Kevin Dinicola

Period 5

Thesis

• James Monroe contributed to the development of the United States– Diplomatically by: Establishing important

foreign policies such as the Monroe Doctrine and the Adams-Onís Treaty

– Politically by: Ushering in the “Era of Good Feelings” and enacting domestic policy regarding sectionalism

– Economically by: Managing the ensuing depression and the “American System”

Background ofJames Monroe (1758-1831)

• Continued the “Virginia Dynasty”

• Served as a minister to France

• Was involved in the purchasing of the Louisiana Terr.

• Not a distinguished president

• Served two terms The American Pageant p. 242

DIPLOMATIC ISSUESForeign Relations and Policies

Adams-Onís Treaty - 1819

• Also Florida Purchase Treaty

• Spain’s troops were crushing revolutions in South America

• Andrew Jackson acquired permission to enter Florida to punish Indians & Slaves using Florida as a refuge

• Spanish ports seized

Adams-Onís Treaty - 1819

• Monroe and Cabinet were dismayed by Jackson’s actions

• Decided to use this opportunity to gain Spanish Florida (and some areas of land in Oregon)

• United States paid $5,000,000 in American claims against the Spanish

Cont.

Cession of Florida

http://medicolegal.tripod.com/mapus1803.jpg

Monroe Doctrine - 1823

• British offer alliance to U.S. to stop future colonization of the Americas– U.S. refused this offered alliance

• Monroe issued warning to European powers: Noncolonization and nonintervention

• Concerned with developing regions in Latin America

• Didn’t want foreign monarchial governments in the Americas

Monroe Doctrine - 1823

• European powers were angered at Monroe’s Doctrine– Held to Monroe Doctrine anyways

• Mainly for defense against future invasion of U.S.– Protection for new Latin American was

secondary concern

• Seldom invoked

Cont.

POLITICAL ISSUESPolitical Parties and the Slavery Question

The “Era of Good Feelings”

• Reflected the Democratic-Republican party’s gain of control

• James Monroe won election in landslide against federalists

• Applies to the administrations of Monroe

• Was abruptly interrupted– Panic of 1819

Problems with Sectionalism

• North and South divided by slavery– Equal free and slave states, equal power in

Senate

• Missouri wanted to enter the Union as slave state– Imbalance of power would be created

• Restrictions on Missouri slave trade could be placed to maintain a balance

• Resolved by Missouri Compromise

Missouri Compromise

• Missouri entered Union as an unrestricted slave state

• Maine entered as free state

• Mason-Dixon line divided the North and South for future free and slave states, respectively

• James Monroe himself tried to avoid debating this issue with Congress

North vs. South

http://www.sonofthesouth.net/slavery/slave-maps/mason-dixon-map-650.jpg

ECONOMIC ISSUESEconomic Crisis and Development

Panic of 1819

• Interrupted Monroe’s “Era of Good Feelings”

• First American economic depression

• Among other things, was caused by over speculation of the unsettled land to the west

• Lasted only a few years. A temporary setback– Remedied by proper legislation and creation of

new states

The “American System”

• Proposed by Henry Clay

• Government should fund the construction of interstate roads & canals and increase tariffs on imported goods to protect American business

• Monroe disliked the American system– Didn’t believe Congress had power to do this

The “American System”

• Monroe disagreed with first part of Clay’s System– Voted bills passed by Congress

• Monroe agreed part of the “American System”– Tariffs passed in 1818 and 1824 on imported

goods to protected budding businesses and manufacturers in America

Cont.