Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________

From Nationalism to Sectionalism Section 1

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

56 Interactive Reader and Study Guide

Key Terms and People

Monroe Doctrine foreign policy that stated that the Americas should no longer be

colonized by Europe

Alexis de Tocqueville a French observer of emerging American culture

Noah Webster writer of the first American dictionary

nationalism belief that the interests of the nation as a whole are more important than

regional interests or the interests of other countries

sectionalism belief that the interests of one’s section, or region, of the country are more

important than the interests of the nation as a whole

McCulloch v. Maryland Supreme Court case that ranked the nation’s interests as higher

than a state’s

James Monroe president from 1817 to 1825

John Quincy Adams secretary of state to Monroe

Adams-Onís Treaty treaty with Spain in which the United States acquired Florida and

established the boundary between the Louisiana territory and Spanish land to the west

Missouri Compromise agreement under which Missouri was admitted to the Union as a

slave state and Maine was admitted as a free state

Section Summary

A NEW AMERICAN CULTURE

The Monroe Doctrine was a bold statement from the

young United States. It said that North and South

America were no longer to be colonized by Europe.

Americans were hard at work building their new

nation. As they went about their lives they developed

a distinctly American culture. The French philosopher

Alexis de Tocqueville observed this new culture. He

saw that Americans had much energy. He also saw

that instead of imitating European cultures they did

things their own way. This included original works in

art and literature. Noah Webster published a

dictionary of Americans’ unique version of the

English language.

MAIN IDEA Nationalism contributed to the growth of American culture and influenced

domestic and foreign policies.

How did the United States

regard European countries

setting up colonies in North

and South America? Where

was this stated?

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Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________

From Nationalism to Sectionalism Section 1

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

57 Interactive Reader and Study Guide

NATIONALISM INFLUENCES

DOMESTIC POLICY

Nationalism is the belief that the interests of the

nation as a whole are more important than regional

interests or the interests of other countries. In the early

1800s feelings of nationalism swept America. These

feelings replaced sectionalism. This is the belief that

one’s own section, or region, of the country is more

important than the whole. The feelings of nationalism

were reflected in government policies. For example, in

the case of McCulloch v. Maryland, the Supreme

Court ruled that the nation’s interests ranked higher

than any state’s interests.

NATIONALISM GUIDES FOREIGN POLICY

In 1816 James Monroe was elected president. His

secretary of state was John Quincy Adams. Adams

made an important agreement with Spain. This was

the Adams-Onís Treaty. In it the United States

acquired Florida and fixed the boundary between

Louisiana and Spanish lands to the west. The result

was the country expanded to the south and east, and

the borders in the north and west were defined.

THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE

By 1818 settlers had spread into Missouri. Most came

from the South. About 1 of every 6 settlers were

enslaved African Americans. When Missouri applied

to become a state, it caused a problem. At that time

there were an equal number of free states and slave

states. Slave and free states had equal representation

in the U.S. Senate. If Missouri entered the Union as a

slave state, it would upset the balance.

The situation was settled with the Missouri

Compromise. This agreement stated that Missouri

would be admitted as a slave state and that Maine

would be admitted as a free state. The balance was

preserved. Still, it showed there was sectionalism in

the North and South.

CHALLENGE ACTIVITY

Critical Thinking: Summarize Read a chapter of de Tocqueville’s

Democracy in America. Summarize it in one page.

Underline the state that

entered the Union with

Missouri.

How would Missouri’s

entrance into the Union

have upset the balance in

Congress?

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Underline the details of the

Adams-Onís Treaty.

Underline the definition of

sectionalism.