All over the country, there arose a bitter feeling against this law. In the New England states, where there were the largest shipping interests, there was even talk of secession from the Union.
About this time a new President, James Madison, was elected. Soon afterward the Embargo Act was repealed, and in its place was passed a law which satisfied the people for a time. By this law, trade was allowed with every country but England and France.
American vessels now put to sea on voyages to foreign lands. But their old enemies, the English, soon began to annoy them as before.
In May, 1811, the British sloop Little Belt was hailed by the American frigate President, under the command of Commodore Rodgers. The reply was a cannon shot. The President then poured broadsides into the Little Belt. After the English had lost thirty-two men in killed and wounded, they came to terms.
COMMODORE JOHN RODGERS.
The American people now saw that war could no longer be avoided. On June 18, 1812, the formal declaration was made.
VII.—War on the Canadian Border.
Up to this time the English navy had been called the "Mistress of the Seas." England's vessels could be numbered by the hundred, and the crews by the ten thousand.
When this war of 1812 was declared, the entire United States navy comprised about half a dozen frigates, and six or eight sloops and brigs. Along the American coast alone the English had seven times this number of war vessels.