THE MONROE ADMINISTRATION

James Monroe was elected president in 1816. The time period after the War of 1812 was known as the Era of Good Feelings. There were no major political divisions because the Federalist Party had become too weak to be effective.

There was, however, a growth in sectionalism. Sectionalism is loyalty to a region.

Americans saw themselves first as Southerners, Northerners, or Westerners and they felt a strong allegiance to their region. Their regional loyalty grew when differences of opinion arose over national issues.

These issues included the national bank, internal improvements (like building roads and canals), and the tariff.

The greatest conflict between regions seemed to be over slavery. White southerners believed that slavery was an economic necessity while more and more northerners opposed it.

Southerners used the “states’ rights” argument to protect slavery; the Constitution reserves certain rights for the states, and southerners argued that slavery was a state, not federal, issue.

Southerners argued that the national government abolishing slavery would infringe upon the rights of the state and its citizens.

Three powerful Congressmen became spokespersons for their regions---

John C. Calhoun Daniel Webster Henry Clay

JOHN C. CALHOUN

Southerner who had been a Warhawk and supported many federalist programs. His views changed in the 1820’s; he became a strong supporter of states’ rights and opposed high tariffs.

DANIEL WEBSTER

Northerner who supported free trade and tariffs to protect American industry. He was one of America’s greatest orators.

HENRY CLAY

From the West, he became known as the Great Compromiser because he tried to settle sectional disputes through compromise.

In the 1820’s, sectional differences intensified over the issue of whether newly admitted states would allow slavery.

Missouri, part of the Louisiana Purchase, applied for statehood. Southerners wanted it admitted as a slave state and northerners wanted it admitted as a free state.

Members of Congress wanted to maintain a balance between slave and free states. Admitting Missouri as a slave state would give an advantage to Southern states when votes were taken in Congress.

THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE

Written by Henry Clay Missouri entered as a

slave state. Maine entered as a

free state. Slavery was banned

in the remainder of the Louisiana Territory north of the 36 30 parallel.

SUPREME COURT CASES DURING THE MONROE ADMINISTRATION

McCulloch v. Maryland—upheld the necessary and proper clause or elastic clause. The Constitution stretches to meet the needs of the times.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

President Monroe’s goal was to put an end to disputes that the United States had with Britain and Spain.

ADAMS-ONIS TREATY

Signed between Spain and the U.S. Spain gave Florida to the U.S. U.S. gave up claim to Spanish Texas. U.S. took responsibility for $5 million

debt owed to U.S. citizens by Spain. Border agreement between western

possessions, giving the U.S. a large piece of the Pacific Northwest.

At the same time Spain was losing territory in North America, many of its Central and South American colonies were having wars for independence.

LATIN AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARIES Miguel Hidalgo—

Mexico Simon Bolivar—

Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Bolivia, Ecuador

Jose de San Martin-Chile and Peru

By 1824, most of South America was free from Spanish control.

In 1822, the Spanish government asked other European nations to help them regain control of their Latin American colonies.

Because of the possibility of increased European involvement in the western hemisphere, President Monroe issued the Monroe Doctrine.

THE MONROE DOCTRINE

Stated that the U.S. would not interfere with existing European colonies in the western hemisphere, but would not allow any new ones. Any attempt by European powers to establish new colonies or regain old ones would result in a military response by the United States.

The U.S. did not have the military capability to enforce the Monroe Doctrine, but war-weary European nations did not challenge the doctrine.

Latin American leaders were wary—it did not say that the U.S. would not interfere in the Western Hemisphere, only that it would not permit European nations to do so.

The Monroe Doctrine has remained an important part of American foreign policy for almost 200 years.