Events of the Early 1800s James Monroe 1817-1825 John Quincy Adams 1825-1829 Andrew Jackson 1829-1837

Era of Good Feelings Symbolized by President James Monroe, this period was without political strife & opposition Nationalism & Sectionalism, exemplified by political figures Henry Clay, John Calhoun, & Daniel Webster, led to an increased federal role in economic development & internal improvements

Westward Expansion Westward expansion created a demand to expand and improve the nation's roads and canals. A single turnpike, the National Road & a toll road, was created stretching from Maryland to West Virginia, but much later extending westward from Baltimore through Ohio and Indiana to Illinois.

Spanish Florida Many Americans feared that European powers might restore monarchical order in Spain’s New World colonies such as Florida. President Monroe authorized General Andrew Jackson to lead an expedition against the Seminole Indians in Florida. Jackson attacked the Seminoles, destroyed their villages, and overthrew the Spanish governor.

Spanish Florida Despite criticism of Jackson’s actions by Spain & members of the President’s Cabinet, Secretary of State John Quincy Adams informed the Spanish government that it would either have to police Florida effectively or cede it to the United States. Spain ceded Florida to the United States in the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819 rather than risk war.

Monroe Doctrine (1823) European intervention in the Pacific Northwest and Latin America threatened to become a new source of anxiety for American leaders. President Monroe announced that the Western Hemisphere was closed to any further European colonization, declaring that the United States would regard any attempt by European nations to colonize, an act of war.

Monroe Doctrine

Rise of the Democrats Before the end of Monroe’s second term, political divisions returned. Between 1820 and 1840, U.S. politics experienced major changes. Direct methods of selecting presidential electors, county officials, state judges, and governors replaced indirect methods. The common people became more involved as voter participation skyrocketed.

Rise of the Democrats The most significant political innovation of the early nineteenth century was the abolition of property qualifications for voting and office holding. By 1840, universal white manhood suffrage had largely become a reality.

Election of 1824 Four candidates emerged: John Quincy Adams – Monroe’s Secretary of State William Crawford – Monroe’s Secretary of Treasury Henry Clay – Kentucky Representative Andrew Jackson – Military War Hero Jackson received the greatest number of votes (electoral & popular), followed by Adams, Crawford, and then Clay. But he failed to receive the constitutionally required majority of the electoral votes.

Election of 1824 The election was thrown into the House of Representatives who selected Adams over Jackson after Clay threw his support to Adams. The Philadelphia Observer charged that Adams had made a “corrupt bargain” when three days after the House vote, Adams appointed Clay as his Secretary of State John Quincy Adams defeated Andrew Jackson to become the nation’s sixth president as a result of a “corrupt bargain” & the modern political system had been established.

Election of 1828 Candidates: John Quincy Adams - Republican Candidate Andrew Jackson – Democratic Candidate Andrew Jackson, the “Common Man’s President”, was elected as our 7th U.S. President

Jackson’s Presidency The goal of the Jacksonians was to remove all obstacles that prevented farmers, artisans, and small shopkeepers from earning a greater share of the nation’s wealth. Jackson established the spoils system, which gave public offices to party supporters regardless of their qualifications

Jackson’s Indian Policy A key political issue faced by Jackson was whether Native American peoples would be permitted to block white expansion and whether the U.S. government and its citizens would abide by previously made treaties. In dealing with Native Americans, Jackson favored Indian removal rather than assimilation.

Jackson’s Indian Policy The primary thrust of Jackson’s removal policy was to encourage Native Americans to sell their homelands in exchange for new lands in Oklahoma and Arkansas. When Native tribes like the Cherokee & Choctaw resisted voluntary removal, Jackson ordered the U.S. Army to force their removal. Conflicts & the “Trail of Tears”, or a forced march of the Cherokee from Georgia to Oklahoma, resulted in the death of many Native Americans & the beginning of the modern reservation system.

Trail of Tears