5-4: Nationalism 1820s-1850s

Learning Objectives CUL 4.0 Explain how different group identities, including racial, ethnic, class, and regional identities, have emerged and changed over time. GEO 1.0 Explain how geographic and environmental factors shaped the development of various communities, and analyze how competition for and debates over natural resources have affected both interactions among different groups and the development of government policies. POL 1.0 Explain how and why political ideas, beliefs, institutions, party systems, and alignments have developed and changed. POL 3.0 Explain how different beliefs about the federal government’s role in U.S. social and economic life have affected political debates and policies.

Key Concepts Innovations in technology, agriculture, and commerce powerfully accelerated the American economy, precipitating profound changes to U.S. society and to national and regional identities. The U.S. interest in increasing foreign trade and expanding its national borders shaped the nation’s foreign policy and spurred government and private initiatives.

“Era of Good Feelings” Overview Demise of Federalist Party Democratic- Republicans in control of presidency and Congress Illusion of national consensus shattered by debates over: Protective tariffs Internal improvements Expansion of slavery

“Era of Good Feelings” Economic Nationalism American System Goal Promote trade and unity Protective Tariff Large tax on imports Protected U.S. manufacturers Internal Improvements Federally-funded roads, canals, railroads, etc. 2nd National Bank Easy credit policies to encourage investments Henry Clay believed that new transportation links would promote trade and unite the various sections of the country. Clay’s “American System” called for tariffs to protect domestic industries and fund internal improvements and a national bank. The Tariff of 1816 was the first protective tariff in U.S. history. It placed a large tax on imports from foreign countries. It was designed to slow the flood of cheap British manufactures into the country, thereby protecting U.S. manufacturers. Because of its dependence on agricultural plantations and slave labor, the South benefited the least from internal improvements. The Second Bank of the United States provided overly liberal credit policies to encourage investments. This decision proved to be inflationary and price levels rose sharply.

“Era of Good Feelings” Judicial Nationalism Marshall Court Strong central government Loose interpretation Marbury v. Madison (1803) Judicial review Enhanced power of the Court Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819) Limited state control of corporations McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) Affirms legality of B.U.S., implied powers States cannot tax federal institutions Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) Only national government regulates interstate commerce John Marshall was an economic nationalist who promoted business enterprise and opposed states’ rights. In Dartmouth College v. Woodward, the President of Dartmouth tried to change the school from a private to a public school by having its charter revoked. The Court ruled that although the charter had been issued by the British King in colonial times, it could not be arbitrarily be changed unless all parties consented to it. The decision severely limited the power of state governments to control corporations, which were the emerging form of business organization. In McCulloch v. Maryland, the state of Maryland attempted to impose a tax on the Baltimore branch of the National Bank, in order to protect the competitive position of its state banks. Marshall ruled against Maryland, stating that “the power to tax is the power to destroy.” Maryland’s action would have violated Congress’ implied power to establish and operate a bank. In Gibbons v. Ogden, the state of New York granted Ogden a monopoly to operate a steamboat between New York and New Jersey along the Hudson River, while Gibbons obtained a permit from Congress to do the same. Since interstate commerce was involved, Congress declared that the state-issued contract was void, furthering national supremacy over the states.

“Era of Good Feelings” Cultural Nationalism Belief that the American republic was the best form of government Democracy in America Alexis de Tocqueville American individualism Absence of an aristocracy Idea of American exceptionalism Democratic-Republicans felt that the American republic represented the final stage of civilization, the “last great hope for mankind.”