Expansion Over Time & Space

1815-1848

Economic Growth

Introduction

• How American context changed materially between 1815 & 1848

• Supreme achievement of economic growth during this period: a manufacturing base– American manufacturing in 1848 exceeded

only by manufacturing in Great Britain– In spite of this development, American

economy still primarily agricultural– Last decades of the 19th century brought final

triumph of industrialism

Government role in economic growth

1. Neo-Hamiltonian economic policy & the American System of Henry Clay

• Second Bank of the United States, 1816-1836• Protective Tariff. Custom duties are collected to

promote American manufacturing• Liberalization of land distribution policy to

encourage a “land office business” 80 acres available at $1.25 per acre

• U.S. Supreme Court and John Marshall. Eliminate barriers to economic growth. See McCulloch v Maryland (1819)

Government role in economic growth—cont.

2. Role of state governments in economic growth

• Significance of the Erie Canal• State Aid to Infrastructure Projects such as

canals and railroads

Modernizing Transportation

• American Transportation in 1815: technologically primitive

• Improvements through canal building– Erie Canal inaugurated an era of canal building, tying

natural water ways into a national system

• Application of steam power to problem of river transportation– Robert Fulton and the Claremont

– Role on Mississippi River

Modernizing Transportation--cont

• Coming of the railroad

Wage Labor System

• Early 19th century barriers to wage labor– Labor Shortages

– Agrarianism: Wage labor as contrary to American republicanism and inherently debasing

• Significance of the Lowell System in Massachusetts: wage labor NOT inherently debasing

• Immigration as source of wage labor: What were the most important sources of immigration in the pre-Civil War period?

A New Politics

1815-1848

Birth of a New Party System

• At the heart of this new party system was a new type of political party: mass, national party– First, the Democratic party emerged, then the

Whig party– These two parties, national in scope, tried to

mobilize into political action the white male adult population of the United States

– Was the new politics a “democratic” politics?

Birth of a New Party System—Cont.

• Why did this new party system arise?1. Economic hard times ended “the Era of Good

Feelings”

2. Southern politicians, alarmed over the Missouri Crisis, turned to political coalition building

3. End of the “Virginia Dynasty” marked the end of a politics of deference & the beginning of a more democratic politics

4. Politics became professionalized

Emergence of the Democratic party• End of the “Era of Good Feelings”. Economic

outsiders turned to politics• Andrew Jackson, provided a magnetic symbol,

organizing groups politically– Jackson, the Man: Considerable political experience– Jackson, the Symbol: Military Hero, see Battle of New

Orleans– Jackson as President, the President is active in policy-

making, providing national leadership. Model of the “Strong President” is primarily 20th century

• Democratic party, in Age of Jackson, party of laissez faire, both economically and culturally. Why fear an activist government?

Emergence of the Democratic party—Cont.

• Issues benefit Democratic party in 1820s & 1830s

1. Land policy & Indian Removal. Jackson supported Indian Removal Act (1830) while Van Buren

enforced it against Cherokees. Big Issue between whites & Indians: Land

2. Nationalism & States Rights. President Jackson strongly supports national power in showdown with John C. Calhoun and South Carolina over collection of customs duties

Emergence of the Democratic party—Cont.

• Issues benefit Democratic party in 1820s & 1830s—Cont. 3. Bank War. Neo-Hamiltonianism vs. economic

laissez faire. Why did Jackson say he opposed the 2 BUS?

Rise of the Whig party

• Whig party organized around the Neo-Hamiltonian program of Henry Clay– Attracted modernizing element of business community

– Claimed this program created economic opportunity for every one who wanted to better themselves materially

• Whig party attempted to build an anti-Jackson party– It’s in the name

– It has some success, but its success in the endeavor actually weakened the party

• Tended to attract cultural antilibertarians.

Politics: 1836-1848• 1836 Election: Won by Martin Van Buren as Whigs try an

unusual strategy

• 1840 Election: First Whig victory as party exploits economic depression to elect William Henry Harrison. Harrison’s death created disarray in party

• 1844 Election: Democrat James K. Polk elected over Clay in close election. Slavery as a political issue

• 1848 Election: Military hero Zachary Taylor, Whig, elected, as a nationally-oriented leader

• Result: American politics characterized by two parties, national in scope, closely divided. Seemingly stable, soon disrupted

Quest for Perfection

1815-1848

Sources of this quest

1. Ideals of the American Revolution inspired a new generation

• Passing away of the Revolutionary generation• Urgent task: Complete the work of that generation

2. Economic growth created a material environment stimulating perfection

• Sweep away the imperfect• Believe in the perfect

3. Reason & Science tools for perfection 4. Religious and philosophical liberalism promoted

an optimistic view of human nature: Unitarianism & Transcendentalism

Sources of this quest-Cont.

5. Rise of evangelical Christianity provided a theory and motivation to uplift both individuals & society

• Charles G. Finney: Concept of revivalism

• Finney & the Role of the Benevolent Association: Role of the Volunteer

Reform Movements

1. Anti-drinking crusade• Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. An

“alcoholic republic”?• First response: Temperance• Complete, thoroughgoing reform=prohibition• Three-fold model for moral reform: moral suasion, self-help,

coercion through law

2. Anti-Slaveryism• Old abolitionism: Gradualism and the colonization

movement• Rise of King Cotton and the New abolitionists• William Lloyd Garrison & the Liberator

Reform Movements-Cont.

2. Anti-Slaveryism—Cont.• Blacks and the new abolitionists. Role of Frederick

Douglass• Political and Radical Abolitionism & the Birth of

“Free Soil”

3. Nineteenth Century Feminism• Seneca Falls Convention & Declaration (1848)• Women & Property Rights• Women & Voting Rights• Susan B. Anthony & Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Westward Movement

1815-1848

Annexation of Texas

• Spanish & Mexican Background

• Stephen Austin and the Norte Americano Settlement of Texas

• Republic of Texas:1836-1845

• Annexation:1845

Oregon

• Oregon as an early 19th century concept

• British-American Joint Occupation

• Ft. Vancouver & the Hudson Bay Co.

• Methodist Missionaries & American Settlement

• 1846 Treaty: End of Joint Occupation & the Division of Oregon

Mexican War: 1846-1848

• President James K. Polk & Mexico

• Beginnings of the War

• First Step: Conquest of what is now the American Southwest, including California

• Second Step: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)