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James Monroe and the “Era of Good Feelings”

“The Era of Good Feelings”

�  Period of national pride following the War of 1812 and political peace associated with James Monroe’s presidency

�  Only one political party (Democratic-Republicans) through much of Monroe’s presidency ¡  Towards the end of his

presidency, the Dem-Reps began to split into two parties.

�  Monroe was so popular, he ran unopposed in the election of 1820

Key Government Officials

�  John Quincy Adams – Secretary of State �  John C. Calhoun – Secretary of War �  Henry Clay – Representative (KY); Speaker of the

House

Missouri Compromise

�  Who: Created by Henry Clay (becomes known as the “Great Compromiser”)

�  When: 1820 �  Why:

¡  Americans began moving west into the Northwest Territory and the Louisiana Territory. As these areas became more populated, territories began applying for statehood.

¡  Northern and Southern states began to argue about whether or not new states should be slave states or free states (both sides wanted greater representation in Congress so they could support their regional interests). ÷ Essentially a fight over the spread of slavery

Missouri Compromise

�  What: ¡  Missouri would be admitted to the USA as a slave state and

Maine would be admitted as a free state ÷ Keeps the number of free and slave states equal

¡  Divides the remainder of the Louisiana territory in half along the 36°30 latitude line. Territory north of the line will be free and territory south of the line will allow slavery

�  Where: Maine, Missouri, Louisiana Territory, 36°30 line

Missouri Compromise

The American System

�  Major Domestic Policy issue �  Who: Created by Henry Clay �  What: 1. Provided a protective tariff, 2. created a 2nd National

Bank, and 3. provided a system for internal improvements (i.e. improve roads)

�  Where: 1. protect northern industry, 2. USA, 3. roads leading west

�  When: following the Panic (economic recession) of 1819-1820

�  Why: Clay hoped to develop and protect strong American economic activities (like industry and manufacturing) ¡  Clay drew upon the nationalistic tendencies following the War of 1812 to

garner support for his plan.

The American System

�  How: Henry Clay’s plan would be carried out in two parts:

1.  Protective tariffs would be passed to help protect American industry

2.  Create a second National Bank to store the funds to develop a national road system.

�  Madison did not support part 2 of Clay’s plan because he did not believe the national government had the power to fund state roads (strict construction)

Adams-Onis Treaty

�  Who: Spain and the US �  When: 1819 �  Where: Florida, Border with Mexico �  What:

¡  US agrees to buy Florida from Spain for$5 million ¡  US gives up all claims to Texas ¡  Sets border with Mexico at the Sabine River (modern border

between Texas and Louisiana) �  How: Treaty negotiated by John Quincy Adams with

Spanish Foreign Minister Onis

Adams-Onis Treaty

Adams-Onis Treaty

�  Why: ¡  Seminole Wars (1817-1818): Americans began fighting with the

Seminole Indian tribe in Florida because they believed the Seminole peoples were harboring runaway slaves. Over the course of the war, the United States took control of East Florida.

¡  Spain opted to sell Florida rather than to have it simply taken over by the Americans.

¡  US claimed that East Texas was a part of the Louisiana Purchase because French explorer Le Salle had claimed the territory with his failed attempt to create Fort St. Louis.

Monroe Doctrine

�  Who: ¡  Created by John Quincy

Adams ¡  Part of James Monroe’s

“State of the Union Address”

�  When: December, 1823 �  Where: US, Latin

America, Europe

Monroe Doctrine

�  What: ¡  Warns European nations

not to interfere in Latin American affairs

¡  US will protect North and South America from European influence

¡  US will not get involved in European affairs

Monroe Doctrine

�  Why: ¡  Lots of revolutions in Latin America – rebelling against

Spanish and Portuguese rule (influenced by American Revolution) ÷ Chile, Venezuela, Mexico, Brazil

¡  After the end of the Napoleonic Wars, European countries began to redistribute colonial holdings. The US feared Britain and France would try to take over former Spanish and Portuguese territories.

�  How: US has no way to enforce the Monroe Doctrine ¡  Military is not strong enough