4.3 Politics and Regional Interests

The Era of Good Feelings

era of James Monroe from the election of 1816 - nationalism, optimism, goodwill - debate over tariffs, national bank, internal improvements, public land sales, slavery, split of Democratic-Republican party

James Monroe

• Democratic Republican president

• federalist party dying → no political opposition, nationalism growing

• acquisition of Florida

• Missouri compromise

• Monroe doctrine

economic nationalism

• War of 1812 → movement to support U.S. economic growth

• Tariff of 1816 - first protective tariff in U.S. history, protected U.S. companies from foreign competition, believed to be necessary for national prosperity

• Henry Clay’s American System

Henry Clay’s American System

• protective tariffs

  • promoted American manufacturing, benefited the east

  • raise revenue for internal improvements

• Second Bank of the United States

  • national currency → smoother system for all economies

• internal improvements - promoting growth in the West and South, rejected and became state responsibility

Panic of 1819

• the Second Bank of the United States tightens credit to control inflation → state banks closed, unemployment, bankruptcy, debt imprisonment increased

• Westerners’ farmland foreclosed on, calling for land reform, opposition to national bank, and opposition to debtors’ prisons

political changes

• Federalist Party declined due to opposing War of 1812, secessionist convention, not adapting to nationalism

• Democratic Republican Party changes: old party ideals (limited government and strict interpretation) vs. new party (formerly Federalist ideals, large navy and army, national bank)

• increased factions and sectional differences

westward movement

• acquisition of lands in Indiana territory and Florida

• escaping difficulties of North (embargo, effects of war) and South (exhausted soil)

• improved transportation

• immigrants

• new primary concerns:

  • easier credit from state banks over Second Bank of the United States

  • low prices on land sold by federal government

  • improved transportation

slavery and the west

• Tallmadge Amendment - proposal to amend Missouri’s admission as a state, defeated in senate because of plans of gradual elimination of slavery in Missouri

  • prohibit further introduction of slaves in Missouri

  • would require children of Missouri slaves to be emancipated at 25

• Henry Clay’s Missouri Compromise

  • admitted Missouri as a slave state

  • admitted Maine as a free state

  • prohibited slavery in the rest of the Louisiana Territory north of latitude 36 degrees 30’

• nationalism (loyalty to Union) vs. sectionalism (loyalty to one’s own region)