Growing Sectionalism and Jacksonian Democracy

An ‘Era of Good Feelings’ This era has been nicknamed the ‘Era of Good Feelings’ because of 1) the surge in nationalism– glorification of one’s country– that occurred following the War of 1812. The Democratic-Republicans were not challenged politically, as James Monroe easily won re-election. 2) There was overall political harmony.

Domestic Policies Henry Clay pushed his economic policy called the American System. The three parts were: protective tariffs, a national bank an ‘internal improvements’. John Marshall’s Supreme Court’s encouraged nationwide trade with the following court cases: McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)– Congress has the power to charter a national bank, not states. Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)– steamboat traffic is ‘commerce’ and interstate commerce is regulated by the federal gov. Art and literature reflected nationalism American Renaissance. Hudson River School= landscape paintings

Foreign Policies John Quincy Adams, Monroe’s Secretary of State and son of John Adams, used the sense of nationalism to expand the nation. In 1819, the Spanish agreed to sell Florida to the United States. The terms of the Adams-Onis Treaty also ended Spanish claims to the Pacific Territory of Oregon. In order to prevent future conflicts with European nations, Adams formulated the Monroe Doctrine, which asserted that Europeans should stay out of American affairs in the Western Hemisphere.

The Missouri Compromise- Background Though national pride grew, it could only cover-up the growing sectionalism between the North and South that had arisen due to the differences in interests. The main issue was slavery. Missouri wanted to be admitted to the U.S. The balance of an equal # of free and slave states would be upset. Missouri wanted to enter as a slave state, which upset Northerners b/c it would give slave states an advantage in Congress. Henry Clay (the Great Compromiser) created the Missouri Compromise to appease both the slave-holding South and the North.

Missouri Compromise- Stipulations Clay proposed that 1) Missouri would be admitted as a slave state, but 2) the northern district of Mass. (i.e. Maine) would enter as a free state. This would maintain the numbers balance. To eliminate further debate, 3) a line was drawn at the 36°30’ parallel. This line exemplified the regional split– slavery in the South, no slavery in the North.

The Election of 1824 The election of 1824 pitted four candidates for the presidency. John Quincy Adams (Monroe’s Sec of State- Mass) Andrew Jackson (war hero from TN) Henry Clay (Kentucky) William Crawford (GA) Jackson won the popular vote, but did not have a majority of the electoral votes. The decision went to the House of Reps Jackson accused the two men of a “corrupt bargain”. Henry Clay threw his support to Adams. When Adams won the election, Clay was named his Secretary of State.

Jackson’s Response Jackson began working towards the 1828 election. He did something new to the presidency– he went across the country campaigning for himself. This coincided with a change in the election process for many states. Electors would be chosen based on the popular vote; Many states eliminated the property requirement to vote to accommodate the low wages of industrial workers. Free blacks and women were still restricted from voting.

Jackson Emerges Jackson promoted majority rule and the power of the common man. Jackson’s supporters called themselves Democrats. Jackson easily won the election with 56% of the popular vote and 2/3 of the electoral vote. Jackson’s campaign (led by his manager Martin Van Buren) promised a return to Jeffersonian principles. Jackson also promised not to interfere with the issue of slavery.