5-5: Sectionalism 1820s-1850s

Learning Objectives 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. MIG 1.0 Explain the causes of migration to colonial North America, and later, the United States, and analyze immigration’s effects on U.S. society. MIG 2.0 Analyze causes of internal migration and patterns of settlement in what would become the United States, and explain how migration has affected American life. WXT 2.0 Explain how patterns of exchange, markets, and private enterprise have developed, and analyze ways that governments have responded to economic issues.

Key Concept Innovations in technology, agriculture, and commerce powerfully accelerated the American economy, precipitating profound changes to U.S. society and to national and regional identities.

Rise of Sectionalism Panic of 1819 Oversupply of cheap British goods U.S. industry suffered Tariffs raised prices Inflation Credit tightened Business slump Economic depression Most severe in west New region with heavy speculation Economic dependency Least severe in south Less banking More agriculture

Rise of Sectionalism Missouri Crisis 1819—Missouri applied for statehood Slavery well-established NY Congressman proposes abolition Southern senators in uproar Deadlock—even number of slave/free states Missouri Compromise Balance in Senate maintained Missouri—slave Maine—free 36º30’ line for Louisiana Territory Defuses slavery issue

Rise of Sectionalism The South Goals Cotton Kingdom Low tariffs No internal improvements Low-priced land Cotton Kingdom Eli Whitney—cotton gin Cotton profitable Increase in textile manufacturing Increase in demand for slave labor and westward expansion Eli Whitney’s invention of the cotton gin made it possible and profitable to harvest short-staple cotton. Rich new farmland in the Deep South was opened to the cultivation of cotton. By 1850, the geographic center of slavery was moving southward and westward.

Rise of Sectionalism The North The West Goals High protective tariffs Expensive land to keep workers from migrating Internal improvements The West Low-priced land to encourage settlement Advancement of Agriculture Eli Whitney—cotton gin, interchangeable parts Cyrus McCormick—mechanical reaper John Deere—steel plow