1801-1820
By: Kevin May and Elaine Slaven
Thesis
• The time period between 1801-1820
brought many diverse events affecting
the nation as a whole. Though socially
flourishing with transportation, culture,
and exploration; and economically
seeing both the good and the bad, the
additions to the nation, solidification of
government policies, and the war of
1812, amongst others, highlighted the
political significance of the time.
POLITICAL
The War of 1812 (Anglo-American
War)
Chronology of Important
Events
• 1811 – Battle of
Tippecanoe. Battle that got
future president William
Henry Harrison fame.
• Dec 24, 1814 – Treaty of
Ghent signed, intended to
end war.
• Jan 18, 1815 – The Battle
of New Orleans. This was
the last battle of the war of
1812
The War
• War was waged between
the United States and Great
Britain, as well as British
North America (Canada)
• British efforts to halt US
trade with France
• Stop impressments of
sailors
• Primarily fought in the
Atlantic Ocean and on the
land, coasts and waterways
of North America
Marbury vs Madison
• In 1803, the case of
Marbury vs. madison
paved way for the
solidification of the
system checks and
balances by clearing up
the question of who had
the final authority in
determining the
meaning of the
constitution.
Naturalization law of 1802
• The unreasonable requirements for
foreign born immigrants to become
citizens were greatly reduced in the new
Naturalization law of 1802.
Missouri Compromise (1820)
Compromise Standards
• Line established (36’30”
Parallel) separating free and
slave states
• “Mason – Dixon Line”
• Maine enters the nation as a
free state, Missouri enters as a
slave state
Purpose and Significance
• Tension persists between
slave states and free states,
looking to have equal, if not
more representation in
house and senate
• Ends first crisis concerning
slavery, yet brings about
many more issues in later
years
• Line “slices” the nation into
2 pieces, and seemingly 2
different nations
Era of Good Feelings
• The election of James Monroe in 1816
with the enthusiastic nationalistic spirit
and a postwar boom brought about
what was known as the Era of Good
Feelings.
The Burr Conspiracy (1804)
“Oh Burr, oh Burr, what has thou done,
Thou hast shooted dead great Hamilton!
You hid behind a bunch of thistle,
You shooted him dead with a great boss
pistol!”
(Poem on a note dropped on the doorstep of
Aaron Burr on the morning of July 11,
1804, after he killed Alexander
Hamilton)
• Aaron Burr Jr. – 3rd vice
president of the United
States (Under Jefferson)
• Accused as treasonous;
claimed to have been
plotting to create an
independent nation (with
Louisiana Purchase
Territory, the Southwest,
and part of Mexico)
• Challenges Alexander
Hamilton to a duel July 11,
1804; Hamilton shot and
killed
• Federalist Party weakened
by Hamilton’s death
Louisiana Purchase
• France’s failure with the colonies and fear of
having to make Louisiana a gift to Britain led
to a sudden deal with the United States,
selling the entirety of the Louisiana territory
for a mere $15 million which, even though
was more than Jefferson authorized to
bargain and was not the instructed land to
purchase, the transaction more than doubled
the size of the nation.
ECONOMIC
The New Nation begins to
expand
• 1803 - Louisiana
Purchase
• 1816 – Florida is
purchased from the
Spanish
• 1817 – Mississippi
becomes a state
• 1818 – Illinois is added
• 1819 – Alabama
becomes a state
• 1820 – Maine is added
(Missouri Compromise)
By 1820, the nation expanded to over 3x the size of the
original 13 colonies. “Manifest Destiny” begins, yet
term isn’t coined till later years.
Embargo of 1807
• Law forbid the export of all goods
from the United States
• President Jefferson
• Attempt to prevent involvement
in Napoleonic Wars
• Response to British
impressments of American
sailors & Chesapeake- Leopard
Affair
• Prevented ships from leaving US
ports (Hindered exploration)
• Led to economic depression –
unpopular and repealed in 1809
• Replaced by Non-Intercourse
Act; free trade with any country
that’s not Britain or France
Panic of 1819
• The Panic of 1819 was the first major
financial crisis in America, lasting until
1821. Slide from school.. Coincided with
falling cotton prices.
Erie Canal
• As the transportation revolution kicked
off the Erie Canal was first proposed in
1808. Construction for the enormous
project, a navigable water route from
the Atlantic Ocean to the Great lakes.
National Road
• Construction of the National Road
began in 1811 and was the first
improved highway to be built by the
federal government. Its development
greatly opened the doors to the west for
thousands of settlers.
SOCIAL
Lewis and Clark expeditions
• The long two and a
half trek undergone
by Lewis in Clark to
explore the newly
bought Louisiana
Purchase yielded
much scientific
observations,
maps, and
knowledge of
Indians in the
region.
Star Spangled Banner
• In 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote
“Defence of Fort Mchenry” after
witnessing the Battle of Fort Mchenry
which later became the lyrics to the
national anthem; the Star Spangled
Banner.
The Steamboat
• From early on Robert Fulton was interested in
steamboats and in 1807, with the help of
Robert Livingston, he built the first
commercial steamboat, the North River
Steamboat or later known as the Clermont.
The Clermont was able to make the 300 mile
trip carrying passengers between NYC and
Albany in an impressive 32 hours.
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bl
steamship.htm
Johnny Appleseed
• John Chapman, better known as
Johnny Appleseed, introduced apple
trees to large parts of Ohio, Indiana,
and Illinois, quickly becoming an
American legend.
Early 19th Century Lifestyle
• Primarily revolved around agriculture, yet due
to the failure of the embargo, independent
manufacturing of goods increased in the United
States
• Farm life was difficult, lacking modern
equipment and tools
• People who could afford it paid for servants, as
well as slaves from the slave exchange
• Gas lighting was invented, revolutionary to life
at home
Slavery
• 1808 - importation became prohibited, yet
exchange persisted
• Tension between states with and without
slavery
• Slaves deemed property, with no rights
whatsoever
Conclusion
• The early 19th century was a time that
saw significant events occur on the
economic, social, and political scale
however, the greatest weight was
attributed from the political pull.
Works Cited
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http://americanhistory.about.com/od/thomasjefferson/p/pjefferson.htm
http://www.merrycoz.org/timeline.htm
http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/19thcentury1800.htm
http://www.cyberessays.com/history/154.htm
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0833427.html
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090123215623AAcrF
Gc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Appleseed
http://history1800s.about.com/od/thegildedage/a/financialpanics.htm
http://history1800s.about.com/od/transportation/a/nationalroad.htm
http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/sat2/history/chapter7section
5.rhtml