American Pageant Ch.12
1. Rush-Bagot Agreement—1817
This treaty between the US and Great Britain provided for the mutual disarmament of the Great Lakes. This was later expanded into an unarmed Canada/US border.
This agreement was significant as a sign of improved relations between the two nations and as an early example of arms control.
2. Second Bank of the United States—1816
In 1811 the charter for the first BUS had expired. Following that state banks had filled the void, issuing unsound paper money. In addition, the federal government lacked a secure depository for its funds.
The Second BUS was approved by Congress, this time with support from the Democratic-Republicans who now saw the BUS as in the nation’s interest.
3. Tariff of 1816
Earlier tariffs had been designed to provide revenue; this one was intended to protect American infant industries from British competition by imposing higher rates.
This tariff imposed rates averaging 20% to 25%.
4. American System—1824
Henry Clay proposed a system of government programs that would benefit and link together all parts of the nation.
He proposed a protective tariff and a strong banking system to stimulate northeastern manufacturing. Revenues from the tariff would finance a system of roads and canals to allow southern and western farmers to transport their crops to market easily and to allow the return flow of eastern manufactured goods.
5. Bonus Bill—1817
John C. Calhoun proposed his Bonus Bill which would use the bonus and dividends paid to the national government by the Second Bank of the United States as a $1.5 million fund for internal improvements to be allocated to the states.
President Madison vetoed the bill, saying that the Constitution did not expressly give Congress the power to fund internal improvements.
6. Era of Good Feelings—1816-1824
The years following the end of the War of 1812 have been called the “Era of Good Feelings” because of their apparent lack of partisan political strife. In the election of 1816, James Monroe trounced Rufus King, the last of the Federalist candidates. Monroe was overwhelmingly reelected in the election of 1820 with no opposition whatsoever.
Despite the lack of party conflict, this was a time of increasing sectional tension over tariffs, internal improvements, and slavery.
7. Nationalism
The War of 1812 had stimulated a sense of national pride. This was manifested in the continued construction of the capitol in Washington, in the emergence of a new national literature (Cooper, Irving), and in a willingness to expand the powers of the federal government for economic development.
8. Panic of 1819 & Wildcat Banks
This was largely caused by over-speculation in western lands. State (wildcat) banks had issued paper currency not supported by specie (gold or silver) and had extended easy credit, encouraging farmers and speculators to buy more land.
When business conditions took a downturn, the BUS demanded wildcat banks redeem their notes in specie. When they could not do so, the wildcat banks required the repayment of the loans they had made. This led to foreclosures and a dramatic drop in land prices.
This resulted in a mistrust of banks and in a demand for higher protective tariffs for American products.
9. Robert Fulton & Steamboats
In 1807 Fulton’s Clermont demonstrated the viability of steamboat transportation by traveling upriver from New York City to Albany in thirty-two hours.
Upstream transportation was now possible at ten times previous speeds, lowering prices dramatically.
The West and South could, as a result, export agricultural products and import manufactured goods more cheaply, stimulating the economies of those regions.
10. Tallmadge Amendment—1819
This measure sought to block admission of Missouri as a slave state by blocking further importation of slaves into the state and requiring the gradual emancipation of existing slaves.
The South managed to defeat the amendment in the Senate. But this raised Southern concerns that the North might try to ban slavery in the rest of the Louisiana Territory and perhaps even attack slavery in the South.
11. Missouri Compromise—1820
To maintain the sectional balance between North and South, Missouri was allowed to enter the Union as a slave state at the same time Maine entered as a free state.
Also, the Louisiana Purchase north of 36° 30′, except Missouri, was closed to slavery.
12. McCulloch v. Maryland—1819
Maryland had taxed the BUS $15,000 per year because it didn’t want out-of-state banks competing with in-state banks.
Maryland argued that the federal government was created by sovereign states, and the powers of the federal government had been delegated to it by the states. Therefore, the federal government should do as the states said.
However, Chief Justice Marshall supported the federal government. He ruled that Congress is granted the expressed powers to collect taxes and borrow money; it also may make laws necessary and proper for carrying out expressed powers. Congress, furthermore, is not explicitly forbidden from creating a bank. Therefore, the BUS was constitutional.
This case established the principles of national supremacy (if there is a conflict between the federal government and the state governments when both are acting legally, the federal government prevails) and implied powers (the federal government can do whatever is necessary and proper to carry out the expressed powers granted by the Constitution).
13. Cohens v. Virginia—1821
Philip and Mendes Cohen had broken a Virginia law that forbade the selling of lottery tickets that were not state-authorized. The Cohens were arrested for selling lottery tickets from Washington, D.C.
Virginia won the case, but Chief Justice Marshall again asserted the power of the central government over the states. In this case, he ruled that the Supreme Court has the power to exercise its appellate jurisdiction over the judgment of a state court involving the validity of state legislation.
14. Gibbons v. Ogden —1824
Ogden had been licensed by New York to run a steamboat between New York and New Jersey. Gibbons had been licensed by Congress to do the same. Ogden tried to force Gibbons to stop. NY courts agreed, and Gibbons appealed to the Supreme Court.
In this case, Marshall gave the concept of commerce a broad interpretation. That is, commerce is not limited to buying and selling commodities.
In this decision, Marshall reaffirmed that only Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce, that is, business that crosses state lines.
15. Fletcher v. Peck—1810
The state of Georgia in 1796 passed a law repealing a 1795 Georgia law authorizing a land sale that transferred 35 million acres of land to speculators for 1 1/2¢/acre. The law was repealed because of massive bribery and corruption in the legislature.
Chief Justice Marshall overturned the 1796 law, saying that the earlier law, fraudulent though it was, was a legally binding contract and that the state could not impair or alter a contract.
16. Dartmouth College v. Woodward—1819
The New Hampshire legislature changed Dartmouth College’s charter and placed the college under state control. Marshall ruled the original charter must stand; it was a contract and the Constitution protected contracts against state encroachment.
This decision encouraged economic development by ensuring corporations that they would be free from arbitrary interference from government once their charters were established. But the decision had the negative effect of shielding corporations from public control.
17. Treaty of 1818
This treaty fixed the boundary line between the United States and Canada at the 49th parallel from Lake of the Woods (northern Minnesota) to the Rocky Mountains.
The treaty also provided that the United States and Britain would jointly occupy the Oregon country for a period of ten years and decreed that the US and Canada would share the valuable Newfoundland fisheries.
18. Andrew Jackson in Florida—1818
Arguing that Seminole Indians and runaway slaves were using Spanish Florida as a refuge from US law, Jackson obtained permission to take a military force into Florida. Once there, Jackson exceeded the limits of his authority, hanging Indians and British subjects and seizing Spanish posts.
Though most in Washington were ready to disavow Jackson, Secretary of State J.Q. Adams seized the opportunity to press Spain for concessions.
19. Adams-Onis Florida Purchase Treaty—1819
In the resulting treaty of 1819, Spain, realizing that Jackson might seize all of Florida, ceded Florida to the US for $5 million.
In exchange for the US dropping its weak claim to Texas, Spain gave up its claim to the Oregon territory and set the boundary between Oregon and Mexico at the 42nd parallel.
20. Monroe Doctrine—1823
Latin American nations had overthrown Spanish rule. The US sought to keep powerful European colonial powers out of its backyard, and US merchants sought to build up trade with Latin American nations (not possible if a mercantilist colonial power controlled the area).
The basic principles of the Monroe Doctrine were 1) the Western Hemisphere was closed to further European colonization, 2) the United States would not interfere with the existing colonies of any European power, 3) the United States would not interfere in the internal affairs of any European power, and 4) any attempt by European powers to intervene in the Western Hemisphere would be regarded as a threat to the US.
This was welcomed by Americans as an expression of nationalism and isolationism. Fortunately for the US, the British also wanted to keep other colonial powers out of the hemisphere; the British navy provided the enforcement for this doctrine in its first decades.
21. 54°40′/ Russo-American Treaty—1824
The first success of the Monroe Doctrine was the Russian decision to halt their expansion in the Western Hemisphere at 54°40′, the southern tip of the Alaskan panhandle.
1. Rush-Bagot Agreement—1817
This treaty between the US and Great Britain provided for the mutual disarmament of the Great Lakes. This was later expanded into an unarmed Canada/US border.
This agreement was significant as a sign of improved relations between the two nations and as an early example of arms control.
2. Second Bank of the United States—1816
In 1811 the charter for the first BUS had expired. Following that state banks had filled the void, issuing unsound paper money. In addition, the federal government lacked a secure depository for its funds.
The Second BUS was approved by Congress, this time with support from the Democratic-Republicans who now saw the BUS as in the nation’s interest.
3. Tariff of 1816
Earlier tariffs had been designed to provide revenue; this one was intended to protect American infant industries from British competition by imposing higher rates.
This tariff imposed rates averaging 20% to 25%.
4. American System—1824
Henry Clay proposed a system of government programs that would benefit and link together all parts of the nation.
He proposed a protective tariff and a strong banking system to stimulate northeastern manufacturing. Revenues from the tariff would finance a system of roads and canals to allow southern and western farmers to transport their crops to market easily and to allow the return flow of eastern manufactured goods.
5. Bonus Bill—1817
John C. Calhoun proposed his Bonus Bill which would use the bonus and dividends paid to the national government by the Second Bank of the United States as a $1.5 million fund for internal improvements to be allocated to the states.
President Madison vetoed the bill, saying that the Constitution did not expressly give Congress the power to fund internal improvements.
6. Era of Good Feelings—1816-1824
The years following the end of the War of 1812 have been called the “Era of Good Feelings” because of their apparent lack of partisan political strife. In the election of 1816, James Monroe trounced Rufus King, the last of the Federalist candidates. Monroe was overwhelmingly reelected in the election of 1820 with no opposition whatsoever.
Despite the lack of party conflict, this was a time of increasing sectional tension over tariffs, internal improvements, and slavery.
7. Nationalism
The War of 1812 had stimulated a sense of national pride. This was manifested in the continued construction of the capitol in Washington, in the emergence of a new national literature (Cooper, Irving), and in a willingness to expand the powers of the federal government for economic development.
8. Panic of 1819 & Wildcat Banks
This was largely caused by over-speculation in western lands. State (wildcat) banks had issued paper currency not supported by specie (gold or silver) and had extended easy credit, encouraging farmers and speculators to buy more land.
When business conditions took a downturn, the BUS demanded wildcat banks redeem their notes in specie. When they could not do so, the wildcat banks required the repayment of the loans they had made. This led to foreclosures and a dramatic drop in land prices.
This resulted in a mistrust of banks and in a demand for higher protective tariffs for American products.
9. Robert Fulton & Steamboats
In 1807 Fulton’s Clermont demonstrated the viability of steamboat transportation by traveling upriver from New York City to Albany in thirty-two hours.
Upstream transportation was now possible at ten times previous speeds, lowering prices dramatically.
The West and South could, as a result, export agricultural products and import manufactured goods more cheaply, stimulating the economies of those regions.
10. Tallmadge Amendment—1819
This measure sought to block admission of Missouri as a slave state by blocking further importation of slaves into the state and requiring the gradual emancipation of existing slaves.
The South managed to defeat the amendment in the Senate. But this raised Southern concerns that the North might try to ban slavery in the rest of the Louisiana Territory and perhaps even attack slavery in the South.
11. Missouri Compromise—1820
To maintain the sectional balance between North and South, Missouri was allowed to enter the Union as a slave state at the same time Maine entered as a free state.
Also, the Louisiana Purchase north of 36° 30′, except Missouri, was closed to slavery.
12. McCulloch v. Maryland—1819
Maryland had taxed the BUS $15,000 per year because it didn’t want out-of-state banks competing with in-state banks.
Maryland argued that the federal government was created by sovereign states, and the powers of the federal government had been delegated to it by the states. Therefore, the federal government should do as the states said.
However, Chief Justice Marshall supported the federal government. He ruled that Congress is granted the expressed powers to collect taxes and borrow money; it also may make laws necessary and proper for carrying out expressed powers. Congress, furthermore, is not explicitly forbidden from creating a bank. Therefore, the BUS was constitutional.
This case established the principles of national supremacy (if there is a conflict between the federal government and the state governments when both are acting legally, the federal government prevails) and implied powers (the federal government can do whatever is necessary and proper to carry out the expressed powers granted by the Constitution).
13. Cohens v. Virginia—1821
Philip and Mendes Cohen had broken a Virginia law that forbade the selling of lottery tickets that were not state-authorized. The Cohens were arrested for selling lottery tickets from Washington, D.C.
Virginia won the case, but Chief Justice Marshall again asserted the power of the central government over the states. In this case, he ruled that the Supreme Court has the power to exercise its appellate jurisdiction over the judgment of a state court involving the validity of state legislation.
14. Gibbons v. Ogden —1824
Ogden had been licensed by New York to run a steamboat between New York and New Jersey. Gibbons had been licensed by Congress to do the same. Ogden tried to force Gibbons to stop. NY courts agreed, and Gibbons appealed to the Supreme Court.
In this case, Marshall gave the concept of commerce a broad interpretation. That is, commerce is not limited to buying and selling commodities.
In this decision, Marshall reaffirmed that only Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce, that is, business that crosses state lines.
15. Fletcher v. Peck—1810
The state of Georgia in 1796 passed a law repealing a 1795 Georgia law authorizing a land sale that transferred 35 million acres of land to speculators for 1 1/2¢/acre. The law was repealed because of massive bribery and corruption in the legislature.
Chief Justice Marshall overturned the 1796 law, saying that the earlier law, fraudulent though it was, was a legally binding contract and that the state could not impair or alter a contract.
16. Dartmouth College v. Woodward—1819
The New Hampshire legislature changed Dartmouth College’s charter and placed the college under state control. Marshall ruled the original charter must stand; it was a contract and the Constitution protected contracts against state encroachment.
This decision encouraged economic development by ensuring corporations that they would be free from arbitrary interference from government once their charters were established. But the decision had the negative effect of shielding corporations from public control.
17. Treaty of 1818
This treaty fixed the boundary line between the United States and Canada at the 49th parallel from Lake of the Woods (northern Minnesota) to the Rocky Mountains.
The treaty also provided that the United States and Britain would jointly occupy the Oregon country for a period of ten years and decreed that the US and Canada would share the valuable Newfoundland fisheries.
18. Andrew Jackson in Florida—1818
Arguing that Seminole Indians and runaway slaves were using Spanish Florida as a refuge from US law, Jackson obtained permission to take a military force into Florida. Once there, Jackson exceeded the limits of his authority, hanging Indians and British subjects and seizing Spanish posts.
Though most in Washington were ready to disavow Jackson, Secretary of State J.Q. Adams seized the opportunity to press Spain for concessions.
19. Adams-Onis Florida Purchase Treaty—1819
In the resulting treaty of 1819, Spain, realizing that Jackson might seize all of Florida, ceded Florida to the US for $5 million.
In exchange for the US dropping its weak claim to Texas, Spain gave up its claim to the Oregon territory and set the boundary between Oregon and Mexico at the 42nd parallel.
20. Monroe Doctrine—1823
Latin American nations had overthrown Spanish rule. The US sought to keep powerful European colonial powers out of its backyard, and US merchants sought to build up trade with Latin American nations (not possible if a mercantilist colonial power controlled the area).
The basic principles of the Monroe Doctrine were 1) the Western Hemisphere was closed to further European colonization, 2) the United States would not interfere with the existing colonies of any European power, 3) the United States would not interfere in the internal affairs of any European power, and 4) any attempt by European powers to intervene in the Western Hemisphere would be regarded as a threat to the US.
This was welcomed by Americans as an expression of nationalism and isolationism. Fortunately for the US, the British also wanted to keep other colonial powers out of the hemisphere; the British navy provided the enforcement for this doctrine in its first decades.
21. 54°40′/ Russo-American Treaty—1824
The first success of the Monroe Doctrine was the Russian decision to halt their expansion in the Western Hemisphere at 54°40′, the southern tip of the Alaskan panhandle.
