3.1: Nationalism vs. Sectionalism

Nationalism vs. Sectionalism

nationalism: 1812-1832

1851: 31 US states

  • nationalistic ideals not strong enough to overcome sectional differences

a. language

noah webster

  • established / developed American english
  • 1828 - created American dictionary
  • he and Hamilton were idealists

b. national symbols

often derogatory turned pride

  • uncle sam
  • "yankee doodle"
  • stars and stripes
  • star-spangled banner

c. national motto

e pluribus unum

  • "out of many, one"
  • idealism - diversity is an asset

d. American history + geography

george bancroft

  • "father of American history"
  • wrote first history textbook for use in American public schools

hannah adams

  • wrote history textbook

jedidiah morse

  • created a geography textbook

e. arts and architecture

music - stephen foster

  • created American music

  • most actually comes from South / slave culture

  • "dixie"

art - landscapes

  • often made by travelers out west

architecture

  • log cabins for settlers
  • wealthy of the East live in large mansions
  • wealthy of the South live in large plantation homes

f. writers

  • knickerbocker group - new york

  • transcendentalists - "inner light"

  • Ralph Waldo Emerson

  • Washington Irving

  • James Fenimore Cooper

  • goal was to create readable content for Americans

sectionalism

sectionalism: loyalty of and love to a region

  • putting the interests of a region over the interests of a whole nation

  • people considered problems + issues from a sectional point of view rather than a national view

  • key issues

  • tariffs (high v low)

  • currency (coin v paper)

  • labor (free v slave)

  • western land (high v low prices)

  • national bank (for v against)

  • internal improvements (fed v state)

  • STRONG FEDERAL GOVERNMENT V STATE'S RIGHTS

  • role of slavery in the new territories

  • balance of "slave" and "free" states → senate

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