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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):
