Unit 4 APUSH notes

1800-1848

Debates between D-R:

US relations with foreign powers

→ [Barbary Pirates]: The US had paid tribute to them for the protection of American merchant ships, which was a policy put into place by Washington and Adams. Jefferson was very opposed to paying bribes to engage in trade, so he ordered to stop the bribes.

→ The barbary pirates stopped their protection and started to attack US merchant ships and bc of this Jefferson sent US Navy troops to retaliate, almost ending up in war.

→ The Jefferson administration negotiated a reduced payment to the barbary states.

Scope of federal power

*D-R wanted RESTRICTION, Federalists not so much

→ D-R; STRICT constructionist view of the constitution (only what was explicitly written)

→ Federalists; LOOSE constructionists (more flexible)

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→ [Louisiana Purchase]: Haiti, a French colony, broke out in a revolution. Jefferson saw an opportunity to gain navigation rights in New Orleans (a french territory).

Sent James Monroe with $2mil to get these rights from Napoleon, later said he could have Louisiana for $15mil, without talking to Jefferson Monroe took the deal.

→ Jefferson did not agree (STRICT const.), nothing in the Constitution gives the president power to buy land. He justified that by owning this land Indians would be able to move further westward, cut off EU influence, and open up trading, also further his agrarian dream. (not the trade and manufacturing nation Hamilton wanted)

*Jefferson violated his principles and acted like a federalist

→ [Lewis and Clark]: Congress funded this discovery, began in 1804, they explored the newly purchased land. This led to a more accurate mapping of the territory, more geographic and scientific knowledge of the region, and more diplomatic relations with the Indians.

→ [Marbury vs Maddison] & [John Marshall]: Further expansion of federal power.

*Before Jefferson’s election, Congress was dominated by Federalists. They passed the [Judiciary Act], which created 16 new spots for federal judges. Before leaving, Adams appointed Federalist judges to fill all those spots, one of them being William Marbury. → Jefferson was not happy, so James Madison (his secretary of state) refused to deliver some of those appointments and the conflict ended up in the Supreme Court.

→ It was led by [John Marshall] and they decided that under the JUDICIARY ACT, Marbury did deserve his commission, BUT the court declared that they were the final interpreter of the constitution, and the judiciary act was uncon. [Judicial Review], Marbury would not receive a commission.

*This increased the power of the Supreme Court and increased with…

→ [McCulloch v Maryland]: Supreme Court decided that *federal law trumps state law.

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*Federal power is increasing at this time but sometimes REGIONAL interests took the lead over NATIONAL concerns.

→ Causes of [War of 1812]: France and Britain were fighting, US wanted to stay neutral, but B&F kept (1.) seizing US merchant ships, (2.) Americans moving westward were having problems with the Indians and blamed it on Britain, and (3.) British Impressment (*forcefully capturing US ppl and making them serve the Royal Navy).

*June 1812 US declared war on Britain, D-R agreed and Federalists didn’t, so they met together..

→ [Hartford Convention in 1814]: Discussed how to end the war but also argued that because of this New England should secede from the union.

*The US won the war.

→ Consequences of [War of 1812]: (1) Intense nationalism in the US, (2) End of the Federalist Party, they had opposed the war that the US won. This marked the beginning of the [Era of Good Feelings] (National Unity under the D-R party, but debates continued), (3) showed US weaknesses, no national bank due to D-R in 1811, it was hard to raise funds without a reliable source of credit + no reliable infrastructure and transportation, it was hard to move men and supplies for the war.

→ Henry Clay’s [American system]: proposed with the intent to unify the US economy. (1) Federally funded internal improvements (later vetoed bc Maddison said it increased Federal power), (2)Implementation of protective tariffs, (3) Re-establish the Bank of the United States.

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*Regional tensions were further aggravated by the continued westward expansion.

*Missouri applied for statehood in 1819 and settlers brought many enslaved ppl into the territory, it was assumed that it would come in as a slave state.

→ [Talmage Amendment]: James Talmage attached an amendment to Missouri’s application for statehood that did not allow slavery in the new state. BIG DEAL. The most important thing at this time was to keep a balance in the Senate between FREE and SLAVE states. This threatened the union.

(If Missouri came in as a free state, slave states would be outnumbered in voting)

→ Henry Clay’s [Compromise of 1820/Missouri Compromise]: Bring in Missouri as a slave state and also bring in Maine as a free state. Balance would be kept. For future expansion/problems, the southern border of Missouri (36’30 line) would be the line separating slave states and free states. (Slavery below)

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*US major goals were to firm up boundaries and gain more territory

*1816, Monroe (D-R) became president and sent John Quincy Adams to settle territory claims.

→ [North Borders]: Adams negotiated the US-Canadian border at the 49th parallel and established joint US-British occupation of Oregon Territory.

*Monroe wanted to limit Spain’s influence

→ [Adams-Onus Treaty of 1819]: Spain sold FL to the US and established the location of a southern border

*Many South American countries gained their independence from Spain.

→ [Monroe Doctrine of 1823] Monroe seized this opportunity to proclaim American dominance in the Western hemisphere. Established the western hemisphere as a sphere of influence free from European influence.

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*US Society and Economy = The Market Revolution

→ [Market Revolution]: linked the northern industries with the west and south farms, this was created by advances in agriculture, industry, communication, and transportation.

(1) New Technology: The Cotton Gin (sped up the process of separating seeds from cotton fibers) and the Spinning Machine (sped up the process of spinning cotton into yarn) revolutionized Southern agriculture and Northern industry. Interchangeable Parts, machines were now used to produce bulk different parts of machinery and assemble them all together. This new process of production became the basis for the [American System of Manufacturing], water-powered machines, division of labor - mostly unskilled workers - mass-produced.

(2) New Transportation: The Steam Boats, ppl could now travel up and down rivers. Building of Canals, the [Erie Canal], waterways made by humans. In the 1820s-1830 railroads began to replace canals, and local and state gov, helped the process by giving special loans and tax breaks to railroad companies.

*The US industry became more interconnected and interdependent. Especially promoted the growth of Western agriculture.

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*American society was changing too. All across the North industrial cities exploded in population and diversity.

*From 1820-1830, around 2 million immigrants showed up in the US (mostly from Germany and Ireland).

- Many of them settled on the western seaboard and provided cheap labor, and this further fueled northern industries.

- Others migrated west and established homesteads and farms on the frontier.

- The immigrants that stayed in the industrial cities transformed urban landscapes. They formed a growing class of laboring poor and crowded themselves in tenements (Very unsanitary, disease spread quickly, and they lived there bc it was the only choice)

- Many of these immigrants still reestablished their cultural institutions, Jewish immigrants established synagogues, and many Irish Catholics led to the expansion of the Catholic Church.

→ Growing [Middle Class]: First emerged in the north and they were mostly businessmen, shopkeepers, journalists, doctors, and lawyers. They had disposable income that they spent on leisure activities like plays, circuses, and sporting events.

→ [Cult of Domesticity]: Women were expected to conform to this and it was presented to them through many magazines and books. A woman’s identity and sense of purpose revolved around having children and making the home a good resting place for her husband.

*Separate spheres for the sexes began to shape American society, this was only seen in the upper and middle classes.

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*The only people who could vote during this time were property-owning white men, voting was only for the elite, and later many other men from different classes wanted their right to vote.

→ [Panic of 1819]: resulted from irresponsible banking practices and decreased demand for exported American goods (cotton). Laboring men were hit the hardest and wanted to be able to hold the politicians accountable for their failures to regulate the banks. The desire for the right to vote increased bc the frontier states had all established universal male suffrage.

- By 1825 most eastern states had lowered or ended their property qualifications for voting.

*A new influx of voters in US politics led to the growth and realignment of political parties

→ [Election of 1812]: led to a split in THE D-R party. (1) National Republicans had a more expansive view of federal power (loose constructionists), but (2) Democrats had a restrictive view of federal power (Strict Constructionists).

- This split made it hard to nominate a candidate for the presidential election. So they chose 4…

(1) Andrew Jackson, Democrat/Jeffersonian

(2) John Quincy Adams, National Republican/Federalist

(3) Henry Clay, National Republican/Federalist

→ [Corrupt Bargain]: Jackson won the vote but nobody won a majority of the electoral vote. the con. says that it is up to the House of reps to choose. Clay (speaker of the house) gave his support to Adams, and Adams won. Adams later assigned Clay as his Secretary of State.

→ [Election of 1828]: Democratic party chose Jackson and the National Republicans chose Adams. Jackson won again.

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*The 2 major national parties had shifted, democrats led by Andrew Jackson and led by Henry Clay were the [Whigs]. Their disagreement was over the scope of federal power. Jackson's use of Federal Power:

(1) → [Tariff of 1828]: Raised import duties to 50%, Northern manufacturers and western farmers loved this tariff bc it protected their industries. The South did not, they relied on imported goods. NOW under Jackson (1832), Congress reaffirmed this tariff.

- The South called it the [Tariff of Abominations], Jackson VP, John C Calhoun was from South Carolina and he expressed the same feelings and developed the…

→ [Doctrine of Nullification]: States had the power to determine the constitutionality of federal laws, if a law failed then a state could nullify or refuse to follow it. South Carolina said they would NOT pay those taxes AND if tax collectors came South Carolina would leave the union.

- [Force Bill]: Jackson persuaded Congress to pass this bill which gave him the authority to use federal troops to enforce federal law inside South Carolina, but he still lowered the tariffs so that South Carolina could stay in the union.

(2) - Jackson’s veto of the 2nd bank, which was part of the American System plan that ad stabilized the US economy in the 1820s, but when state backs started closing bc they couldn’t make the required payments to the national bank many people were left with worthless money. Jackson then said that the national bank favored the elite over ordinary people.

(3) → [Indian Removal Act of 1830]: Many Indian nations like the Cherokee ppl had declared themselves a self-governing nation, but Georgians saw them as guests on their land until they found gold in Cherokee territory. The Chrokee ppl refused to resettle across the Mississippi River.

→ [Worcester v Georgia]: Cherokee challenged that law in the Supreme Court

, and they ruled that they ARE self-governing and Georgia did not have the right to enforce state laws within their boundaries. But…

- In 1835, a small delegation of the Cherokee met with US officials to sign a treaty, but the Cherokee had no tribal authority to sign it but they did it anyway.

→ [Treaty of New Echota]: Officially exchanged Cherokee land in Georgia for a reservation west of the Mississippi River.

→ [Trail of Tears 1838]: Those who wouldn't relocate voluntarily.

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*Distinct American culture and spirit of reform, very important for Americans to develop their own distinct identity. Happened through Language, Philosophy, Art, and Religion.

(1) Lit and Lang:

[Noah Webster]: American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828. Was used in growing networks of schools and academies. The main effect was to standardize the spelling and pronunciation.

(2) Philosophy:

→ [Transcendentalism]: Influenced by EU romanticism and the belief in human perfectability, this emphasized human passion, mystery, transcendent power, and beauty of nature.

[Ralph Waldo Emerson]: Believed in morale perfection could be achieved in the US

[Henry David Thorau]: Follower of Emerson, moved to a cabin and lived there for a year and made an experiment on human perfection and wrote all this down in his book called “Walden”

- Many of them supported other moralist movements like abolition, temperance, and women’s suffrage.

(3) Art:

→ [Hudson River School]: Painted romanticized landscapes in New York, all of this was in an effort toward spiritual renewal in the US.

→ [Utopian Communities] & [Onieda Community]: Very influenced by EU intellectuals and American values of democracy and equality. [Oneida Community] In 1848, a group of Christians were convinced that the second coming of Christ had already occurred and that they had lived communally and in perfect equality. Each member gave up any private property they owned. They also believed in complex marriage/open.

(4): Spiritual Renewal:

→ [2nd Great Awakening]: Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians organized camp meetings in the woods. Camp meetings in the woods where ppl attended for many days featured evangelical preachers. These spread to cities, mainly bc of…

→ [Charles Finney]: he spoke powerfully in a dialect and images other people could understand and so many people traveled to hear him speak. His preaching spread to northern cities and revived Christianity.

*These camp meetings were largely egalitarian (included all races, classes, and sexes)

*1st was focused on personal morale reformation, 2nd emphasized the moral reformation of society which helped set the stage for the Temperance movement.

→ [American Temperance Society]: Founded by businessmen and clergy, these were efforts directed toward the working-class men who abused alcohol, and the religious revivals that were happening led to the spread of the ATS across the country. The goal was complete restraint from alcohol.

→ [Mormonismin 1840’s]: set the stage for innovations of the Christian faith by the 2ndGA. Founded by Joseph Smith, claimed he received visions from god, saying that all churches in the US had moved away from the true teachings of the original apostolic church. He also translated their holy book, The Book of Mormon. Practiced polygamy which caused them to be persecuted.

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*Abolitionist movement increased compared to the movement in the 1820’s

→ [The Liberator, 1831]: William Lloyd Garrison was one cause of this abolitionist expansion, he argued that white ppl needed to take a stand against slavery through moral persuasion, not violence.

→ [American Anti-Slavery Society, 1833]: Spread rapidly throughout northern states, but not all people in the north were abolitionists.

- Northern merchants and manufacturers feared abolition bc of the effects it could have on the cotton and sugar trade. Also, white working men in the North felt threatened by abolition bc their jobs could disappear.

- Many women supported the abolition movement, but they saw that they couldn't do anything for the cause bc they were women

→ [Seneca Falls Convention, 1848]: 1st women’s rights conference in the US where they drafted the [Declaration of Sentiments], which called for women's equality in edu, legal rights, and voting.

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- After the 1830s plantations began to expand with westward expansion, plantation owners saw enormous profit due to this, and this created a wealthy plantation aristocracy that wanted to protect their profit and way of life through hard discipline toward enslaved people who worked for them.

- But despite all of this harsh labor the slaves found ways to keep their sense of community alive, mainly their songs, they sang songs that created a rhythm for their work and expressed their hopes and despair.

- Planters went to great lengths to control their black laborers, mainly bc they were scared of a possible slave uprising.

→ [Nat Turner’s Rebellion, 1831]: Black laborer, Nat Turner organized a slave revolt in Virginia, he believed that god had given him a mission to do so. By the end, they had killed <50 white people. Turner and his followers were then hung.

*increased the fear in Southerners over more slave uprisings, so out of fear they imposed harsher disciplines and restrictions on slaves.

*But also most white Southerners did not own slaves, they were Yeoman farmers (independent landowners), but they still believed in slavery and the racial hierarchy of the South.