Growing SectionalismCHAPTER 3, SECTION 3

Increasing Sectionalism

While there was an increased nationalism after the War of 1812, the ‘Era of Good Feelings’ would not last.

The U.S.’ growing regional differences (known as sectionalism) plagued policymakers. The differences appeared at the forefront of the slavery

debate.

The Missouri Compromise- Background

Missouri wanted to be admitted to the U.S. The balance of an equal # of free

and slave states would be upset. Missouri wanted to enter as a slave

state. Henry Clay (the Great Compromiser)

created the Missouri Compromise to appease both the slave-holding South and the North.

Missouri Compromise- Stipulations Clay proposed that Missouri would be

admitted as a slave state, but the northern district of Mass. (i.e. Maine) would enter as a free state. This would maintain the numbers

balance. To eliminate further debate, a line was

drawn at the 36°30’ parallel. This line exemplified the regional split–

slavery in the South, no slavery in the North.

Jacksonian DemocracyCHAPTER 3, SECTION 4

The Election of 1824 The election of 1824 pitted four candidates for the

presidency. John Quincy Adams (Monroe’s Sec of State)

Andrew Jackson (war hero from TN)

Henry Clay (Kentucky)

William Crawford (GA)

Jackson won the popular vote, but did not have a majority of the electoral votes.

The decision went to the House of Reps Henry Clay threw his support to Adams. When Adams

won the election, Clay was named his Secretary of State.

Jackson accused the two men of a “corrupt bargain”.

Jackson’s Response Jackson began working towards the 1828 election.

He did something new to the presidency– he went across the country campaigning for himself.

This coincided with a change in the election process for many states. Electors would be chosen based on the popular

vote; Many states eliminated the property requirement

to vote to accommodate the low wages of industrial workers.

Free blacks and women were still restricted from voting.

Jackson Emerges Jackson was seen as the embodiment of

democratic principles. He promoted majority rule and the power of the

common man.

Jackson’s supporters called themselves Democrats. Jackson easily won the election with 56% of the

popular vote and 2/3 of the electoral vote.

Jackson’s campaign (led by his manager Martin Van Buren) promised a return to Jeffersonian principles.

Jackson also promised not to interfere with the issue of slavery.

The Spoils System The Democrats transformed party structure.

Everyone in the party, no matter their political level, had to obey democratic principles or else be cast out.

Elections became more business-like with ‘professional politicians’ and campaign managers.

Those loyal to the party were rewarded with government jobs. When Jackson became president, Martin Van

Buren became Secretary of State. (Sound familiar?)

The practice of rewarding followers with government jobs became known as the spoils system.

Native Americans Much of Jackson’s support came from

the South. When Southerners asked that 60,000 Native

Americans be removed from land viable for cotton, Jackson obliged.

Jackson had already petitioned Congress to pass the Indian Removal Act.

This would negotiate a land tradeoff– give up southern lands for land in he Indian Territory (Oklahoma)

Native Americans In Worchester v Georgia (1832), the

Native Americans took their case to the Supreme Court. John Marshall ruled in favor of the Native

Americans keeping their land.

Jackson’s response “John Marshall has made his decision. Now let him enforce it.”

Jackson required Native Americans to walk from Georgia to Oklahoma on what would become known as the Trail of Tears.