A Growing Sense of Nationhood

1. A Growing Sense of Nationhood Chapter 13

2. I. Developing a Nation in a Land of Differences • American Landscape in the Early 1800s • 2/3 of Americans lived within 50 miles of Atlantic Coast • Land between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi was “the west” • Travel ( of anything) was difficult and slow • Regional lifestyles developed • Yankees (northeast) – enterprising, thrifty, growing cities and bustling trade • Plantation owners of South – gracious, cultured, lazy • Frontiersmen (west) – rugged, hardy, crude • Symbols & Values • After British burned Washington, Congress had architects rebuild in style that would rival buildings of Europe • “Uncle Sam” (a butcher) had provided army with meat during War of 1812 (legend) • Americans saw themselves devoted to individualism and equality

4. II. Politics: Era of Good Feelings • Economic Nationalism • Congressman Henry Clay thought future lay in capitalism but also believed the national government had a role to play in encouraging economic growth • High tariffs to protect industry • Federal spending on transportation projects • National bank to standardize currency and provide credit (1816 – 2nd Bank of US)

5. II. Politics: Era of Good Feelings • Judicial Nationalism • Chief Justice John Marshall – most important court decisions in history, • 2 major impacts 1- Strengthened the role of the Court, as well as federal power over states • McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) – Court confirmed Congress’s power to create a national bank free from state interference 2- Encouraged the growth of capitalism • Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) – Court struck down a monopoly that NY had granted to steamboat company operating between NY and NJ. Only Congress had authority to regulate interstate commerce • End of the Era • 1824 – 4 candidates competed for President • Ended up in hands of the House of Representatives • House elected John Quincy Adams • Those who ralliedaround Andrew Jackson created “Democrats”

6. Era of Good Feelings

7. III. Early American Art • Folk art • Simple, direct, often colorful • Weathervanes, quilts, flags • Portraits 1. Gilbert Stuart – painted Washington, used for picture on dollar • Landscapes • Thomas Cole – American landscapes • John Audubon – 435 detailed portraits of birds • George Catlin – Native Americans’ traditional ways

9. IV. Early American Music • In the North • Orchestras played classical music from Europe • Formal dancing • In the South • Slaves combined the hymns of white churchgoers with African musical styles to create spirituals • Square dances • Patriotic Anthems 1. Grew with demand for popular songs • Minstrel Songs 1. Honored black music by mimicking it but also mocked African Americans by making themselves look like them

10. V. Early American Literature • Washington Irving • Drew on German folklore but set them in upstate NY • “Rip Van Winkle”, “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” • James Fenimore Cooper • Wrote about the adventures of rugged frontiersmen venturing into the wilderness • Last of the Mohicans • Davy Crockett • real-life frontiersman who spun tall tales about his life as a hunter, scout, soldier, explorer • His autobiography gave literature an American accent • Henry Wadsworth Longfellow • First American poet • Touched on patriotic themes – “Paul Revere’s Ride”