Sectionalism

Factors Giving Rise to Sectionalism Geography determines jobs jobs influence economic and social interests Different economic and social interests influence politics of the region

Sectional Specialization Different regions developed different economies –Industrial and Commercial North –Plantation South –Small- and medium-farm West

Industrialization of the Northeast Factory system expanded quickly because of War of 1812 Some iron production in PA New England = textiles –Top US Industry of the period –Samuel Slater brings spinning mill to U.S.

The Commercial and Industrial North Forests, harbors, and access to power sources helped shape economy Maritime, banking & manufacturing businesses developed Urbanization

Goals of Industrial Northeast Protective tariffs for domestic industry High-priced public lands to keep workers from migrating away from industrial Northeast Federally built internal improvements to expand home markets Favored strong banking system

Plantation South Cotton Gin increases productivity Indian Removal allows expansion Success of cotton leads to one-crop economy

The Plantation South Mainly agricultural w/ plantations Tobacco, rice, cotton Slave labor “King Cotton” the leading product Sought more farmland & slaves Indian Removal allowed expansion

Sectional Views of the South Favored: –cheap Western land in large parcels –expansion of slavery into new territories –state banks Opposed: –internal improvements –protective tariff

Diversified Farming in West Small farms slowly gave way to specialized farms –Small homesteads in West, plantations w/ slaves in SW Improved transportation allowed for marketing of surpluses Western goals included: –Low priced public lands to encourage settlement –Protective tariffs to stimulate growth of markets –Federally built internal improvements

Improvements in Transportation Demand created for better roads & canals Turnpikes & Public Roads Canals Steamboats

Clay’s American System Henry Clay’s plan for U.S. economic self-sufficiency Two part plan –Protective tariff & Natl. Bank to support Northeastern manufacturing –expanded road & canal system to unite the country West & South exchange food for Northern manufactured goods System never came into being due to sectional rivalries

Southern view of States’ Rights and Nullification Union was an agreement among the states States had right to determine constitutionality of federal laws States could nullify laws within their own borders

Northern view of States’ Rights and Nullification Nation a union of people, not states Federal govt. supreme over states Only Supreme Court could judge constitutionality “Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable.” - Webster

Slavery as a Sectional Interest Unprofitable in the North Abolition strong in the North Slavery integral to Southern economy A divisive issue in the first half of the 19th century - North v South

Politics for the People In the early U.S. - real democracy shunned by those in power By Democracy more appealing Tocqueville observes equality in America Common people had more say in politics & politicians had to play to them