Western Settlement and
the Missouri Compromise
Reasons for Westward Movement

Acquisition of Native Americans’ lands



William Henry Harrison in Indiana territory
Andrew Jackson in Florida and South
Economic pressures

Northeast


South


Need for new land (tobacco farmers)
Improved transportation


The embargo & the war caused people to move
New roads & canals, steamboats & railroads
Immigrants

Europeans attracted to America by speculators
Western state issues
1.
2.
3.
4.
Cheap money—easy money from state banks
Cheap land from the government
Improved transportation
Slavery
1.
2.
Southern settlers wanted the spread of slavery
Northern settlers had no use for slavery
Missouri Compromise


1819—11 slave states, 11 free states
Missouri applied for statehood
–

Slave territory
Tallmadge amendment—Rep. James
Tallmadge, NY
–
–
–
Prohibit further introduction of slaves into MO
Children of MO slaves emancipated at 25
Defeated in Senate by enraged southerners
Missouri Compromise

Henry Clay won support for 3 bills
–
–
–


Missouri admitted as slave state
Maine admitted as free state
Remainder of Louisiana Territory north of latitude
36 30’ no slavery
Missouri Compromise would keep balance
for 30 years
America was torn between sectionalism and
nationalism
Foreign Affairs: Great Britain

Rush-Bagot Agreement (1817)


agreed to limit naval armament on Great Lakes
Treaty of 1818



Shared fishing rights off coast of Newfoundland
Joint occupation of Oregon Territory for 10 years
Set northern limits of Louisiana Territory at 49th
parallel
Foreign Affairs: Florida



Seminoles, runaway slaves, & white outlaws
conducted raids from Florida into U.S.
territory
President Monroe sent Gen. Andrew Jackson
to stop raids (1818)
Jackson went beyond his instructions



Destroyed Seminole villages
Hanged Seminole chiefs
Captured Pensacola & drove out Spanish
governor
Foreign Affairs: Florida



Florida Purchase Treaty (1819)
Spain worried U.S. would take Florida by
force
Made treaty with U.S.


U.S. received Florida & Spanish claims in the
Oregon Territory
U.S. agreed to assume $5 million in claims
against Spain & give up claims to Texas
The Monroe Doctrine
• The U.S. & Britain were nervous about the
restoration of monarchies in Europe &
their interests in the western hemisphere
• Spain in South America, Russia in Alaska
• British Foreign Secretary George
Channing suggested a joint AngloAmerican warning to European powers
• Pres. Monroe liked the idea but was
dissuaded by his Sec. of State John Q.
Adams
• Adams felt it better if the U.S. acted alone
The Monroe Doctrine
December 2, 1823
• “as a principle in which the rights and
interests of the U.S. are involved, that the
American continents, by the free and
independent condition which they have
assumed and maintain, are henceforth not
to be considered as subjects for future
colonization by any European powers.”
• From Monroe’s annual message to
Congress
Monroe Doctrine
• Impact
– Applauded by American public but soon
forgotten
– Britain was annoyed that it also applied to
them
– European monarchs were angry but could do
nothing about it
– It would become more significant in the future