Nationalism and Sectionalism in

Politics

James Monroe’s Presidency

•1817-1825•Known as the Era of Good Feelings due to Americans’ loyalty to the U.S. after the War of 1812

McCulloch v. Maryland

•WHAT CAUSED THE CASE?–2nd Bank of America was approved in 1816

–Proposed by John C. Calhoun–Maryland tried to tax the bank in 1819

–Led to Supreme Court Case

•WHAT DID MARSHALL HAVE TO DECIDE?–Creation of the bank constitutional?

– If so, could Maryland tax it?•MARSHALL’S DECISION

–Bank was constitutional under necessary and proper clause

–MD could not tax b/c it would interfere with a federal agency

Monroe Doctrine•WHY WAS IT MADE?

–European Empires wanted to help Spain reclaim lost territories in Latin America

–England wanted America to help limit European powers in the western hemisphere

• WHAT WAS IT ISSUED TO DO?–Push back Russian claims on Oregon–U.S. not look like England’s “Jr. Partner”

• WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT?–Asserted America’s role as a world power

–Beginning of policy of preventing Europe from interfering in Latin American affairs

–US told Europe it could no longer establish colonies in the western hemisphere

Election of 1824•Reflected sectional tensions•The Democratic-Republican Party, which had followers across the nation, was showing signs of splitting

•4 candidates—all members of the Democratic-Republican Party

Election of 1824

Henry Clay• From Kentucky• Representing the West• Platform was called the

American System in which he supported:– The national bank– Protective Tariff– Nationwide internal

improvements (roads, waterways, canals, etc.)

Andrew Jackson•From Tennessee

•Representing the West

•War hero at the Battle of New Orleans

John Quincy Adams•From Massachusetts

•Represented the Northeast

•Wanted internal improvements but did not support tariffs

William Crawford•From Georgia•Represented the South

•Believed in states’ rights and a strict interpretation of the Constitution

•WHO WON?–Jackson and Adams tied electoral votes

–House of Representatives had to vote to break the tie

–Adams won the election with the vote of the House in his favor

“Corrupt Bargain”•Supporters of Jackson accused Clay of arranging votes for Adams in the House in exchange for a cabinet position (Clay would become Adams’ Secretary of State)

•This became known as the “corrupt bargain”

•Clay did get the Sec. of State position, but no wrongdoing was ever proven

Democratic-Republicans Split

•Supporters of Jackson called themselves the Democratic-Republicans but shortened it to Democrats

•Supporters of Adams and Clay were now the National Republicans

Election of 1828•Both sides heavily bashed the other candidate—more mudslinging

•Adams said Jackson was ignorant, incompetent, and adulterous

•Jackson said Adams was corrupt, untrustworthy, and that he wasted tax money

•WHO WON AND WHY?–Jackson with a clear majority – he appealed to the common man

–More people allowed to vote this time because land ownership restrictions were dropped (universal white male suffrage)

Jackson’s Era•Nickname: People’s President, Old

Hickory–Orphaned at 14 years of age–Little formal education–War Hero–Violent nature (5 duels—1 kill)

•With his inaugural address he makes many promises to open up the democratic process even further (universal white male suffrage)

Tariff of 1828•a.k.a. “Tariff of Abominations”—name given by SC

•SC threatened to secede from the Union – believed the tariff unfairly burdened the South

•John C. Calhoun, VP but also a SC native wanted to figure out a way to solve the problem

•Calhoun states that SC should use nullification–Believed states had a right to declare federal laws null and void since they created the Union

•2 opposing opinions—–Liberty first; union afterwards–Liberty and Union are one and inseparable

•SC passed the Nullification Act and declared the Tariff of 1828 unconstitutional

•Jackson supported the side of the Union in this matter

•Jackson signed the Force Bill, stating that a President can use military to enforce acts of congress

•He sent a warship to Charleston Harbor because he believed that nullification = treason

•SC eventually repealed the law•Clay had pushed a bill through Congress that would lower the nation’s tariffs within 2 years

•Both sides felt they had won

Spoils System

•Jackson believed strongly in the idea of majority rule

•He thought that ordinary citizens should play an important part in the government

•He began to appoint people to government positions that were loyal to the party and to him

•He thought that government jobs were “plain and simple” and could be easily filled by anyone

Issues with Native Americans•Indian Removal Act

•Worcester v. Georgia

National Bank• Jackson was very suspicious of the

Second Bank• He believed it was a monopoly for the

rich & didn’t benefit the common man• Jackson eventually killed the bank by

removing all of the money and placing it into selected state banks called “Pet Banks” that Jackson controlled

• Jackson receives the nickname “King Andrew” because opponents believed he was abusing his power by “killing” the BUS

New Party Emerges

•Whigs- named after the party in England who worked to limit King’s power

•They are defeated by Democrats in the Election of 1836 because they cannot settle on a single candidate

Election of 1840•Whigs nominated General William Henry Harrison and John Tyler – “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too”

•Harrison won•On March 4, 1841, Harrison delivered his inauguration speech

•The weather that day was cold and Harrison insisted on giving his 2 hour speech without a coat or hat

•He came down with pneumonia and died 1 month later, leaving Tyler to become president

•He has the shortest presidential term in U.S. history