War of 1812: Initial Reason for War In 1803, Britain and France went to war again. Both countries seized U.S. ships sailing towards the ports of their enemy. Americans focused their anger mostly on the British. The British ships impressing: drafting Americans to fight for the British navy, against their will.

Reasons for War Nationalism Great Britain still treated the United States like a British colony. Revenge Wanted to revenge on Britain for impressing American ships. Expansion An excuse to conquer Canada from Great Britain and Florida from Spain. Sponsored Attacks Supplying arms to Native Americans to fight on the American frontier

America Goes to War President Madison decides we must go to war. The British were fighting against Napoleon on Europe so they had little time for the Americans. That didn’t stop them from sacking Washington DC in August of 1814, and burning the President’s Mansion Dolley Madison was able to save an iconic portrait of George Washington

America Sticks it to the Brits The most decisive American victory in the war came in January of 1815 when General Andrew Jackson of Tennessee routed British forces and defended the city. Too bad the war had ended on Christmas Eve 1814.

Results of the War of 1812 Ended the Federalist Party They opposed the war and Americans didn’t like that. Encouraged the growth of American industry since we couldn’t get stuff from Britain for 2+ years. Confirmed the status of the US as a free, independent nation.

The Monroe Doctrine James Monroe is elected in 1816 Foreign affairs dominates his first term His Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams, wants to focus on nationalism rather than regional issues. Territory and Boundaries Convention of 1818 fixes northern U.S. border at 49th parallel Oregon Territory to be jointly held by U.S., Britain for ten years Adams-Onís Treaty transfers Florida to U.S., sets western border

The Monroe Doctrine Europe eyes more land in America. Monroe says that European powers should not concern themselves with making additional lands in the Western Hemisphere. With this policy America claims power in the hemisphere and warns Europe to stay out. This becomes a keystone of American foreign policy until this very day.

The Divided States of America The resurgence of sectionalism America was still a very divided country. The North was manufacturing based The South was agriculture based The question of slavery is ever present In 1818 settlers in Missouri petitioned to be admitted to the Union as a state. Should it be admitted as a free state (North) or a slave state (South)

The Missouri Compromise Henry Clay proposed that Missouri be admitted as a slave state and Maine be admitted as a free state Preserving balance in the government This plan set the 3630 line Set out that the line of divide in the country between slave and free states would be the 36th line of latitude. With the exception of Missouri What was the ramification of setting this dividing line?

The Age of Jackson Andrew Jackson is elected President in 1828. Jackson expands the electorate In the election of 1824 350,000 people voted In the election of 1828 over 1 million people voted Many saw Jackson as a person just like them, a common man Jacksonian Democracy Jackson saw it as part of a good democracy for the common man to have a say in government Jackson is still revered as a lion of the Democratic party

Jackson was actually a jerk As Americans further expanded their territory on the continent they increasingly came into contact with Native Americans. In 1830, Congress, with the support of Jackson passed The Indian Removal Acts These laws gave fund to the government to negotiate treaties with native tribes that would force them to move west. The Cherokee nation fought the act and took the President to court.

Jackson was actually a big jerk The Supreme Court decided in Worchester v. Georgia that the states did not have the power to regulate the Cherokee nation. Jackson refused to abide by the courts decision Jackson said “John Marshall made his decision; now let him enforce it.”

The Trail of Tears Beginning after the court’s decision the government began to forcibly round up Cherokee people and remove them from their land. They were forced to walk 800 miles to present day Oklahoma. More than a quarter dies along the way.

King Andrew Many complained that Jackson took too much power. The Whig party (Jackson’s opponents) said “Your President has become your MONARCH!”