actions rose, they used to harass the American ships. At
this moment Thomas Jefferson made an economic decision and passed the Embargo act of 1807.
From a personal view, the decision was active because it was going to affect Britain in several
economical ways. However, Thomas would have improved the resolution by engaging in
negotiation activities between the two nations in reference to Favret, (2015). The reason for
participating in negotiation as an improved is because the United States needed British in some
cases and putting economic restrictions to the country would make British to look for another
way to act on America’s decision. For example, America would have focused on the way to end
the hostility not to fuel the hatred.
Question 2
The emergence of civil war caused severe effects on the United States of America. The
war did not only create the death of several innocent people but also weakened American
economically and politically in reference to Randall & Donald, (2016). However, there are steps
which the country would have taken to prevent civil war based on society, economic and social

AMERICAN HISTORY 3
factors. In political matters, the free states would have agreed to secede. However, these states
disagreed with such a move, and this fueled the war. Secondly, the slaves who were living on the
south would have agreed to the win of Abraham Lincoln in the election. The action would have
ease tension, but the slaves failed to accept Abraham Lincoln. Another chance to avoid civil war
was proper management of United States Pacific expansion according to Lischer, (2015). It was
evident that what led to the eruption of war was the mismanagement of U.S expansion to Pacific.
The United States came up with various treaties claiming Texas as part of their country.
There is a social issue where free states would have accepted the codes of slavery for the
territories that other nations demanded to prevent expansion of slavery. These free states
disagreed with such intentions leading to the outbreak of the civil war. Lastly, many countries
wanted to improve their economy by making use of the slaves, if the states could have used other
means to promote the economy, civil war would not have erupted.

AMERICAN HISTORY 4
References
Cunningham, A. (2014). British credit in the last Napoleonic war (Vol. 2). Cambridge
University Press.
Favret, M. A. (2015). Romanticism in the Shadow of War: Literary Culture in the Napoleonic
War Years by Jeffrey N. Cox. Keats-Shelley Journal, 64(1), 136-138.
Lischer, S. K. (2015). Dangerous sanctuaries: refugee camps, civil war, and the dilemmas of
humanitarian aid. Cornell University Press.
Randall, J. G., & Donald, D. (2016). The civil war and reconstruction. Pickle Partners
Publishing.