The Other Constitution

The Other ConstitutionThe Other ConstitutionSailing ships used wind for pwr.No wind=No pwr. (becalmed)

NY Harbor July 17th, 1812USS Constitution was surrounded by the Brit. Fleet1 of 6 frigates that G. Washington orderedKedged to get awayPut a small anchor in a row boat & rowedhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ28WuVgc2MThis was done for 3 days & they were able to get away

The Other ConstitutionIn the War of 1812 the USS Constitution destroyed the Brit. ship H.M.S. GuerriereCannonballs bounced off the Constitution=said it was made of iron

Old Ironsides

Made of wood w/thin copper sheathing

Symbol of American craftsmanship

The Other ConstitutionUSS Constitution was built at Edmund Hartts shipyard in Boston

Sister ships of USS C. were Chesapeake, Congress, Constellation, Pres., & the USBuilt from Norfolk, VA to Portsmouth, NH

Joshua Humphrey from Philadelphia designed ships

Mainly made out of Live Oak=Toughest woodBest White Oak, Carolina pitch pine, & NH pinesSails were sewn from canvasPaul Revere supplied the copper fittings & ships bell

The Other ConstitutionUSS Constitution also beat the H.M.S. Java

USS Constitution=famous B4 the War of 1812

Part of the official birth of the US Navy-1794Colonies put together during the Rev.Merchant ships & fishing schooners

Brit.=worlds largest navy-US was able to fight scrappy

The Other ConstitutionAfter the war the navy ended & ships went back to tradingSailed in the Mediterranean S.-Barbary pirates wanted bribe $ to sail the sea

1787-US signed a treaty w/Morocco about reg. bribe payments

1793- 8 US ships captured

1794-126 Americans were slaves in city of AlgiersG. Washington authorized the creation of the 6 frigates & smaller ships created

1796-Paid a peace ransom of $1 mil.=Sailors released & sailed freely

The Other ConstitutionGot to Jeffersons Presidency-US had paid Barbary States almost $2 mil.

The Bey or ruler of Tripoli (Libya) wanted more1801-Morocco declared war on the US=Lasted until 1804

USS Constitution bombarded Tripoli w/cannonballs

US ship the Philadelphia was captured-300 menWanted to use it to fight against the USLt. Stephen Decatur of the Intrepid sailed into harborClimbed onto the Philadelphia & set fire to it

The Other ConstitutionWilliam Eaton- Consul in TunisHated the pirate princes

Afraid that the US attack wouldnt leave lasting results

Created a force-Am., Arabs, & Greeks

March from Egypt to LibyaAm. warships also helped Eaton capture the cityNew treaty w/Tripoli created & sailors were released

Pirates or thieves of the sea helped the US create their navy

The USS Constitution also became famous because of the War of 1812The 1st voyage also made the USS C. famous- Race w/ Brit. Ship & Brit. lost

The Other Constitution1830-False story about USS C. being scrapped was published- ppl. upsetOliver Wendell Holmes wrote poem called Old Ironsides

1844-USS C. went on a voyage around the world & Symbol of the USBusiness, Diplomatic, & Scientific affairs

1850-Flagship of the American squadron- Kept slave ships from sailing illegally

1897- John Fitzgerald (JFKs Grandfather) moved USS C. to Boston for 100th B-Day

USS C. suggested for target practice- school children raised $600,000 to restore

1947-Celebratory stamp was issued w/USS C. pic.

1997- 200th b-day & sailed to Boston under own pwr.

Commissioned as a war ship today