Life in the Early Republic
The Age of Jefferson “faction” Washington the uniter Jefferson-Hamilton rivalry
Thomas Jefferson ( ) Lawyer Inventor Slaveowner/planter
Jefferson’s ideas Limited government Anti-urban Ideal of the yeoman farmer “Empire of liberty”
Alexander Hamilton (1757?-1804) Born in Caribbean Soldier Lawyer Economist 1 st Secretary of the Treasury
Hamilton’s ideas Urban industrial democracy National bank National debt Tariffs
Opposition to Hamilton Jeffersonians see subsidies and tariffs as gov’t favoritism The agrarian South opposes tariff
Conservatives aghast at French Revolution Fear anarchy
Political Parties Emerge Federalists are pro-British Democratic-Republicans are pro-French
The Adams Years ( ) First truly contested election (1796) Federalist John Adams wins
The Adams Years Danger of war with Europe Federalists want war with France Alien and Sedition Acts (1798) suppress free speech
Can Freedom Survive Democracy? Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions (1798-9) – Written secretly by Jefferson and Madison – They call A&S Acts “unconstitutional” – Jefferson wants states to “nullify” laws
Backlash Helps Jefferson get elected in st peaceful transfer of power Jefferson overturns unpopular Federalist policies
Issues of Jefferson’s Presidency Haitian Revolution – Not a fan
Issues of Jefferson’s Presidency Judicial review – Marbury vs. Madison (1803)
Issues of Jefferson’s Presidency Louisiana Purchase (1803) – Constitutional?
More products Greater variety Greater amount Beginning of mass production Decline of home production Growth of Trade
Growing wheat, corn Steel plow invented by Cyrus McCormick Credit Commercial Agriculture
Urbanization Greater interconnectedness (canals, railroads)
Westward migration – “Manifest Destiny” (1845)
– Most from Ireland, Germany – Most went to the North – Only Baltimore, New Orleans, and St. Louis got many immigrants Immigration
– Why? Peasants pushed off land Industrialization costs craft jobs Steamship, railroad make travel easier
The Marketplace New Atomistic Anonymous Disorder Anxiety for churches and families
Individualism Free labor – Your labor is your property – Sell it on the market “Self-made man” Possessive individualism
The Conundrum of Democracy – By 1840, 90% of white men could vote – But slavery also expands, ex: “cotton kingdom”
Problems with Expansion – Missouri fiasco splits North and South – Problem of dividing up Louisiana Purchase – Slave or free? – Already slaves there
The Missouri Compromise Maine admitted as free state Missouri as slave Slavery prohibited in all territory north of 36°30′ latitude
Enter “Old Hickory”
Andrew Jackson War hero 1828 victory revolutionizes politics – Well-organized political parties – Founding of Democratic Party – Patronage
Jackson’s Ideas – Limited government – Popular participation in govt for white men – Opportunity for whites, but definitely not Indians and blacks
Battles of the Jackson Era Southerners didn’t like tariff, threaten “nullification”
Indian Removal – Expansion of cotton – Push into Indian lands in the South – Cherokees & other “civilized tribes” screwed – Georgia expels them
The Trail of Tears – Supreme Court (1832): removal violates treaties with federal govt – Jackson defies – 18k Cherokees forced to move in – 1/4 die on the way to Oklahoma
Recap: What the Hell Happened? Democratization mostly benefits white men Economic growth, westward expansion on the backs of Indians and slaves