American Nationalism and the Era of Good Feelings

 

ü  It was a political movement to support the growth of the nation’s economy

• Encouraged creativity & inventiveness
• Wanted to create a transportation infrastructure
• Created a pro-Business atmosphere

ü  Representative from KY & leader in the House

ü  Proposed a comprehensive 3 part plan for advancing the nation’s economic growth

Before the War

ü  Tariffs were a method of raising government revenue

ü  So they were lower

After the War

ü  Ran parallel w/cultural nationalism

ü  Purpose of tariffs was to protect American industries

ü  So they were higher

ü  First protective tariff in U.S. history

• Designed to protect infant American industries that had dev. during the war from British competition now that the war was over

ü  New England opposed

• had little manufacturing at the time

ü  South and West supported

• felt needed for national prosperity
• War of 1812 underlined need for another national bank
• Hoped BUS would keep the system running smoothly by providing national security
• 2^nd Bank of U.S. charted in 1816

ü  Also known as the “National Road”

ü  Growth in turnpikes reduced transportation costs and promoted the growth of new markets and easy transport of raw materials

ü  Clay got his tariffs & bank but Madison & Monroe objected to the internal improvements

ü  They felt the Constitution did not explicitly provide for the spending of federal money on roads and canals (strict constructions)

• One of the most important developments of the 19^th c

–         Profoundly affected the nation’s economy by bringing in vast new regions to the capitalist system

–         Significant political ramifications which became factors in the Civil War

Causes

• Population growth

–         1800-1820: pop nearly doubled 5.3 mil to 9.6 mil

–         Agricultural lands of the east now occupied or soil was exhausted

• Indian threats eliminated

–         War of 1812

–         Government policy continued to push the tribes west

–         The “Factor” system

• Improved transportation

–         Canal building frenzy, turnpikes, and later railroads

• Helped shape eastern images of the West
• Described the Great Plains as “the Great American Desert”

ü  American Fur Company founded                                   by John Jacob Astor

ü  Rocky Mountain Fur Company founded by Andrew Henry and William Ashley

ü  However isolated their daily lives, these “mountain men” were closely bound with the expanding market economy of the U.S.

ü  Marked end of 1^st party system

ü  Time of nationalism, optimism, & good will

• Began w/election of James Monroe
• Chiefly result of Republican dominance in politics
• Perception of unity & harmony was probably misleading & oversimplified

ü  Monroe defeated his Federalist opponent, Rufus King, by an overwhelming margin (183 to 34)

ü  Served as James Monroe’s Secretary of State 1816-1824

ü  One of the greatest Sec. of State of all time

ü  Followed a nationalistic policy that actively advanced American interests while maintaining peace

ü  Major disarmament pact between U.S. and Britain

ü  Limited naval armaments on the Great Lakes

ü  In time, the agreement was extended to place limits on border fortifications as well.

ü  Seminoles conducted raids into U.S.

• Disorder gave Pres. Monroe    opportunity to take military     action
• Gen. Andrew Jackson sent but he exceeded his orders
• Destroyed Seminole villages
• Drove out the Sp. governor
• Hanged two British traders for aiding the Seminoles
• Ended the Seminole War
• Firmly est. U.S. territorial boundary to the Rocky Mtns. & Pacific Ocean

ü  1st major financial panic since the Constitution had been ratified

ü  Fractured Era of Good Feelings

ü  Caused by BUS which had tightened credit in a belated effort to control inflation

Large increases in unemployment, bankruptcies, and imprisonment for debt!

ü  Although every section was hurt, the West was hurt most severely because:

• Land speculation based on postwar euphoria had placed many people in debt
• BUS foreclosed on large amounts of western farmlands

ü  Nationalist beliefs were shaken

ü  In the West, many voters’ political outlooks changed

• Now called for land reform
• Expressed strong opposition to the BUS & debtors’ prisons.

ü  Those setting territory in the north had no use for slavery

ü  Those settling territory in the south wanted slavery for economic reasons

ü  1819, Missouri Territory applied for statehood

ü  Ever since 1792, politicians had tried to preserve a sectional balance in Congress

ü  Northern population grew more quickly

• By 1818, the North held a majority of 105 to 81 in the House
• But there was still a balance in the Senate
•  By 1819, 11 free states & 11 slave states
• Missouri’s entrance would upset the balance

ü  Missouri was the first part of the Louisiana Purchase to apply for statehood

ü  Southerners & Northerners alike worried about the future status of other new territories applying  for statehood

ü  Rep. James Tallmadge fr. NY ignited the debate

• Proposed an amendment to the bill for Missouri’s admission to the U.S.
• Prohibited further introduction of slaves into MO
• Required the children of MO slaves to be emancipated at age 25
• Adoption would have meant the gradual elimination of slavery in MO

ü  Southerners enraged

• Bill passes in the House but is voted down in the Senate

ü  Months of debate in Congress & around the nation

ü  Henry Clay won majority support for 3 bills that taken together represented a compromise

ü  Reduced sectional tensions over slavery

ü  Preserved the sectional balance for 30 years

ü  Gave the young nation time to mature

ü  Badly damaged the Era of Good Feelings

• Americans now torn between feelings of nationalism and sectionalism

ü  Appointed by J. Adams in 1800

• Served 34 yrs.
• Still around in Era of Good Feelings

ü  His decisions consistently favored the central gov’t & the rights of property

ü  Marbury v. Madison (1803)

ü  Fletcher v Peck (1810)

ü  Martin v. Hunter’s Lease (1816)

ü  Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819)

ü  McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

ü  Cohens v. Virginia (1821)

ü  Gibbons v. Ogden (1821)

ü  Sp. Empire on death bed

• continent was in revolution
•  new nations being created

ü  U.S. had dev. good trade w/Latin America

ü  1815 à U.S. proclaimed neutrality in the wars between Sp. & its colonies

• this implied a partial recognition of the rebels’ status as nations

ü  Britain asked U.S. for a joint declaration to keep other Europeans out of the Americas

ü  J.Q. Adams pushed Monroe to issue a declaration w/o the British

ü  Faced serious internal strains

ü  Certain members clung to old Rep. ideals

• limited gov’t & strict construction

ü  Majority of Reps. adopted what had once been the Fed. program

• Congress authorized maintaining a large army & navy
• Supported charter of 2^nd BUS in 1816
• Supported tariffs

On several issues, the political principles of many Republicans were sorely tested and some even changed their views from one decade to the next

• Jackson ran as the candidate for the “Common Man”

ü  Clay used is influence to get J.Q. Adams elected

ü  Adams named Clay is  Secretary of State

ü  Jackson supporters             claimed a “corrupt                bargain” had been                                 struck by Clay & Adams

ü  First “minority president”

ü  Possessed none of the arts of a politician

ü  Further alienated Jackson’s followers by asking Congress to support :

• Internal improvements
• Aid manufacturing
• A national university & an astronomical observatory
• Tried to curb land speculation in the West

ü  Southerners denounced the Tariff of 1828

• Raised prices of manufactured goods
• Fed growing anxiety about federal interference w/states’ rights and slavery
• South decided it was time to take as stand
• Missouri Compromise , 1820
•  Denmark Vessey, 1822

ü  Jackson’s party supporters smeared Adams

ü  Accused Adams’ wife of being born out of wedlock

ü  Adams’ supporters responded in kind

ü  Attracted a lot of interest

ü  3x the # of voters participated

ü  Jackson won handily

• Reputation as a war hero & man of the frontier accounted more for his victory than his actual position on issues

ü  Election was a transforming event

ü  Jackson’s election broke the line of presidents from VA and MA

ü  Represented the triumph of the common man

ü  Era was marked by a distrust of the wealthy elites

 

 

Again, I’m very sorry it’s a little less polished then the others, but better these notes then no notes at all.