of American hostages; effort fails and affair ends in 1805 in a negotiated
settlement.1811 Congress passes secret resolution authorizing President James
Madison to temporarily occupy Spanish Florida. Florida becomes Amer-
ican in 1813.1812 The War of 1812 with Britain; ends in 1814.
1815 U.S. Navy takes action against Barbary Coast pirates; navy
sinks Algerian warship, kills Algerian admiral, and puts an end Barbary
Coast terrorism.1822 House of Representatives makes Committee on Foreign Affairs
a standing committee.
1845 President James Polk authorizes covert operation to induce Cal-
ifornia to declare independence from Mexico.1848 22 February:Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo cedes a large chunk
of Mexico to the United States.1861 The Civil War begins; ends in 1865. First use of balloons for re-
connaissance; intercepts of telegraph messages; visual flag signals; ci-
phers to protect communications; and deception and disinformation
campaigns. U.S. government establishes National Detective Bureau to
engage in counterespionage; evolves into the Secret Service.1862 Confederacy establishes Signal and Secret Service Bureau.1863 Army establishes Bureau of Military Information.
1865 5 July:The federal government establishes the Secret Service.1882 23 March:U.S. Navy establishes Office of Intelligence, soon
after renamed Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI).
1885 October:War Department establishes Military Information Di-
vision.1889 First military attaches sent abroad.
1898 25 January:American battleship Maine arrives in Havana,
Cuba. 15 February:The sinking of USS Mainein Havana Harbor. 19
April:Congressional resolution authorizing President William McKin-xxii • CHRONOLOGY05-398 (1) FM.qxd 10/20/05 6:14 AM Page xxii