Lecture 17: A New Nation with Growing Divisions (1789 – 1861) British and American Culture

The First President George Washington served two four-year terms, stepping down after eight years, setting an important precedent. During Washington’s presidency, the capital of the U.S. was New York. Afterwards, a new city was built in Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia) and the capital was moved there.

The Louisiana Purchase (1803)

War of 1812 Britain was still annoyed with the U.S. for having become independent They were interfering with American ships trading with France (Britain and France were in conflict at this time) Britain was also worried about American expansion, and were helping Native American leaders in opposing expansion in the northwest Finally, tensions erupted and the U.S. and Britain went to war (again!) in 1812

War of 1812 Britain was able to attack and burn Washington, D.C. and other sites Both sides suffered victories and losses – the fighting in Baltimore was the origin of the national anthem “The Star-Spangled Banner” Peace treaty signed in 1815 – no major changes from before the war

Andrew Jackson, Westward Expansion, and the “Trail of Tears” Andrew Jackson was the president from 1829-1837 He and his supporters founded the Democratic Party, the first well-organized U.S. political party. Their main opposition in the mid-19th century were the Whig Party. During the 19th Century, there was continued U.S. expansion westward across North America – many Americans believed it was the “Manifest Destiny” of the U.S. to stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans This was also a period of Native American “removal and resettlement” outside of their native lands. Thousands of Native Americans were forced to move to new lands, in what became known as the “Trail of Tears”.

Industrialization and Railroads The mid-nineteenth century was also a period of industrialization across the country Railroads were built across the country

Herman Melville (1819-1891) Moby Dick (1851)

Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) “Transcendentalism” -The individual and nature are inherently good – but they are corrupted by society and institutions “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. “

Growing Divisions between North and South Increasingly over the course of the 19th century, the North and South faced serious political disagreements John C. Calhoun – “nullification” doctrine Abolitionists were people who were dedicated to freeing slaves and ending slavery Every time a new state was added to the U.S., there was bitter debate about whether it should be a “free state” or a “slave state” – people were worried about the balance of political power between the two sides

The Republican Party and Abraham Lincoln The Whig Party eventually collapsed from disagreements within the party on slavery A new opposition party to the Democratic Party was formed – the Republican Party (founded in 1854) The Republican Party was very anti-slavery, and supported more industrialization and modernization One of its most important early figures was Abraham Lincoln

Southern Secession and Civil War The southern states threatened to secede (become independent) from the U.S. if Lincoln was elected president Lincoln was elected president in 1860 South Carolina was the first state to secede, in December 1860 Many other southern states joined together to form the Confederate States of America The Civil War, between the North and the South, began in 1861