The Judicial System, Foreign Policy, and Western Expansion

Robert Fulton and the Steamboat In 1807, Robert Fulton’s steamboat, the Clermont, made the 150 mile journey from NYC to Albany on the Hudson. This marked the beginning of the steamboat era. This also led to the federal court flexing its muscle when a ruling came up over the rights of a man named Thomas Gibbons running his steamboat from NY to NJ. Fulton received a charter from NY for exclusive rights to run steamboats on rivers in the state. This gave him a monopoly on commercial activity. He could charge boat operators for licenses. The Ogden v. Gibbons case decision led to the rights of the federal government to regulate anything that crossed state lines. This also showed a favoritism towards competition rather than monopolies.

McCulloch v. Maryland Another show of federal judicial power came when Maryland began levying a heavy tax in the local branch of the BUS in hopes of making it fail. Chief Justice Marshall saw this as a threat to the federal government, since Maryland was attempting to turnover a Congressional act. Marshall and the Supreme Court made several rulings blocking state interference with commerce and trade, thus strengthening the federal government further.

Nationalism & Foreign Policy Secretary of State John Quincy Adams established foreign policy guided by nationalism and made security and expansion a priority. Under Adams, the Canadian border was demilitarized in 1817 with the Rush-Bagot Treaty. Adams also expanded our northernmost border to the 49 th parallel with the Convention of Adams also negotiated the joint-occupation of the Oregon territory with Britain for ten years. One small tract of land remained to be claimed, Spanish owned Florida. Spain agreed to cede this territory along with their claims to the Oregon territory under the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819.

The Monroe Doctrine North and South America were being threatened by foreign nations. Spain and Portugal wanted to acquire land in South America and Russia was setting up trading posts in California. President Monroe issued a warning to all outside powers to not interfere with affairs in the Western Hemisphere. The Monroe Doctrine also stated that the U.S. would not interfere in European affairs or with existing colonies in the Western Hemisphere.

Nationalism Pushes America West With America expanding and ensuring its borders, settlers scrambled to claim these new territories for many reasons. Push factors included escaping debt or the law, and overcrowding in the cities. Pull factors were the economic opportunities and fresh starts. But the new territories raised a major question. What was the issue that the new territories raised and led to a struggle in Congress?

The Missouri Compromise The question of slavery became an issue, especially when Missouri applied for statehood. Prior to 1819, there were 10 free states and 10 slave states. Illinois was admitted as a free state, so Southerners expected Missouri to become a slave state. Alabama’s admittance as a slave state brought the balance back to 11-11, but Missouri was crucial. Henry Clay helped to solve the issue by admitting Maine as a free state and Missouri as a slave state, while setting the boundary for slavery at 36⁰30’ north latitude.

Conclusions The Missouri Compromise only quelled the flames of turmoil in America. As the nation grew in different directions, so did their beliefs. Slavery was an issue that would not go away until the Civil War, but for the next decade it was sheltered by Monroe’s signing of the compromise in 1820.

Reminders HW: SpNotes Ch. 7.3 If you have a classroom job, don’t leave without me signing your sheet. Have a great day and leave the room better than you found it!