The Second War for Independence and the Upsurge of Nationalism

American History Chapter 12 The Second War for Independence and the Upsurge of Nationalism John 3:16

Overview • The War 1812 was divisive • No burning anger • A divided, apathetic people go to war • Not a great military outcome • Not a great negotiated peace • But…spirit of nationalism renewed • More defense of federal government John 3:16

On to Canada over Land and Lakes • The War of 1812 goes poorly at first • Poorly led and trained regular army and militia • The attack of the Americans ill-conceived • Three pronged attacked beaten back by British • Would have been better Attack Montreal with full force—population and transportation center John 3:16

On to Canada Over land and Lakes • British defense of American attack effective • Land invasions by Americans look bad • American naval operations much better • Ships more skillfully handled than the British • Better gunners • Non-impressed crews • Motive by past indignities John 3:16

On to Canada Over Land and Lakes • Control of Great Lakes vital • Naval Officer Oliver Hazard Perry • Built ships from green tree logs • Defeated British fleet on lake Erie • Perry’s victory slogan, “We have met the enemy and they our ours,” gave new life to Americans John 3:16

On to Canada Over land and Lakes • After Perry’s victory, British forced to retreat from Detroit and Fort Malden • Retreating redcoats then defeated by General Harrison’s forces at the Battle of the Thames, 1813 Commodore Perry John 3:16

On to Canada Over land and Lakes • In the meantime, Napoleon was defeated in Europe • Imprisoned on the isle of Elba • “Top-cover” for the Americans was eliminated Napoleon John 3:16

On to Canada over Land and Lakes • The United States had promoted war • Protection of Napoleon who should have been fighting the British in Europe was gone • Thousands of redcoats arrive in Canada John 3:16

On to Canada Over Land and Lakes • Thirty-year-old Thomas Macdonough wins • American naval officer • Commands weaker fleet on Lake Champlain • Defeats British fleet trying to gain entry from the north • British 10,000 troops forced to retreat • Saved upper New York and possibly the war John 3:16

Washington Burned and New Orleans Defended • British force of 4000 lands on Chesapeake Bay and on moves on Washington • Defeats American defenders • Sets fire to most public buildings including the Capitol and the White House • The Americans in Baltimore hold firm John 3:16

Washington Burned and New Orleans Defended • At Baltimore’s Fort McHenry, Americans hold • British fleet hammers Fort McHenry • Fort McHenry holds • Francis Scott Key, detained American aboard British ship, writes “The Star-Spangled Banner” John 3:16

Washington Burned and New Orleans Defended • A third British attack at New Orleans • Andrew Jackson placed in defense • Seven thousand defenders • Regulars, pirates, Frenchmen, and militia from Louisiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee • British overconfident, 8000 troops—full frontal assault • British defeated, lost 2000 troops • Americans only 70 killed John 3:16

Washington Burned and New Orleans Defended • Andrew Jackson’s victory • Became immediate national hero • Two weeks earlier, peace treaty was signed at Ghent, Belgium • Jackson’s victory seen as victory of honor—nationalism and self-confidence unleashed John 3:16

Washington Burned and New Orleans Defended • The Treaty of Ghent—encouraged by Alexander I of Russia • Signed on Christmas Eve, 1814 • Basically, an armistice • Stop fighting, restore all lost territory • Treaty negotiations and war ended in draw • No mention of Indian menace, search and seizure, impressment, etc. John 3:16

Federalist Grievances and the Hartford Convention • The Hartford Convention was a group of Federalists with concerns • New England states • Falling subservient to the agrarian South • Three-fifths rule needs overturning • Limit president terms to one • No two successive presidents from the same state • The victories of the war silenced Federalists John 3:16

Federalists Grievances and the Hartford Convention • Federalist were weakened by their complaints • Much talk of nullification and secession in New England—even more than in the South John 3:16

The Second War for American Independence • Results of the War of 1812 • Small war • Significant for America, not for the world • America showed it would fight against wrongs • New world respect • Naval officers like Perry and Macdonough “spoke” eloquently with “the hot breath of their broadsides” John 3:16

The Second War for American Independence • Results of the War of 1812, con’t • America’s emissaries abroad less scorned • Deemed “the second war for American independence • Federalists party dealt “black eye” • Sectionalism seen as disunity • New war heroes emerged John 3:16

The Second War for American Independence • Results of the War of 1812, con’t • New heroes—both became president • Andrew Jackson • William Henry Harrison • Indians forced to give up big land • American industry—less dependent of Europe • Canadian patriotism John 3:16

The Second War for American Independence • Results of the War of 1812, con’t • The Rush-Bagot agreement • The United States and Canada share the world’s longest unfortified boundary—5,527 miles • Napoleon defeated at Waterloo in 1815 John 3:16

Nascent Nationalism • Nascent (emerging) Nationalism • National literature: Washington Irving and James Fenimore Cooper • Attained international recognition • School textbooks written by Americans • American painters painted American landscapes • Stephen Decatur, naval hero of War of 1812, came back from defeating pirates in North Africa; “…but our country, right or wrong!” John 3:16

The American System • After the war, the British try to undersell manufactured goods in America • Response: Congress passes first tariff in America’s history • Rates of 20-25% not high enough, but offered some protection John 3:16

The American System • Congressman Henry Clay formed “the American System” • Strong banking system for credit • Protective tariffs to foster strong manufacturing • Network of roads and canals, particularly in Ohio John 3:16

The American System • The outcry for better transportation was major part of nationalism out of the war • President Madison vetoed federal funding • States were told to accomplish individual projects • Jeffersonian-Republicans concerned better roads and canals west would cause competition for Easterners John 3:16

The So-Called Era of Good Feelings • James Monroe wins the presidency in 1816 • Six feet, slightly stooped, courtly, mild-mannered • Another Virginian • Won 183 to 34 in electoral votes • Experienced, level-headed • “Era of good feelings”—used to describe administrations of Monroe John 3:16

The Panic of 1819 and the Curse of Hard Times • The first national finance panic--1819 • Deflation • Depression • Bankruptcies • Bank failures • Unemployment • Soup kitchens • Debtor’s prisons John 3:16

The Panic of 1819 and the Curse of Hard Times • Biggest cause for the economic depression—over-speculation in frontier lands • The Bank of the United States • Lasted for several years • Highlighted inhumanity of debtors prisons John 3:16

Growing Pains of the West • Nine new frontier states are added • North-South balance kept • Every other state was slave/free • Draw of cheap land: $1.25 per acre for 80 acres • Indian “problem” mostly solved • New highways built John 3:16

Slavery and the Sectional Balance • Missouri applies for statehood • Asked to be admitted as slave state • Congress passes Tallmadge amendment • No more slave to be brought into Missouri • Free children born to slave parents already there • Tallmadge response • Southerners outraged • Federalists seeking revenge against Virginia dynasty John 3:16

Slavery and the Sectional Balance • Tallmadge amendment • Southerners defeat in the Senate • North gaining in numbers in House, but the Senate had two representatives per state • Southerners concerned that the Tallmadge “idea” might catch on for the other states John 3:16

The Uneasy Missouri Compromise • The Missouri Compromise • Missouri admitted as slave state • Maine admitted as free state • No more slave states permitted above Missouri’s southern border • Compromise lasted 34 years • Jefferson predicted the slavery issue will “burst on us as a tornado” John 3:16

The Uneasy Missouri Compromise • President Monroe reelected with all but one electoral vote—an honor reserved only for Washington • Monroe was only president in history reelected after major financial panic John 3:16

The Uneasy Missouri Compromise • Thomas Jefferson on slavery ”…we have a wolf by the ears, and we can neither hold him nor safely let him go” • John Quincy Adams on slavery, “I take it for granted that the present question is a mere preamble—a title page to a great, tragic volume” John 3:16

John Marshall and Judicial Nationalism • John Marshall makes decisions to strengthen strong, central government • McCulloch v. Maryland • Maryland tries to tax a branch of the Bank of the United States—presumably to destroy it • Denied the Maryland tax rights on the bank • …”that the power to tax involves the power to destroy” • …”the power to create implies a power to preserve” John 3:16

John Marshall and Judicial Nationalism • John Marshall on Constitutional decisions • Loose constructionist • Constitution is there at the consent of the people and is empowered to act in their benefit • Constitution is intended to endure for the ages • …”to be adapted to the various crises of human affairs” John 3:16

John Marshall and Judicial Nationalism • John Marshall on the Constitutional • “Let the end be legitimate, let it be within the scope of the Constitution, and all means which are appropriate, which are plainly adapted to that end, which are not prohibited, but consist with the letter and spirit of the Constitution, are constitutional” John 3:16

John Marshall and Judicial Nationalism • John Marshall on Constitutional decisions • Cohens v. Virginia • Cohens convicted of selling lottery tickets, appealed to the Supreme Court • Cohen conviction upheld by the Supreme Court • By agreeing to review the case, Marshall asserted the right of the Supreme Court to review state court decisions John 3:16

John Marshall and Judicial Nationalism • John Marshall on Constitutional decisions • Gibbons v. Ogden • New York state tried to award a commercial company a monopoly of waterborne business between New York and New Jersey • Marshall said the Constitution controlled interstate (between states) commerce law John 3:16

Judicial Dikes Against Democratic Excesses • John Marshall on Constitutional decisions • Dartmouth College v. Woodward • New Hampshire wanted to cancel charter of Dartmouth College granted by King George III • Daniel Webster, senator, hired by Dartmouth to defend • Marshall ruled the charter stands—it’s a contract • Safeguarding business from state governments • Helped create a stable, uniform environment for business John 3:16

Sharing Oregon and Acquiring Florida • President Monroe selects John Quincy Adams as Secretary of State—a good one and son of John Adams • Treaty of 1818 with Britain • Americans and Canadians share fisheries of Newfoundland • Americans and British have ten-year joint occupation of Oregon, renewable John 3:16

Sharing Oregon and Acquiring Florida • Americans claim West Florida and see Florida as part of America in the future • After War of 1812, Florida remained mostly under Spain • General Andrew Jackson secured a commission to enter Florida to, allegedly, round up hostile Seminole Indians and capture fugitive slaves John 3:16

Sharing Oregon and Acquiring Florida • Andrew Jackson enters Florida • Hanged two Indian chiefs • Executed two British subjects for helping Indians • Seized two Spanish posts and chased the Spanish governor away • President Monroe wanted to discipline Jackson, but John Quincy Adams came to his defense John 3:16

Sharing Oregon and Acquiring Florida • John Quincy Adams defends Jackson • Calls for huge concessions from Spain • Florida Purchase Treaty of 1819 • Ceded Florida to America • Ceded Spanish claims in Oregon • America abandoned claims to Texas soon to become part of independent Mexico • Louisiana boundary changed to run along Rockies then turn west to divide Oregon from Spanish holdings John 3:16

The Menace of Monarchy in America • After the defeat of Napoleon, powerful European countries reestablish their monarchies • Russia, Austria, Prussia, and France • Called on the essence of conservatism—the government is a contract with the people, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. No one generation should overthrow it John 3:16

The Menace of Monarchy in America • After restoring their monarchs to their thrones, these powerful nations began to look west—discussing restoring Spanish sovernghty in America and in Latin America • Americans began to ask is the “mother lode” of democracy—America-- in danger? • Also, Russia was moving further and further south out of Alaska John 3:16

The Menace of Monarchy in America • Britain had refused to join the other European countries • British foreign secretary makes suggestion to American minister in London • Would America join with Britain in telling the rest of Europe “hands off” of Latin America John 3:16

Monroe and His Doctrine • President James Monroe establishes the Monroe Doctrine • Non-colonization • Non-intervention John 3:16

Monroe and His Doctrine • Monroe was simply saying • Hunting season was over—no more colonizing in the Americas • To great European powers and the world—stay out • To nations who wanted to interfere in wars of revolution in North and South America, stay out • Monroe was backed by British naval power John 3:16

Monroe’s Doctrine Appraised • What was the impact? • Not big at the time—Americans applauded it then forgot it • European powers had their own problems and didn’t want to engage the British navy • Russia was going to retreat anyway • The “Doctrine” was never law, domestic or international • Merely a personalized statement by Monroe John 3:16

Monroe’s Doctrine Appraised • What was the impact? • Each president uses it as necessary • Another statement of American nationalism • A statement, although over-stated, about American isolationism • The strength of the Monroe Doctrine is based on American military strength John 3:16

The Second War for Independence and the Upsurge of Nationalism