Lesson 3: The Crucible of a Nation

Lesson 3: The Crucible of a Nation Ch. 2, Sect. 4: 1789-1848 - Challenges of Government, the War of 1812, the Louisiana Purchase, and the growing North-South Divide

The First President • Washington was unanimously elected as the first President in 1789, age: 57 • He had no political party, and was paid $25,000/year (more than $1.1 million/year in today’s money). • His held the office for 2 4-year terms, before deciding to retire… setting a very important precedent for all future US presidents • Washington was a national hero and legend, could have made himself KING • instead, he respected the idea of republican government and stepped down from power… • When he died, in his will he freed all of his slaves. “I’m Father of the Nation, yo.”

Parties and Foreign affairs • Two political parties – rival factions within a government – developed early on in American history • The Federalists – mainly northerners, who supported strong central government • The Democratic-Republicans, who favored a weaker central government and stronger state governments, and were mostly Southerners, led by Thomas Jefferson. • In 1789, the French Revolution overthrew the French Monarchy, and caused Britain, and other European kingdoms to go to war with France. • Federalists wanted the US to support Britain • Democratic-Republicans wanted to support France • But Washington remained neutral – not supporting either side. In his “farewell address” in 1796 , he warned the US to “steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.”

Thomas Jefferson “I should probably free my slaves… eh, it can wait until later…” • The 3rd president (1801-1809) • Enacted Jeffersonian republicanism – government should be simplified, shrunk, and decentralized… eliminated many taxes, reduced the size of the army and navy • The first president to take office in the new (and still under-construction) capital city: Washington D.C. • The new capital was in the South – between Maryland and Virginia – reflecting the growing power of the Southern states in politics, and the declining influence of the North. (He never would get around to freeing those slaves, though… when he died, he was deeply in debt, and they were sold to help pay for it.)

The Louisiana Purchase • Though Louisiana territory had belonged to Spain after the 7 Years’ War, it was been transferred back to France in 1800, under Napoleon Bonaparte. But in 1803, Napoleon needed money to fight his European wars, and knew he could not hope to hold on to Louisiana. Rather than allow the Spanish or British to take it, he sold it to the US for $15 million (less than $0.03 per acre… an absurdly cheap price)

The Lewis and Clark Expedition • The US’ size had immediately doubled, and Jefferson (and others) wanted to know just what they’d bought. • Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were tasked with exploring and mapping the new territory, and finding a path to the Pacific Ocean. • They would set out in 1804, and successfully reach the Pacific in 1805, proving such a journey was possible. • They arrived back in September of 1806, having travelled a total of 7,690 miles.

The War of 1812 • The ongoing war between France and Britain affected American shipping • Many American sailors were impressed into the British Navy – forcing them to serve on British warships. • By 1812, President James Madison had decided that enough was enough, and declared war on Britain.

The War of 1812 • American troops tried to invade British Canada, but failed • In response, in 1814 British troops invaded and captured Washington D.C., burning down the White House and the Capital Building. • Peace was reached in early 1815… nothing changed.

The Monroe Doctrine • James Monroe was the 5th US President, elected in 1816. • The Monroe Doctrine: • In 1823, Monroe warned Europe to keep out of the Western Hemisphere, to to establish more colonies there, or to try to overthrow independent republics. • The US would also not involve itself in European conflicts. “Get off my lawn.”

The Missouri Compromise • In 1818, Missouri requested to join the Union. • The Northern states had mostly abolished slavery (made owning slaves illegal), while in the South the practice continued • The Northern and Southern states could not agree whether Missouri should be admitted as a free state or a slave state. • Between 1820-21, Congress passed a series of agreements • Maine was admitted as a free state • Missouri was admitted as a slave state • For the rest of the Louisiana Purchase, north of 36°30′ slavery would be banned, but states south of the line would allow slavery.

The Jacksonian Era and Indian Removal • War-hero Andrew Jackson was elected in 1829. • He founded the Democratic Party • As president, his most controversial policies were concerning the relocation of Native American tribes to West of the Mississippi. • But some tribes resisted, and forced to move by the US Army • more than 4,000 people died on the journey – this became known as the Trail of Tears.

The Nullification Crisis: Federal Gov’t vs. State Gov’t • Congress had repeatedly increased tariffs – a type of tax - on the states. • In 1828, Southern states began thinking they could cancel federal laws they didn’t like, by declaring them unconstitutional in their own state constitution. • In 1832, South Carolina declared the Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 “null, void, and no law.” • It then threatened to secede from the union – to leave the United States – if the federal gov’t tried to collect those taxes. • Jackson threatened to use the US Army to force South Carolina to comply, but in 1833 a compromise was reached: • tariffs would be reduced over 10 years, but the states could not nullify laws they didn’t like, and had to follow all federal laws. • This would ease tensions between state and federal rights… but only temporarily…

Lesson 3: The Crucible of a Nation