Chapter 5 Section TwoGrowing Sectionalism

BackgroundSectional disputes over slavery and Westward expansion “eroded” the spirit of nationalism that followed the War of 1812

One-Party system (Democratic-Republicans) dominated until 1820’s when it began to unravel

What does “erode” mean?

•Wear down•Eat away at•Corrode

The Missouri CompromiseMain Point: “The Missouri Compromise

attempted to resolve, at least temporarily, the growing disagreement between Northern & Southern States over the issue of slavery”

The Era of Good FeelingsMonroe’s administration –Era of good

feelingsTensions- reached boiling point (1819) when

Missouri applied for statehoodStirred up nation’s most divisive issue:

Whether slavery should expand west1819-11 free states 11 slave states

MissouriTerritorial government request admission

into Union as a slave stateCongressman James Tallmadge, Jr. (New

York) proposed a resolution that prohibited slaveholders from bringing new slaves into Missouri and all enslaved children be freed at age 25House accepted but the Senate rejected (North

for it, South against it)

ResolutionMaine requested admission to the Union as a

separate state (part of Massachusetts before)The Senate decided to combine Maine and

Missouri’s requests of admission to the Union as separate statesMaine –a free stateMissouri- a slave stateThis solution “preserved” balance in the

Senate

Senator Jesse Thomas (Illinois) proposed an amendmentProhibit slavery north of Missouri’s southern

borderThis allowed slavery to expand to Arkansas

territory (South of Missouri) keep slavery out of the rest of the Louisiana Purchase

“Carefully managed” by Henry Clay (Kentucky), the house voted to accept the Compromise

A New IssuePro-slavery members of the Missouri

constitutional convention added a clause that suggested prohibiting free African Americans from entering the stateThis threatened Missouri’s approval to the

Union Henry Clay created a solution by “getting the

Missouri legislature to state they would not honor the spirit of the clause’s wording”

Looking ForwardMany were afraid the Missouri Compromise

was only a temporary solutionJohn Quincy Adams wrote “I take for granted, that the present question

is a mere preamble- a title page to a great tragic volume”

What is he saying?

Compromise just pushes off the future debate over slavery

The Elections of 1824 and 1828These elections demonstrated the growing

sectionalism in the countryDemocratic-Republican had members all over

at this timeThese elections would prove the party was

“torn along regional lines”

“Favorite Sons”Four candidates in 1824 electionAll Republican party membersAll favorite sons- “Men who enjoyed

the support of leaders from their own state and region”

The CandidatesHenry Clay-Kentucky (represented the West)Andrew Jackson-Tennessee (represented the

West)John Quincy Adams- Massachusetts

(Represented New England)William Crawford-Georgia (represented the

South)

Jefferson’s PrinciplesCrawford ran on Jefferson’s ideas:

State’s rightsStrict interpretation of the Constitution

The American System

Clay Favored The national bankThe protective tariffAnd nationwide internal

improvementsThese were collectively part of the

American System as it would be called

JacksonJackson avoided taking a stand on specific

issuesFocused on and emphasized his “leadership

qualities” and heroism at New Orleans

Election DayJackson won most Popular VotesBut, nobody won the majority of electoral

college votesConstitutional procedure –election goes to

the houseSelect president from one of the three who

gained the most electoral votes Clay came in fourth (eliminated)

Clay’s RoleHenry Clay was Speaker of the House

(Tremendous influence)Clay and Jackson political rivals for power in

the West February 9, 1825 the representatives met to

chooseClay threw support behind Adams

Jackson you’re “ignorant, passionate, [and] corrupt”

Clay you’re the “the meanest scoundrel that ever disgraced the image of [my]

god”

Corrupt Bargain????Adams won by a lotSome Jackson supporters accused Clay of

arranging votes for Adams in return for a cabinet post

When president, Adams named Clay Secretary of State (cabinet position)

Jackson’s supporters accused Adams and Clay of striking a “corrupt bargain”

A Divide in the Party This incident created a split in the

Democratic-Republican partyJackson’s supporters called themselves the

DemocratsHenry Clay and his supporters called

themselves the National Republicans

Adams Takes OfficeAdams announced to Congress, a program of

nationalist legislation that exceeded even Clay’s American System

What was Clay’s American System?Clay Favored

The national bankThe protective tariffAnd nationwide internal improvementsThese were collectively part of the American

System as it would be called

What is “nationalist legislation”?Laws designed for the nation as a whole

AdamsInternal improvementsAdams wanted “federal revenue to be used to

build a national university and observatories, and to fund scientific research”

What is an observatory?“A room or building housing a telescope or

other scientific equipment for the study of natural phenomena”

AdamsCongress granted him funds to improve

harbors, rivers, and extend the national road further westThis was much less than what he wanted Repeated rejection he got from Congress set

the stage for his defeat in 1828

Election of 1828 (Rematch)John Quincy Adams vs. Andrew JacksonBoth candidates engaged in “mudslinging”What does this mean?“criticize each other’s personalities and

morals”

Adams AttackAdams called Jackson:

“incompetent both by [your] ignorance and by the fury of his passions”

Jackson’s DefensePortrayed himself as the candidate for the

common man and “attacked Adams as an out-of-touch aristocrat

What is an aristocrat?A member of a ruling class or of the nobility

Jackson’s DefenseJackson also mentioned again and again that

Adams was untrustworthy because of the alleged “corrupt bargain”

ResultsJackson clear victory

Won the popular vote easilyWon the Electoral college easily

“Old Hickory” as he was nicknamed reached the White House