Unit 6a - Expansion and Reform - The Era of Good Feelings

The American System

A plan created by Henry Clay (KY) and John C. Calhoun (SC) to promote United States economic independence from foreign nations, bring the northern and southern economy together, and unify the nation. The program had three components: the Second National Bank, a protective tariff, and improved transportation systems.

The Death of the Federalist Party

After the Hartford Convention during the War of 1812 and the "success" of the Battle of New Orleans, the Federalist Party lost the favor of the United States. This lead to the "Era of Good Feelings" a time period marked by the end of partisan (party) politics and a time period where most individuals supported the Democratic-Republicans.

The Second National Bank

After the economic problems that occurred during War of 1812 Democratic-Republicans supported the re-chartering of a national bank. Representative John C. Calhoun (SC) proposed the bill and it was passed. The bank was able to issue bank notes and control state banks.

Protective Tariff

A tax on imported goods to encourage citizens to purchase goods made within their own nations by protecting U.S. manufacturers. This tax makes imported items more expensive. Importing companies must first pay the tax up front to sell their product in the U.S. These companies then increase the price of their good to make up the difference.

Tariff of 1816

This was part of the American System. This protective tariff was higher than previous federal taxes that were passed. northern manufacturers favored this tax while southerners believed it only benefited the North.

Internal Improvements/Transportation

The last component of the American System. John C. Calhoun tried to pass a bill to federally fund internal improvements (roads and canals). President James Madison vetoed this bill saying that it was not an enumerated power of the federal government to improve transportation. Roads and canals were left to the states and private companies to build.

The Marshall Court

The United States Supreme Court was led by Federalist Chief Justice John Marshall and help to set precedents, cases that established the authority of the federal government over the states. This helped to confirm the power of judicial review and strengthen the overall power of the federal government. McCulloch v. Maryland and Gibbons v. Ogden were two of the most important cases. While the Federalist Party had died the Marshall Court gave Federalist rulings which strengthened the national government.

McCulloch v. Maryland

A United States Supreme Court case where Maryland tried to destroy the Second Bank of the United States by taxing it to death. Marshall and his court deemed that it was necessary and proper for Congress to charter a bank in order to properly collect taxes, borrow money, regulate commerce, and raise army and navies. The court also ruled that the U.S. Constitution gave the federal government supremacy over the states. This meant that states could not interfere with government operations or agencies. Maryland's taxing of the national bank was unconstitutional.

Gibbons v. Ogden

A United States Supreme Court case where New York granted a monopoly of steamboat traffic to a singular company which tried to expand into New Jersey against a competing New Jersey company. The Marshall Court ruled that New York's monopoly was invalid because the company participated in interstate commerce. Only the federal government was allowed to regulate interstate trade because the commerce clause in Article One of the Constitution specifically delegated that power. This decision helped to expand the federal government's power.

Nationalism

This means strong pride in one's nation. After the Battle of New Orleans nationalism surged in the United States. Congressmen during this time period actively tried to bring the states and regions together during this time period.

The Monroe Doctrine

Issued by President James Monroe it was largely written by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams. This warned European countries that the western hemisphere was closed for further colonization. During the early 1800s it was a display of isolationism and nationalism. Later in the 1800s presidents used it to interfere in Latin American affairs and justify United States imperialism.

Secretary of State John Quincy Adams

Son of John Adams, he was Secretary of State under James Monroe. He helped secure the Adams-Onis Treaty which added Spanish Florida to the United States. He also helped to make treaties with British Canada reducing the amount of warships on the Great Lakes and solidifying the 49th parallel as the northern most U.S. boundary.

Roads and Turnpikes

After the War of 1812 Congressmen started to believe the federal government should build a better roads system to promote trade. James Madison vetoed Congress's bill to allocate federal funds for internal improvements. He believed that this was not an enumerated power and should be left to the states. The National Road build from 1811 - 1818 was the only federal funded road. States, local communities, and private businesses built roads. Turnpikes were wooden barriers that were turned after a person paid a toll to use a privately constructed road.

Canals

Canals were man-made waterways that provided a cheap, efficient way to transport good. Barges could be loaded with more than a cart or wagon. Mules were used to pull cargo up and down the canals. The most famous canal was the Erie Canal which was constructed to connect Lake Erie to the Hudson River. The Erie Canal helped open up trade and increased the importance New York City as a major trade city.

Steamboats

The Clermont was first steamboat in the Untied States and was created by Robert Fulton and Robert R. Livingston. This could carry heavier loads than a canal barge and could travel upstream. This revolutionized trade on the Mississippi River.

Locomotive Trains

The first passenger train appeared in 1830. It was the fastest form of transportation but was expensive and limited. This machine was powered by coal, water, and steam. This was the fastest growing transportation system.

Capitalism/Free Enterprise System

An economic system that allows privately own businesses to have the freedom to operate for a profit with limited government intervention. Individuals can make money and spend it or invest it how they see fit.

Interchangeable Parts

This revolution was presented by Eli Whitney at the White House when he assembled and disassembled rifles using standardized parts. Each part was uniform which meant that a part could be easily replaced and that larger quantities could be made at a factory rather than individually made by an artisans.

Labor Unions

Unions grew from groups of skilled artisans (baker, carpenter, blacksmith) to unskilled factories workers. These labor unions began to fight for improved wages, shorter hours, and safe working conditions.

Factory System

New technologies during the Industrial Revolution lead to goods being made in one building (a factory). Early factories were powered by rivers and streams. Cloth/textiles were the first items to be produced using the factory system. The Lowell Factory in Massachusetts was one of the first factories in the United States.

Strikes

Work stoppage by workers to force an employer to meet their demands. A popular tactic by unions to get better wages, hours, and working conditions. One of the first successful strikes was at the Lowell Factory by girls who worked at the cloth mill for better wages.

Urban Problems

Cities began to experience urban problems like crime, over crowding and public health problems. To combat this cities tried to establish police departments. Private firefighting companies tried to combat the number one danger in cities fires. Sanitation problems, like garbage and human waste, cause disease.

Cotton Gin

Invented by Eli Whitney, the cotton gin quickly and efficiently combed the seeds out of cotton bolls. Whitney invented the cotton gin in response to visiting the South and recognizing how long and laborious the process was by hand. This increased the dependency of the southern economy on slavery.

King Cotton

Cotton rapidly dominated the southern economy and became the most profitable of cash crops. Northern factories and European textile factories had a high demand for cotton. Southerners believed that cotton gave them economic and political advantages.

Southern Antebellum Society

Antebellum (Pre-Civil War) Society was ridged pyramid. Wealthy planters were at the top and dominated the economic and political systems. Yeoman farmers and urban professionals were next. Poor, white farmers were next. The bottom of the social pyramid consisted of free and enslaved blacks. Free blacks had limited rights. Enslaved blacks were viewed as property and they were given zero rights.

Slavery

An economic system where a person views another person as property. After the invention of the cotton gin this economy practice grew exponentially. While Congress banned the importation of new slaves in 1808 the U.S. slave trade boomed within the nation. Slaves were organized into different groups to complete jobs. Urban slaves were often given more freedom than slaves who resided on farms and plantations. Slaves did not have rights. While it was in the interest of a slave owner to take good care of his/her slaves, slaves experiences widespread mistreated.

Task System

A method of organizing enslaved labor in which workers were given a specific set of jobs to accomplish every day, after which they were allowed to spend their time as they choose. Some enslaved people earned money through their skills as artisans, others cultivated personal gardens or hunted. This typically took place on farms or smaller plantations.

Nat Turner's Rebellion

In 1831, a group of African Americans carried out an armed uprising in Virginia. The attack was led by Nat Turner, who was an enslaved minister. Turner believed God had chosen him to bring his people out of bondage. Turner and his followers were responsible for killing more than 50 white men, women and children before the uprising was put down. Turner was captured, tried, convicted and hanged. Southern states developed harsher slave codes and further limited the rights of freed and enslaved black people in the South.

The Missouri Compromise

In 1819, Missouri applied for admission into the Union as a slave state. At this time, the Union had 11 slave states and 11 free states, so Missouri would throw off the balance whether it entered the Union as a free or slave state. Proposals were entered for how to handle slavery in Missouri. The Missouri Compromise came about when Maine requested admission as a separate state in the Union (having previously been a part of Massachusetts). The Compromise was that Maine would enter as a free state and Missouri would enter as a slave state. the 36'30 line would divide the remaining territory. Slavery would be prohibited in the Louisiana Territory north 36'30 line but continue south of the line.

Election of 1824

This election showed how deeply divided the Democratic-Republican party was along regional lines. Four Republicans ran, all "favorite sons" in their state/region. William Crawford, Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams, and Andrew Jackson all represented the party. Jackson won the popular vote, but no one won the majority in the Electoral College. This meant the vote went to the House of Representatives, who would elect the president from the top 3 candidates. Henry Clay, the 4th place finisher, was eliminated. As Speaker of the House, however, he had a great deal of influence and threw his support behind Adams, who easily won the House election.

Corrupt Bargain

An improper or unlawful agreement between politicians. Jackson's supporters accused Adams and Clay of striking a corrupt bargain because Adams appointed Clay secretary of state after Clay threw his support behind Adams in the election of 1824.

Election of 1828

John Quincy Adams was pitted against Andrew Jackson. Jackson and his supporters believed he was fighting for a victory that was unjustly denied him in 1824. Both candidates engaged in mudslinging, or criticizing morals, personalities and reputations. Andrew Jackson eventually won with 56% of the popular vote and the Electoral College.