The decades after the War of 1812, were years of introspection for the
fledgling American republic. Having twice prevailed against the military
might of Great Britain, there was now no power on Earth ready, willing,
and able to take on the United States. As America entered the 1840s and
began expanding its dominion over North America and opening lucrative
overseas markets in Asia and elsewhere, all that was needed to secure
its place in the world was an alliance with a like-minded nation with
the naval resources to guarantee the integrity of global trade routes
and the financial rewards accruing to both parties of such an alliance.
Captain Richard Cutler commands the new United States steam frigate
Suwannee on a mission to the South Seas.