AP US History
Antebellum America
A Period of Transition (1815-1829)
This time represents a change from the US of Jefferson to the US of Jackson.
The Era of Good Feelings (1817-1825)
Occurs during the presidency of James Monroe
Marked by decline / disappearance of the Federalist Party
Republican Party will be unchallenged in politics
See a rise in American Nationalism
But that Nationalist calm was really just a façade – sectional conflict was really brewing under the surface
The Northeast
The Embargo and the War of 1812 had a ruinous effect upon mercantile enterprise in New England and New York
For almost a decade the foreign commerce of America was disrupted or cut-off completely
But, encouraged American manufacturing – could get a hold on the America market without foreign competition; Eastern
capital transferred to manufacturing from shipping and trade
Early years of industrial revolution (textile mills – especially in Massachusetts)
Leads to growth of factory towns (will discuss in later lecture)
Change in agriculture – increase in demand for wool leads to enclosure of land for sheep pastures
The West
Period of expansion, rising land values and general prosperity
The Indian “menace” seemed to be at an end with the death of Tecumseh at the Battle of the Thames and the victory of
Andrew Jackson at Horseshoe Bend – this resulted in a tremendous population migration to the west
A new Federal Land Law in 1820 also aided migration by reducing the minimum purchasable tract to 80 acres and the
price to $1.25 per acre
Increase in agricultural output was stimulated by the accessibility of markets (down Mississippi River for shipping to
foreign nations or the Northeast and overland from East to West)
Federal and state support for internal improvements helped with transportation (Cumberland Road, National Road, Erie
Canal, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad)
New states – Indiana (1816), Illinois (1818), Mississippi (1817), Alabama (1819), Missouri (1821)
The South
Also at time of prosperity and expansion
Cotton, with the invention of the cotton gin (by who? Do you remember?) in 1793, was the basis for this prosperity (mass
production of short-staple cotton, which could be grown almost anywhere in the Deep South)
The profitability of cotton did not allow for slavery to decline and disappear like the Founding Fathers had expected –
instead slave labor was well suited to cotton plantations and the institution of slavery grew in economic, political and
social importance
The increase in cotton production kept up with increased demand due to textile mills in Europe and New England – this
means prices stayed high = profit
The American System
Pioneered by Henry Clay (represented the legacy of Alexander Hamilton) and intended to allow the United States to grow
and prosper by themselves without foreign products or foreign markets
Made up of three actions – a protective tariff, a national bank, and internal improvements
Tariff of 1816
First protective tariff in American history
Imposed roughly 20-25% duties on imports
Not really high enough to provide completely adequate safeguards – but started protective trend
2nd Bank of the United States
Chartered by Congress in 1816 and was modeled after the First BUS, but had 3 ½ times more capital
Controversial, just like the First BUS
Internal Improvements
Controversy about who should pay for these – states or federal government (Madison had vetoed Calhoun’s Bonus Bill in
1817; if the improvements were purely intrastate, they should
be paid for by the states themselves)
“The Great Triumvirate”
Starting at this time we see the continued influence of 3 major
Congressional leaders:
Henry Clay – born in VA but lived in KY; represented the
views of the West
John C. Calhoun – from South Caroline and represented views of the South
Daniel Webster – born in New Hampshire, lived in Massachusetts and represented the views of the North
From 1801-1850, known as the “Golden Era of the Senate”
James Monroe
President from 1816-1824 and the last of the VA dynasty (4 of first 5 presidents were from
VA – exception was John Adams from MA)
His election marked the end of the Federalist Party; yet, the era of 1-party rule lead to the
development of factions in the Republican Party and thus the 2nd Two-party system of the
1830’s
Three major events of Monroe’s presidency
→ Panic of 1819
First financial panic since 1780’s under Articles of Confederation
Caused by over-speculation on frontier lands (especially by the BUS); inflation from War of 1812 and economic
drop-off (vulnerable economy); significant deficit in the balance of trade with Britain (drained us of vital specie
(hard money); foreclosures on western farms
Resulted in calls for reform and increased democracy; western farmers viewed banks as evil financial monsters;
hard hit poor classes looking for more responsive government; directed attention to inhumanity of imprisoning
debtors
→ Missouri Compromise of 1820
Missouri asked to enter the Union in 1819
The Tallmadge Amendment was passed in the House
of Representatives in response which stated that no more
slaves could be brought into Missouri and that there be
gradual emancipation of the children of slaves already
there
Southern states saw this as an ominous threat to
sectional balance (already had 11 free states and 11
slave states)
Future of slave system of concern; Missouri first state to
be made entirely from Louisiana Territory; Tallmadge
Amendment could set precedent for future area to be
free; if slavery could be abolished in MO, what about
other slave states?
Senate refused to pass Tallmadge Amendment – now what?
In steps Henry Clay to broker a compromise
Missouri would be admitted as a slave state; Maine admitted at same time as a free state; future slavery would be
prohibited north of the 36-30 line (southern border of MO)
Legacy of compromise: lasted for 34 years (helps to maintain and preserve the Union) and from 1820 on, slavery
will become the dominant issue in American politics
→ Monroe Doctrine (1823)
Major issue of foreign policy written by John Quincy Adams, the Secretary of State
Called for non-colonization and non-intervention of the Americas by other foreign powers
Became famous expression of American nationalism and continued Washington’s idea of avoiding “entangling
alliances”
Became cornerstone of American foreign policy during last half of 19th century and throughout 20th century
Election of 1824 – AKA “The Corrupt Bargain”
There were four candidates running for the presidency in this election; Henry Clay from KY
and the Speaker of the House; William H. Crawford from GA and the Secretary of the
Treasury; Andrew Jackson from TN; John Quincy Adams of MA, son of John Adams and the
Secretary of State
The end of the election had Jackson with the majority of the popular vote, but with so many
candidates running, he did not also have the needed majority in the Electoral College
According to the 12th Amendment, the House of Reps would decide the winner from the top 3
finishers (Jackson, Adams, Crawford)
Clay reverted back to his role as Speaker of the House and was in a position to determine which
one of his rivals would become president
Was not a hard decision for Clay to decide who to throw his support behind; Crawford was a believer in state’s rights and
had suffered a physical breakdown during the campaign; Jackson was hated by Clay and his archrival for leadership in the
West; Adams was a nationalist and supported Clay’s American System
In early 1825, the House selected John Quincy Adams as President, largely because of Clay’s behind-the-scenes influence
Jackson’s supporters began to cry foul when Clay was announced as Adams’ Secretary of State and the rumor began to
circulate that a deal had been arranged ( a quid pro quo – you do something for me and I will do something for you) thus,
this election became known as the “Corrupt Bargain” and became the rallying cry for Jacksonians in the years to come
So, Jackson got the most votes, but still lost
John Quincy Adams
President from 1824-1828; seen as the fair haired boy of New England; was Harvard
educated aristocrat and viewed as cold and unapproachable, much like his father
Ranked as one of the best Secretaries of State, but one of the least successful presidents
The Republican Party fractured during this time into the Democratic Republicans
(supporters of Jackson who would eventually just become Democrats) and National
Republicans (supporters of Adams who would eventually become the Whigs)
Biggest Issue of his administration was the Tariff of 1828 – AKA “The Tariff of
Abominations”
Congress increased the tariff to 37% (from 23%)
New England pushed for the passage of this tariff because they sought increased protection from foreign competition
The South reacted very negatively to the tariff because they felt they would be harmed both as consumers and
exporters and that the power of the federal government was getting too strong
When the bill passed, John C. Calhoun wrote “The Southern Carolina Exposition” (written secretly, because he was
Adams VP at the time!) which stated that the tariff was unjust and unconstitutional and that states should nullify the
tariff (just like the VA and KY Resolutions in 1798)
The idea of nullification again rears its’ head…and not for the last time either!