Nationalism & Sectionalism Review Review Notes

1. Louisiana Purchase

  • Date: 1803

  • Description: The United States acquired land from France for $15 million.

  • Significance: This action doubled the size of the country and provided land west of the Mississippi River.

  • President: Thomas Jefferson during whose administration the purchase was made.

  • Impact: Increased nationalism as it enhanced American pride in growing territory.

2. Nationalism

  • Definition: A strong pride and loyalty to one's country.

  • Historical context: After the War of 1812, there was a significant movement among Americans to promote unity and improvements in national infrastructure.

  • Developments: Increased interest in better roads, banks, and overall infrastructure to strengthen the nation.

3. Sectionalism

  • Definition: A preference for one's regional interests (North, South, or West) over national interests.

  • Emergence: Sectionalism increased during the 1800s due to differing economies and perspectives on issues such as slavery and states' rights.

4. Causes of Sectionalism

  • Major Factors:

    • Differences in views on slavery

    • Tariff policies that favored certain regions over others

    • Economic variances:

    • The South's economy, predominantly agricultural, relied heavily on slavery.

    • The North was industrialized, anti-slavery, and favored a factory-based economy.

5. Economy of the North

  • Characteristics:

    • Industrial economy with a focus on factories and trade.

    • Predominantly paid labor force.

    • Significant urbanization characterized by the development of big cities.

    • Infrastructure: Construction of railroads.

    • Political stance: Supported high tariffs to protect Northern businesses from foreign competition.

6. Economy of the South

  • Characteristics:

    • Economy based largely on agriculture and dependent on enslaved labor.

    • Major crops: Cotton and tobacco cultivated on plantations.

7. Missouri Compromise

  • Key Outcomes:

    • Missouri entered the Union as a slave state.

    • Maine entered as a free state to maintain the balance of power between free and slave states.

    • Slavery was banned in all territories north of the 36°30′ line, with the exception of Missouri, to manage sectional tension.

8. Monroe Doctrine

  • Definition: A significant U.S. policy that warned European nations against interfering in affairs within the Americas.

  • Importance: It was a statement of U.S. power and served to protect Latin American nations from European colonization.

9. Erie Canal

  • Description: A man-made waterway located in New York.

  • Function: Connected the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, which greatly facilitated trade.

  • Impact: Contributed to the rise of New York City as a crucial port.

10. Andrew Jackson

a. Bank Veto

  • Action: Jackson vetoed the rechartering of the National Bank in 1832.

  • Justification: Argued that the National Bank favored the wealthy and was detrimental to the common man.

b. Nullification Crisis

  • Event: South Carolina attempted to nullify a federal tariff.

  • Jackson's Response: He threatened to use force to uphold federal law and preserve the Union.

c. Indian Removal Act and Trail of Tears

  • Year of Act: 1830.

  • Purpose: Forced relocation of Native American tribes westward.

  • Consequence: The Trail of Tears, which resulted in the deaths of thousands, particularly affecting the Cherokee Nation in 1838.

d. Spoils System

  • Definition: A political practice initiated by Jackson of assigning government jobs to friends and political supporters.

  • Consequence: Led to widespread corruption and the placement of unqualified individuals in government positions.