
Western Expansion- people move West,
Indian land is confiscated
› Conflict and Compromise: Slavery expands with
the movement of people West causes political
compromises (Missouri Compromise)
Industrialization- factories, cities,
immigration
 Transportation- networks increase, roads
(Turnpikes), canals, steamboats (Fulton),
railroads increase in this period


After the War of 1812 and the downfall
of the federalist party (Hartford
Convention) there is a huge feeling of
Nationalism-
› The idea of loyalty or devotion to a nation,
or
› Pride in one’s country, usually excessive
Madison unveils a program to develop
the country through the leadership of
the Federal Government:
 Military, banking, protective tariffs,
internal improvements (roads, canals),
and a national university

Military
 Banking- Chartering the Second Bank of the United
States -first bank, time ran out and paper money
issued caused inflation Bank is created 1816› became economically strong
› McCullah vs. Maryland- Marshall-ruled that the
Bank was legal and states could not tax it.
 Protective Tariff- During Embargo, manufacturing in
Northeast develops, Brits produce more goods,
cheaper, and faster
 Textile industrialists, (Lowell) support tariff
 Even Calhoun of South Carolina, supported the
tariff, because of nationalistic or patriotic reasons.

Monroe won by some of the
biggest electoral college
totals in U.S. political history;
Federalist Party did not even
exist by 1820
Note the addition of five
new states between
1816 and 1820; reflects
the growth of the U.S.

“Era of Good Feelings” Is a common term related
to the period of time where there was a drastic
reduction of political infighting, (Federalists are all
but extinct)
› International problems are drastically reduced
› High level of Nationalism and optimism
 People in the US are on the move economically, and
geographically (Westward Expansion)
› Nationalism




The idea of loyalty or devotion to a nation, or
Pride in one’s country, usually excessive
Americans look inward to developWest/transportation/economic development/
Problem-sectionalism continues
Follows Madison’s Platform
 Now Supported large navy
 Supported Charter of Second Bank of US
 Protective Tariff
 Internal Improvements

Similar to Madison’s Platform ideas (Clay
is associated with supporting plan)
 1. Protective Tariff- to pay for
improvements
 2. National Bank- organize finances of
the government
 3. Internal Improvements- roads, canals
(this became an issue for some states’
rights congressmen)

In the years before 1819 European countries
were disrupted by Napoleon’s War American goods- cotton and agriculture
were in high demand, causing prices to rise

› Cotton 1815-.20 cents lb
› 1816-.30 cents lb
› 1818-.33 cents lb
Causes land prices to rise, many land
speculators and farmers borrow $ to buy
land,
 When the price of goods goes down due to
reduced demand, farmers, speculators and
banks go broke- this causes a depression for
6 years.


Three Congressmen will help temper
Sectional Interests and help make
compromises for a generation.


Congressman Daniel
Webster of Massachusetts
1812-1852
By the 1820s, three distinct regions were
emerging in America
 The North was characterized by:

› growing industry (especially textile mills in New England)
› urbanization (ex: New York City)
› increasing immigration (especially from Germany and
Ireland)
› reform movements to better society, including abolition
movements
› support for strong national government, including the
“American system”
› Daniel Webster of Massachusetts emerged as a leading
spokesman of this region
Congressman John
C. Calhoun of South
Carolina
 1811-1850


The South was based on:
› support for states’ rights and a weak national government
› commitment to the continuation and expansion of slavery
› the growth of “King Cotton” as the major money maker
› a hierarchical society, in which wealthy planters dominated
society and had most of the political power
› opposition to tariffs and federal support for infrastructure;
these policies only benefitted the North and West
› Supported the idea of “Nullification”
› John C. Calhoun of South Carolina emerged as the major
spokesman


Speaker of the House
Henry Clay of Kentucky
1811-1849 (died in office)


This region included the entire Trans-Appalachian region
but eventually became associated with the Midwestern
and Far Western states and territories
The West’s interests were based on:
› westward settlement by pioneers
› agricultural boom due to the growing demand for grain to
›
›
›
›
feed Americans
a positive economic relationship with the Northeastern states,
which provided manufactured goods in exchange for food
support for tariffs and infrastructure projects to tie the country
together
neutrality on the slavery issue
Henry Clay of Kentucky emerged as the spokesman for this
region
John Quincy Adams, the son of President
John Adams, of Massachusetts.
 Secretary of State for Monroe
 Follows a Nationalist policy

1. Expand American Territory
2. Reduce European Influence in the
Western Hemisphere
Adams negotiated British-American
Convention (Treaty of 1818 ) set a final
settlement to the border of Canada- 49°
parallel – legitimacy of Louisiana
Purchase
 Adams-Onis Treaty (Spain) 1819
› Florida, after War of 1812,
› Monroe ordered Andrew Jackson protect
the Georgia border
› Seminole Indians in Florida› Adams was able to get the Spanish to sell
Florida to US in exchange for assumption of
American Claims from the Napoleonic Wars



Latin America was in the process of gaining
independence from Spain
European powers threatened to reassert control in
the Western Hemisphere
Adams wrote:
› No (New) European Colonization in Western Hemisphere
› Isolation (US will not intervene in European Wars)
› Non-Intervention (Europeans were to keep their hands off
the Americas)


Significance/Effects- Americans will cite the
Monroe Doctrine in future issues of Foreign Policy
British Support

Adams: “The American continents are
henceforth not to be considered as
subjects for future colonization by any
European Power.”

“Our policy in regard to Europe … is not
to interfere in the internal concerns of its
power.”
1819 Missouri wants to enter the Union as
a slave state
 The issue of Slavery emerges again
 North and South don’t want to lose
power (i.e., votes in Congress (states had
entered in pairs slave/free especially the
Senate))


1819- 11 free and 11 slaves states

Henry Clay works out a deal,
› Missouri enters the union as a slave state
› Maine enters as a free state
› Territory of the Louisiana purchase above
36°30’ could not have slavery
The Compromise resulted in stability of
the Union…for now
 It also resulted in increased
sectional/political division










Jackson, Adams, Clay, Crawford
No clear majority in Electoral College
According to the 12th amendment,
House of Reps choose between the top three
candidates with the highest number of electoral votes
Clay throws support to Adams
Jackson won the popular vote, popular in the WEST as a
military hero- stood for slavery, nationalism, protective
tariff
John Quincy Adams wins
Jackson will claim a “Corrupt Bargain” was struck
between Adams and Clay- appointed Secretary of
State)
Resulted in the SPLITING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

Democratic Party,
Supporters of Jackson
will unite (Closer to
Jeffersonian
Republicans)

Whig Party Supporters
of Henry Clay (closer
to Federalists)
› 1. Protective Tariff- to
pay for improvements
› 2. National Bankorganize finances of the
government
› 3. Internal
Improvements- roads,
canals (this became an
issue for some states’
rights congressmen)