Chapter 7 Notes (new)

7.1 - Monroe to Adams

• After the War of 1812 feelings of nationalism spread through the U.S.

• This era was marked by so little disagreement it was called the era of good feelings

• To strengthen the nation and economy, Henry Clay proposed a program called the American System:

  • Issue a single-currency

  • Tariffs would be increased to encourage American Manufacturing

  • Money generated from tariffs would be spent on building roads and canals

• However, the South was against the tariffs because they hurt their economy

  • Slavery

• Congress approved two projects:

  • The Cumberland Road from Maryland to Illinois (the national road)

  • The congress invested in the Eerie Canal which connects New York City with the Great Lakes Region

• As Nationalism grew, so did Sectionalism

  • Sectionalism- Loyalty or importance to a region or state rather than to a whole nation

• North = Factories

• South = Plantations

• West = Land

• Sectionalism led to regional politics

  • The North advocated for high tariffs so people would buy American Goods

  • The South supported slavery and wanted low tariffs as they imported most of their goods

  • Northerns wanted the government to sell its land at a high price to discourage workers from leaving cities

  • Westerners wanted the government to sell land and provide growth in the area

• Relations between the US and Britain improved but tension grew against Spain

• The Seminole Indians raided settlements and aided slaves to escape

• In April 1818, without government permission, Andrew Jackson invaded Spanish territory and captured two forts

  • He also pushed the Seminole Tribe south into Florida

    • Known as the First Seminole War

The Adam-Onis Treaty

• Spain decided to sell Florida, give up its claims in the Pacific Northwest, and define the border between the US and Spain.

• The US purchased the land for 5 million 

• Spain was also losing territories in Latin America

• Monroe feared that European countries would attempt to colonize territories in the Americas

The Monroe Doctrine

• On December 2nd, 1823 President Monroe issued the Monroe Doctrine

• Three Major Points

  • European and the US would not interfere in each other's issues

  • No new or reclaiming of land in the US

  • Any actions in the Western Hemisphere would be an act of aggression

    7.2- Election of 1824 to 1828

    • All candidates of the 1824 presidential election considered themselves a part of the same party

      • Candidates: John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William Crawford, Henry Clay

    • No candidate received a majority of electoral votes

    • Henry Clay convinces colleagues to vote for John Quincy Adams

    • Adams became the sixth president and appointed Clay as Secretary of State.

    • Andrew Jackson ran again and beat John Quincy Adams

    • He promoted extending Democratic privileges to a wider population

      • Known as Jacksonian Democracy

    • Included the extension of suffrage

      • Only white men who owned property or paid taxes could vote

      • Jackson loosened those restrictions to include more whites

    • He became known as the common man

    • Jackson began to replace government bureaucrats with his friends and supporters

      • Known as the spoils system

      • Many criticized it as favoritism

        • Jackson argued that it was to clean house

    • Appointed Martin Van Buren as Secretary of State

    • Relied on his “kitchen cabinet” and Jackson’s friends who gave advice

    7.3- The Indian Removal Act

    • The most controversial act of Jackson’s presidency was the Indian Removal Act

    • He pushed Congress to pass the Indian Removal Act

      • It would authorize the federal government to force the Native Americans of the southeast off their land

      • It affected tribes like the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole.

      • The land would be given to White settlers.

    • The plan was to send them to modern-day Oklahoma.

    • Congress established the Bureau of Indian Affairs to manage the removal and transportation of Natives.

    • The Cherokees understood American law and took their case to the Supreme Court

      • The Supreme Court ruled that the Cherokees were a Sovereign Nation and only the federal government can form a treaty

    • Both the state of Georgia and President Jackson decide to ignore the ruling

    • Congress persuades a very small number of Cherokees to sign a treaty

      • According to the government, counted as an agreement for the entire tribe.

    • President Van Buren sent US Army Troops to invade.

      • Over 100k natives walked 800 miles to Indian Territory

      • A quarter of the population died from disease, starvation, of harsh weather conditions.

    • This march was known as the Trail of Tears.

    • The Seminoles resisted being displaced.

    • Chief Osceola urged his people to go to war against America.

      • This started the Second Seminole War.

    • Osceola’s people hid in the Everglades, made surprise attacks, and used guerilla tactics against the Americans.

      • The American Army gave up in 1842

    • They allowed the Seminoles who survived to remain in Florida.