Varieties of American Nationalism

1. Varieties of American Nationalism Chapter 8

2. Defining an Era • After the War of 1812, two things were on the minds of most Americans • Was slavery going to continue to be a part of the national identity and economy? • Would the new Western states align politically and economically with the North or the South?

3. Building A National Market • Following the War of 1812, there was a short but significant economic boom…then a quick bust. • The United States made a move in the post war years towards industrialization and a new economy but it lacked the necessary institutions (transportation, standardized banking) to sustain long term growth.

4. Banking, Currency, Protection • After the War of 1812… • Manufacturing • Shipping • State Banks issue bank notes of varying worth, creating interstate consumer uncertainty. WHY? • A National Bank is needed to stabilize the currency and set a banking standard • Congress forms the SECOND BANK OF THE UNITED STATES in 1791 • The banks size gave it power not any laws

5. The Textile Boom: 1807-1815 • The POWER LOOM provides for faster cloth production to consume the mass amounts of cotton produced by the plantation system of the South. • Industry begins to take root in the North to offset the loss of shipping business • New Banking system provides for capital investment

6. The Textile Boom:1807-1815 • After the War of 1812 American ports were again open to British goods. • British merchants flood the U.S. with cheap goods to suppress American Industry and growth. • Congress passes Protective Tariffs in 1816 to keep cheap British goods off of American shelves and help American industry

7. Transportation • The new economy, based on manufacturing and industry, demanded better, faster transportation • Private industry looks for solutions Key Question: Should the Federal Government, using Federal tax dollars, build public roads?

8. Transportation • The NATIONAL ROAD—a road built between the Potomac River and the Ohio River using funds from the sale of land in Ohio. • Solves the transportation problem and the funding problem

9. Transportation • Steam Powered ships bring goods North and South along the Mississippi River and eventually the Erie Canal, opening up the West to Eastern goods. • Steam Ships stimulate the agrarian economy of the South and West

10. Transportation I’M bringing sexy back! • On the East Coast there is a difficulty shipping goods North and South because of no good road and rough waters • Calhoun helps pass bill to build a national N/S road • Madison vetoes it his last day as president because he feels the bill oversteps the powers of congress to make “National Improvements”

11. Expanding Westward • In 1810, 1 out of every 7 white Americans lived West of the Appalachians. • In 1820, 1 out of every 4 white Americans lived West of the Appalachians • Regional political powers is in a state of constant flux

12. The Great Migrations • Reasons for Expansion: • Pressure over land, resources, jobs, and capital, due to the growing population in the East • 1800—5.3 million Americans • 1820—9.6 million Americans • The West becomes more attractive to Americans • War of 1812 eliminated Native American threat • U.S. Government builds forts in the territories • Midwest is attractive to farmers

13. The Plantation System in the Southwest • Cotton grows very well in Alabama and Mississippi drawing plantation owners West with prospects of huge profits and cheap land. • Spreads the “Plantation System” and slavery West • Growth adds 4 new states: Indiana: 1816 Mississippi: 1817 Illinois: 1818 Alabama: 1819

14. Trade and Trapping in the Far West • Trade with Mexico opens in 1821 when it gains independence from Spain, bringing traders further West and South. • Fur becomes a big business all across the West • White fur traders move into the Great Lakes and the Rockies where once only Native American trappers traded. • These traders became known as MOUNTAIN MEN

15. The Mountain Man Mr. Flessa’s Beard Goal • The MOUNTAIN MAN becomes a character of myth and legend • Men who live off the land, alone for months at a time, trapping/hunting beaver, moose, bear, buffalo. • Romanticizes the West • Creates a level of misunderstanding among most Easterners of what the West really is.

16. The Era of Good Feelings • As the economy grew, the West opened to White expansion, and new states joined the union a general “Good Feeling” spread throughout the US. • Americans were feeling good about themselves

17. The End of the First Party System • Since John Adams Virginians controlled the White House. (1800-1824) • Jefferson • Madison • Monroe • This became known as the “VIRGINIA DYNASTY” • The Republican Virginians dominated politics for 25 years.

18. The Easy Presidency of Monroe • By the time James Monroe becomes president, the country is on a roll. • Monroe takes the opportunity of a strong economy and peace at home to “strengthen” America’s image around the world. • He took a “GOODWILL TOUR” across America, for the first time making the President a very public figure.

19. The Monroe Doctrine • James Monroe issues a statement to the world that asserts U.S. Supremacy and warns European powers against any attempts to colonize the Americas • This Doctrine has been adopted by many presidents who believe that America should be the leading force of the world.

20. John Quincy Adams and Florida • Adams becomes President in 1824 breaking the Virginia Dynasty but continuing the tradition of electing presidents from within previous administrations. • Adams was a diplomat, intellectual, and worldly. • His goal as president was American expansion • He set his sights on annexing the rest of Florida

21. Seminole Wars • The U.S. held West Florida but wanted East Florida from the Spanish. • Adams began negotiating with Spanish Minister Luis de Onis. • Jackson, in control of the American Army in the South, was ordered by Secretary of War Calhoun to stop raids on American settlers by the Seminole Indians. • Jackson used this excuse to invade Florida and take it from the Seminoles and the Spanish • Adams took responsibility for the action saying it was America’s right to take the Pennisula • In 1819 Spain ceded the rest of Florida to the U.S. with the Adams-Onis Treaty.

22. Panic of 1819 • As the nation grew its demand for capital and markets grew as well. • In 1819 banks had loaned out more money than they had, as they started to call in loans, people didn’t have the money to pay and the economy went bust. • This crisis weakened the idea that America was unstoppable. • With the BOOM… came a BUST

23. Practice Mountain Man Thesis Writing The Fur Trade The Stuff of Legends How did the Mountain Man stand in contradiction to how he was perceived in the east? • The early 19th Century Mountain Man operated in reliance on an established economic system that hindered his independence. Analyze the validity of this claim. Jedediah Smith • How did the life of Smith reflect the duel role Indians had in the life of a Mountain Man? James Bridger How did men like James Bridger contribute to the legend/myth of the Mountain Man?

24. Practice Mountain Man Thesis Writing Jedediah Smith James Bridger How did men like James Bridger contribute to the legend/myth of the Mountain Man? • How id the life of Smith reflect the duel role Indians had in the life of a Mountain Man?