Compare the economic development in different regions (the South, the North, and the West) of the United States during the early nineteenth century, including ways that economic policy contributed to political controversies.

Divergent Sections of the Country Resulting Economic Developments of Westward Movement ***The North had safe harbors, fast flowing rivers and so they developed industry and finance in part because of the money made available from the shipping industry. ***The South had fertile land for cash crops and so developed a plantation system. ***The West- had land for large farms and abundant natural resources. The question would arise over and over, would slaves be allowed in the new territories.

Tensions between the regions Economic differences affected and were affected by social differences between the regions, including the differences in religion and education as well as differences in the dependence on slavery and immigration as sources of labor. Economic differences contributed to the political controversies over the continuation of the National Bank, the embargo of 1807, the protective tariff, internal improvements and slavery.

Sectionalism Three distinct areas of the country arise because of differing economic specialties that resulted from differences in geography of the regions. The North The South The West

Sectionalism Sectionalism- differences that arise between different regions of the country economically, culturally, and politically. Slavery was a big dividing issue because the South depended upon the plantation system to grow its staple crop cotton. The North where slavery was abolished, businessmen began building factories and a factory system. The factories attracted immigrants that gave the North a diverse population that was generally anti-slavery Slavery became a moral issue in the North and abolitionists wanted to end slavery, while southerners said, the conditions which whites worked under in factories was just as bad.

Political Differences sparked by sectionalism Southerners wanted the individual states to have more power. They did not trust northern politicians who might try to end slavery. They believed in the doctrine of nullification where a state could refuse obey any law they thought was harmful to the state. They believed in States Rights or that the power to decide most political issues stayed with the states. Also, Northerners wanted a high tariff to protect their industry, the Southerners opposed this for two reasons, one they wanted to buy cheap European items, and two they wanted low tariffs for their cotton which they sold overseas. ***Northerners wanted to at least contain slavery to the areas it existed or halt it completely, this scared the South.

Henry Clay’s American System ***Designed to unite the nation and make it more economically independent. 1. Protective tariff- to protect America’s young industry 2. Internal improvements- to be paid for with money collected by the tariff. 3. A strong national bank- to replace the first bank whose charter had expired. Northerners tended to support, but Southern and Western farmers thought it hurt them as the expense of the Northern factories.

The Elections of 1824 and 1828 The Presidential Election of 1824 came down to John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. The election was so close and disputed that it had to be decided by House of Representatives. It looked like Jackson had won, but Henry Clay threw his support behind Adams. Later Clay was named Secretary of State by Adams, which angered Jackson and his supporters who called this the corrupt bargain. While Adams was President he angered the South with his policies including a new tariff the Southerners called the Tariff of Abominations. President Jackson used this turmoil to win the next election.

***South Carolina and the Nullification Crisis President Andrew Jackson won the 1828 election and immediately faced a challenge from his former vice-President John C. Calhoun. John C. Calhoun (SC Senator) argued for states rights and the doctrine of nullification. Then he urged South Carolina to secede from the Union in protest of the tariff abomination. Jackson sends soldiers and a message to Calhoun, continue and I will hang all of you from the highest oak tree in town. Fortunately Henry Clay was able to propose a compromise that both sides accepted ending the nullification crisis. However, the issues of states rights and secession would be issues until the end of the Civil War.

EOC SAMPLE QUESTION: 1. Why did Henry Clay’s “American System” come under criticism in the South? A. It promoted tariffs which the South saw as harmful to its own economy. B. It advocated the abolition of slavery C. It did not give nearly enough authority to the federal gov. D. It was seen as upsetting balance of power in the US Senate.

2. How would a southern plantation owner or political leader have felt about tariffs in the 1800’s? A. He would have favored tariffs because they increased the price of southern goods. B. He would have opposed tariffs because they tended to inspire other countries to impose their own tariffs on southern exports. C. He would have been indifferent because tariffs mainly affected only northern businesses D. He would have been suspicious of tariffs, seeing them as a ploy by northern politicians to lower taxes on imported goods.