The Era of Good Feelings Section 1 – 328-331

1. The Era of Good Feelings Section 1 – 328-331 • Following the War of 1812, national pride began to grow. • By 1817, journalists began to call this time the “Era of Good Feelings. • In 1820, James Monroe was president, and the U.S. resolved several conflicts with foreign powers. • Two of these resolutions were: • Rush-Bagot Agreement = limited naval power on the Great Lakes for both the U.S. and Britain. • Convention of 1818 = the U.S. was given fishing rights off the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador. • U.S.-Canadian border was set at the 49th parallel and both countries agreed to jointly occupy part of the Pacific Northwest.

2. The Era of Good Feelings

3. The Issue of Florida • The U.S. also resolved a border dispute with Spain over the border of Florida. • In 1818, Secretary of State John Quincy Adams (JQA) met with Spanish diplomat Luis de Onis to discuss the idea of allowing American settlers into Florida. • President Monroe sent troops under the command of Andrew Jackson to secure Florida’s northern border with the U.S. • Jackson took over most of Spain’s military posts and overthrew the Spanish governor. • Jackson’s actions and military presence in Florida helped convince the Spanish to settle the border dispute. • In 1819, the U.S. and the Spain signed the Adam’s-Onis Treaty. • The U.S. got East and West Florida in exchange for its claim in Texas and $5 million.

4. The Issue with Florida

5. The Monroe Doctrine • By the early 1820s, many Spanish colonies in Latin and South America began to challenge Spanish rule. • Revolutionary fighter Simon Bolivar led many struggles for colonial independence from Spain. • Many Americans were reminded of their own struggle for independence and supported Bolivar and people like him. • Once a Latin American or South American country was free of Spanish rule, it had to remain that way. • Americans were concerned that other European countries may try to colonize newly freed countries.

6. The Monroe Doctrine • In response to fears that European countries may try to re-conquer lost colonies in Latin and South America, President Monroe and Secretary Adams issued a warning. • The Monroe Doctrine of 1823 • Foreign powers should not create new colonies in North and South America. • U.S. would view any European interference with Latin American governments as a hostile act.

7. The Missouri Compromise Section 2 – 332-337 • In 1819 Congress considered the application of MO to enter the Union. • At that time the U.S. included: • 11 Free States • Had larger populations and therefore controlled the House of Representatives • 11 Slave States • If MO was admitted as a slave state, the Senate would be controlled by slave holding states. • Northern representatives formed a proposal to accept MO into the Union. • MO would be admitted as a slave state as long as: • No slaves were imported. • Children of slaves were set free when they turned 25.

8. The Missouri Compromise • Other northern representatives disagreed with adding any slave states, and most southern representatives disagreed with the idea of freeing slave after a certain age. • Congress reached the Missouri Compromise which had three main conditions: • MO would enter the Union as a slave state • Maine would join the Union as a free state • Slavery would be prohibited in any new territories or states north of MO’s southern border. • Congress passed the Compromise in 1820 and Maine and Missouri became states.

9. The Missouri Compromise

10. Internal Improvements • Kentucky representative Henry Clay believed that a strong national economy would prevent regional conflicts. • Example: • If it were easier for Northern states and Southern states to buy and sell goods and services with each other, there would be less pressure to make money, and everyone would be happier. • Clay proposed a Protective Tariff. • This was a tax placed on foreign goods, thereby prompting Americans to “Buy American.” • The tax revenue collected from the Protective Tariff would be used to improve America’s roads and canals.

11. Internal Improvements • Clay felt that if the tax dollars collected from the Protective Tariff were put into America’s roads and canals, trade between regions of the country would be easier. • Clay’s plan for the Protective Tariff and its overall effects on our country is known as the American System.

12. New Roads and Canals • In the early 1800s most roads in the U.S. were dirt paths that were difficult to travel. • Cumberland Road = the first road built by the federal government. It stretched from Maryland to West Virginia. • Construction was started in 1815 and was worked on intermittently until 1832. • Starting in 1833 the Cumberland Road was extended to Ohio and the name was changed to the National Road. • By 1850, the National Road reached all the way to Illinois.

13. Cumberland Road Mileage Marker Early 20th Century improvements on the National Road New Roads and Canals

14. New Roads and Canals • Water transportation proved to be quicker, easier, and cheaper. • However, if a town was not located by a river or large lake, it was “landlocked” and couldn’t benefit from that form of transportation. • Canals = man-made waterways, solved that problem. • Erie Canal which ran from Albany, NY to Buffalo, NY was one of the largest canals in the country. • Construction was from 1817-1825. • A boat could travel from Lake Erie, through Buffalo, across NY State and on to Albany where the Canal connected with the Hudson River. The Boat could then travel down the Hudson to NYC.

15. New Roads and Canals

16. New Roads and Canals Erie Canal locks at Lockport, New York There were originally 5 levels – still in place on the right. The new lock is on the left and is only one level.

17. The Election of 1824 • John Quincy Adams vs. Andrew Jackson • Both men ran as Republicans • Jackson won the popular vote but didn’t have enough electoral votes. • The Constitution states that the U.S. House of Representatives has to choose the winner. • Henry Clay influenced the vote by backing Adams and Adams won the election. • Jackson’s supporters claimed that Adams made a “corrupt bargain” with Clay. This seemed even more true after Adams chose Clay to be his Secretary of State. • Adams’ presidency was difficult and had little Congressional support because of his selection of Clay.

18. Jacksonian Democracy Section 3 – 338-343 • By the early 1800s, many more Americans had gained the right to vote. • Many states removed property requirements for voting. • Political parties held nominating conventions = a public meeting where the parties presidential and vice presidential candidates were selected. • As a result, more people became involved in politics = Jacksonian Democracy. • Women and free African Americans still couldn’t vote.

19. Jacksonian Democracy • The 1828 campaign: • John Quincy Adams = National Republican • Seen as corrupt and out of touch with average Americans • Andrew Jackson = Democrat • Seen as a man of the people and a war hero

20. Jackson’s Victory • Jackson won the campaign easily with a record number of votes.

21. Jackson’s Victory • After Jackson was elected he rewarded some of his strongest supporters by giving them government jobs. • This is known as the spoils system. • In addition to Jackson’s official cabinet, he also maintained an informal group of trusted advisors that came to be known as the kitchen cabinet.

22. Conflict over Tariffs • President Jackson needed to address the growing conflict over tariffs. • Northern Manufacturers = • Wanted higher tariffs to protect their industries from foreign competition = Great Britain. • British companies could sell factory goods more cheaply than Americans could afford to make them. • American companies were going out of business. • Protective tariffs blocked a lot of British competition.

23. Conflict over Tariffs • Southern Manufacturers = • Didn’t have much industry to protect from foreign competition. • Economy relied heavily on agriculture, especially cotton exports. • Imported most manufactured goods. • Higher tariffs meant that goods coming from foreign manufacturers cost more. • In 1828, Congress was pressured from northern manufacturers into passing a tariff with very high rates. • Southerners called the law the Tariff of Abominations. • Southerners felt that the federal government was abusing its power over the states.

24. The Nullification Process • VP John C. Calhoun led opposition to the tariff. • He wrote a statement in support of states’ rights = people who believe that the federal governments authority is strictly limited by the Constitution. • Calhoun felt that states had the right to nullify (cancel) any federal law that they considered to be unconstitutional = the nullification process. • South Carolina (Calhoun’s home state) tested the nullification process in 1832 by voiding two federal tariffs. • South Carolina’s legislature claimed that they would withdraw from the union if the federal government tried to use force to collect tariffs. • Jackson opposed the actions of S.C., but Congress reached a compromise by gradually lowering tariffs over a period of years.

25. Van Buren’s Presidency • At the end of Jackson’s second term in 1836, he was still very popular with voters. • However, some members of Congress felt that Jackson had abused his presidential powers, and these members formed the Whig Party. • The Whigs felt that a weak president and a strong legislative branch was the way to best govern the U.S. • The Whigs opposed Van Buren and nominated four candidates to run against him, but because he had Jackson’s support he won the election.

26. Van Buren’s Presidency • Shortly after Van Buren took office, the country experienced a financial crisis. • During the Panic of 1837 there was a severe economic depression. • Van Buren was blamed for this depression even though it was rooted in the Jackson presidency. • In the 1840 election the Whigs ran William Henry Harrison and John Tyler against Van Buren. • Harrison and Tyler won.

27. The Black Hawk War Section 4 – 344-348 • In 1827 the federal government decided to end years of fighting between settlers and American Indians who were both living in Illinois. • Indian leader, Black Hawk and his followers ignored the federal governments policy of removing Indians. • American Indians didn’t believe in land ownership. • In the winter of 1830, Black Hawk and his forces were fired upon by federal troops even though they were flying the white flag of truce. • Black Hawk decided to fight back and the war continued until the summer of 1832 when the exhausted, and undersupplied Indians surrendered. • By 1850 all Indians living in the old NWT had been removed.

28. The Indian Removal Act • Indians were also living in settlements that stretched from Georgia to Mississippi. • Pres. Jackson and other leaders wanted to open these areas to American farmers. • They claimed that the Indians should move West. • In 1830 Congress passed the Indian Removal Act = all Indians living east of the Miss. River had to move west of the Miss. River. • Congress established the Indian Territory in most of present-day Oklahoma. • Political leaders felt this would greatly ease the tension between settlers and Indians.

29. The Indian Removal Act • In addition to the Indian Removal Act, Congress also established the Bureau of Indian Affairs. • This bureau’s mission was to oversee federal policies and laws that would affect Indians. • The Choctaw were the first Indian group to move to the new Indian Territory. • Just prior to leaving, Choctaw leaders signed the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek = 7.5 million acres was signed over to the state of Mississippi.

30. The Trail of Tears • Cherokee Indians living in Georgia had their treaty rights ignored when settlers discovered gold there. • The Indians refused to move and so the Georgia state militia attacked them. • The Indians sued the state claiming that they were an independent nation and that Georgia had no legal power within their territory. • In 1832, the case went to the U.S. Supreme as Worcester v. Georgia. • The Supreme Court ruled partially in favor of the Indians saying that the Cherokee had a distinct community that the state government had no authority over. • However, the federal government did have the authority to remove the Indians.

31. The Trail of Tears • The Georgia state government ignored the Supreme Court’s ruling and Pres. Jackson took no action. • In 1838, U.S. troops began to move all Cherokee Indians to the Indian Territory. • They were forced to march 800 miles. • 4,500 of 18,000 (25%) of the Indians died while on this trek. • This trek is known as the Trail of Tears.

32. The Second Seminole War • The Seminole Indians fought removal. • In 1832, some Seminole leaders signed a treaty that: • Promised they would leave Florida within 3 years. • Agree that Seminoles of African ancestry would be considered runaway slaves. • Many escaped slaves had joined the Seminole tribe and had been accepted as family members. • Most Seminole ignored the treaty and refused to leave Florida, turn over escaped slaves, or sign any new agreements. • They resisted by fiercely fighting federal troops.

33. The Second Seminole War • The Seminole claimed early victories against U.S. troops and continued to fight through the early 1840s. • The Second Seminole War continued in Florida until 1842. By then: • 4,000 Seminole had been captured and removed. • Hundreds were killed • 1,500 U.S. soldiers were killed. • Millions of $ spent by the U.S. government. • Results: • The U.S. gave up the fight and the Seminole who were still in Florida won their resistance. • Many Seminole still live in Florida today.

34. American Tales Section 5 – 349-352 • During this period, the public became interested in the Revolutionary era. • Writers wrote about the heroes of the Revolution and inspired pride in the U.S. • Washington Irving was one of the first American writers to be recognized internationally, and greatly respected in Europe. • His writings dealt with American history in a humorous way. • He wrote “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

35. James Fenimore Cooper • JFC was a wealthy New Jerseyan who never saw the American frontier. • Stories about the West and the Indians who lived there interested him. • JFC is probably best known for “The Last of the Mohicans.” • This story is a historical fiction piece that takes place during the French and Indian War. • By placing fictional characters in real historical events, JFC popularized the historical fiction genre.

36. Catharine Maria Sedgwick • CMS was another historical fiction writer who became the most successful female author of her time. • She wrote novels that depicted early American life as it truly was, which was not always pleasant. • In the historical novel “Hope Leslie” she wrote about the 1600’s New England Pilgrims and their interactions with Native Americans. • Through her research, she discovered that Pilgrims were superstitious and often were intolerant of people with lifestyles and customs that were different than theirs.

37. A New Style of Art • Artists began to paint landscapes that showed the history and beauty of America. • By the 1830s a group of artists called the Hudson River School emerged. • Their paintings were primarily landscapes and the subject of many of their paintings was the Hudson River valley. • The most prominent HRS painter was Thomas Cole.

38. A New Style of Art • Thomas Cole:

39. A New Style of Art • George Caleb Bingham was another artist of this period who combined the ruggedness of the West and frontier life.

40. A New Style of Art • Antiques Roadshow, Philadelphia, PA – August, 26 2006 • John F. Kensett, Hudson River School – 1853 • http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/archive/200605A41.html