<P> To protect its shipping interests overseas, the U.S. fought the First Barbary War (1801--1805) in North Africa . This was followed later by the Second Barbary War (1815). </P> <P> With the upcoming expiration of the 20 - year ban on Congressional action on the subject, Jefferson, a lifelong enemy of the slave trade, called on Congress to criminalize the international slave trade, calling it "violations of human rights which have been so long continued on the unoffending inhabitants of Africa, and which the morality, the reputation, and the best interests of our country have long been eager to proscribe ." </P> <P> The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 gave Western farmers use of the important Mississippi River waterway, removed the French presence from the western border of the United States, and, most important, provided U.S. settlers with vast potential for expansion . A few weeks afterward, war resumed between Britain and Napoleon's France . The United States, dependent on European revenues from the export of agricultural goods, tried to export food and raw materials to both warring Great Powers and to profit from transporting goods between their home markets and Caribbean colonies . Both sides permitted this trade when it benefited them but opposed it when it did not . Following the 1805 destruction of the French navy at the Battle of Trafalgar, Britain sought to impose a stranglehold over French overseas trade ties . Thus, in retaliation against U.S. trade practices, Britain imposed a loose blockade of the American coast . Believing that Britain could not rely on other sources of food than the United States, Congress and President Jefferson suspended all U.S. trade with foreign nations in the Embargo Act of 1807, hoping to get the British to end their blockade of the American coast . The Embargo Act, however, devastated American agricultural exports and weakened American ports while Britain found other sources of food . </P> <P> James Madison won the U.S. presidential election of 1808, largely on the strength of his abilities in foreign affairs at a time when Britain and France were both on the brink of war with the United States . He was quick to repeal the Embargo Act, refreshing American seaports . Unfortunately, despite his intellectual brilliance, Madison lacked Jefferson's leadership and tried to merely copy his predecessor's policies verbatim . He tried various trade restrictions to try to force Britain and France to respect freedom of the seas, but they were unsuccessful . The British had undisputed mastery over the sea after defeating the French and Spanish fleet at Trafalgar in 1805, and they took advantage of this to seize American ships at will and force their sailors into serving the Royal Navy . Even worse, the size of the U.S. Navy was reduced due to ideological opposition to a large standing military and the Federal government became considerably weakened when the charter of the First National Bank expired and Congress declined to renew it . A clamor for military action thus erupted just as relations with Britain and France were at a low point and the U.S.'s ability to wage war had been reduced . </P>

When did the united states emerged as an industrial giant