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War of 1812 and Era of Good Feelings

Chapter 12

The Inevitable War

•  British arming Natives out West •  Madison wanted to restore confidence in

Republican party (and republicanism) –  Government needed to stand up for its citizens –  If US could not defend itself, it would have no

credibility •  Geographically: New England and Mid-

Atlantic region is against war •  Most Federalists against war •  Most Republicans were for war (except those

in middle states)

War Declared

•  Congress declares war in June, 1812 •  Timing is odd:

– Britain had begun to loosen U.S. sanctions – They had lifted blockade – Those most impacted by British sanctions

also against war

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Unclear Goals and Strategies

•  Despite advisor saying attack Montreal, Madison approved a 3-pronged approach, weakening the military – Military already poorly trained and weaker

than Britain •  U.S. attack on Canada was

unsuccessful •  Britain blockades the Atlantic and

attacks!

U.S. Navy •  12 ships vs. 800 British

ships •  U.S.S. Constitution

(“Old Ironsides”) –  Raised U.S. morale

•  Some naval success: Oliver Hazard Perry captured British fleet in Great Lakes

•  British mostly dominated the seas

The White House Is Burning; The British Are Coming,

AGAIN!! (August 24, 1814)

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Turning Point in the War •  Britain no longer fighting

France in 1814 •  But poor leadership

(again) allowed U.S. to rally

•  Battle of Ft. McHenry •  Star Spangled Banner

Federalists v. Republicans

•  Feds against war, Republicans for war •  Shows split between commoners had

against aristocrats •  Feds gaining ground in New England •  Rest of country getting upset over

perceived NE/Federalist disloyalty

Battle of New Orleans (1815)

•  Britain offers peace in 1814

•  Battle actually took place after Treaty of Ghent was signed

•  American victory led by Andrew Jackson

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Treaty of Ghent (1814) •  Main American

negotiators –  John Q. Adams –  Henry Clay

•  Ended war (draw) •  Resolved very little:

Britain left U.S. •  Impressment,

blockades, neutral rights, seizing of ships were ignored

Hartford Convention (Dec. ‘14-Jan. ‘15)

•  New England meets to discuss grievances against U.S.

•  Wants compensation for lost trade

•  Wanted to make it more difficult for Congress to put embargoes in place, states to be admitted, or war declared

•  Discusses secession •  Turned U.S. against

Federalists

Outcomes of War

•  U.S. forced to be self-reliant •  European colonization ended •  U.S. shown negatives of disunity •  Killed Federalist Party •  Increased nationalism •  U.S. given more respect worldwide. •  Native Americans gave up large chunks of

land.

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National Economy

•  After War of 1812, Britain tried to pay off war debt –  British businesses began dumping products at

below cost into U.S. –  U.S. could not compete

•  Congress passed Tariff of 1816 to protect American business –  First protective tariff in U.S. history –  Most realized it was necessary –  New England opposed

•  It did not have a lot of industry yet •  Party politics (Still holding onto Federalist ideas)

Henry Clay’s American System

•  A system based on nationalism and protect growing industrial economy –  Strong banking system

(Second National Bank established in 1816)

–  Protective tariffs (Tariff of 1816)

–  Build roads and canals (federally financed internal improvements)

Transportation Improvements •  Before Madison left

office he vetoed act of Congress to build roads and canals –  Believed Unconstitutional –  James Monroe also

believed unconstitutional •  Massive canal building

by states (Erie Canal in 1825 linked NYC to Great Lakes)

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The Election of 1816

“Era of Good Feelings” •  Ushered in with Monroe Presidency •  Death of Federalist party •  Increased nationalism •  An extremely critical period in U.S.

History

Expansion •  U.S. begins to expand westward very rapidly after

War of 1812 •  9 more states between 1791-1819 (free and slave to

keep balance) •  Expansion equals more wealth and more powerful

economy –  More markets and resources for industrialization –  More land for farming –  Money to be made for land speculators

•  Private property can be used for business purposes (Palmer v. Mulligan, 1805)--cleared the way for private ownership of businesses.

•  1818 and 1819: boundaries of U.S. set

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The Treaty of 1818

Adams-Onis Treaty, 1819

US Population Density

1810 1820

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Native Americans

•  Left by British •  Continued to be pushed out of land by

Americans •  Indian Policy (1790-1820)

– Government would acquire land through treaty and trade, not conquest

– Educate, Christianize, Americanize

Panic of 1819 •  We expanded too quickly •  Over speculated western lands--which meant large

debts •  Second Bank of United States tightened credit--people

cannot start businesses, buy more land, etc. •  State banks forced to close with worsening economy •  Currency deflated, high unemployment, bankruptcies •  Second Bank of U.S. foreclosed on land (especially in

the West) and caused a panic/depression •  Our first national financial crisis.

Politics in Transition •  Increase in voter participation •  Jeffersonians split over James Madison’s policies

–  He protected national bank –  He continued tariffs to protect industry (while hurting

farmers--Europe taxed our goods) –  Many Jeffersonians thought he was too moderate (still

resembled his old Federalist ways) •  Sectionalism also becoming a growing condition of who you

voted for –  Western lands were not populated enough to be important to

national politicians –  Western lands often allied with a section

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One Political Party

•  War of 1812 doomed the Federalists •  Therefore, Republicans, though split,

still were the more attractive party for many.

•  Federalist party will be gone by 1820

The Election of 1820

The Missouri Problem

•  Missouri applies for statehood in 1819 •  Northwest Ordinance limited slavery north of

Ohio River •  Many northern states demanded Missouri be

admitted as free state •  Many southern states wanted it to be a slave •  South demanded balance of free and slave

states.

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Why a Balance?

•  North already had a 105-81 advantage in the House

•  Balance means South has equal power in the Senate (11 slave, 11 free states)

•  Balance is about power, not slavery

Tallmadge Amendment (1819)

•  Part of Missouri’s request for statehood •  All slaves born in Missouri after the

territory became a state would be freed at the age of 25.

•  No new slaves in Missouri •  Passed by House, not the Senate

Missouri Compromise (1820) •  Negotiated by Henry

Clay •  Missouri enters as a

slave state •  Maine comes in as a

free state •  12 slave, 12 free states •  36° 30’ parallel

established. –  No slavery above this

line (except Missouri)

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Missouri Compromise (1820)

Foreign Policy

•  After War of 1812, US adopts a more aggressive, nationalistic foreign policy

•  Great Lakes/Canada –  Rush-Bagot Treaty (1817): strictly limited naval

armament on Great Lakes –  Borders set in 1818

•  Adams-Onis Treaty (1819) –  Spain gives up Florida and claims to Oregon –  U.S. forgives $5 million in debt, gives up claims to

Texas

Latin America

•  Many Latin American countries want independence from Spain

•  Europe a threat to US

•  US decides a free Latin America was important for our safety and economy.

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Monroe Doctrine (1823) •  American Foreign

Policy •  Major parts:

–  American continents closed to new European colonization

–  Any attempts by Europe to impose its control in Americas would be an act of war.

–  U.S. would not interfere with existing colonies or in European affairs.

Important Supreme Court Cases

•  McCulloch v. Maryland (1819):

•  Fletcher v. Peck (1810):

•  Gibbons v. Ogden (1824):

•  Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819):