The Era of Good Feelings James Monroe, President

Missouri Compromise 1820 – Two territories wanted to become states. But would they be free states or slave states? Balance in the Congress was at stake – SLAVE vs. FREE was important!!!! Missouri came in as a slave state Maine came in as a free state It called for the new dividing line to be at the 36° 30’ latitude line. Any states north of the line would be free. States south would be slave.

Monroe Doctrine The U.S. warned European nations to keep out of the Western Hemisphere.

Mexican Independence 1821 – Mexico wins INDEPENDENCE from Spain!

Erie Canal – The Age of Canals Created a water route between Buffalo, New York and NYC Opened trade and created unity

Erie Canal

Andrew Jackson “Old Hickory” Democrat 2 Terms

Old Hickory

He represented the “common man.” “Jacksonian Democracy” Increased numbers of people could vote. They identified with Jackson and elected him.

He fired government workers and replaced them with his friends. Spoils System

Steam Locomotive The first steam train engine. Built by Peter Cooper Improved land transportation and opened up the West

Nullification Nullify – to invalidate, annul, void, cancel Southern states did not like northern tariffs (the Tariff of Abominations) so they decided they did not have to follow the law. Southern states thought Jackson would back them because he owned slaves. He told them to pay the tariff. Some southern states wanted to secede (break away) from the U.S.

TEXAS Independence 1836 Texas wins its independence from Mexico. Sam Houston becomes the first president of Texas.

Gibbons v. Ogden Supreme Court ruled that the Federal govt. has power to regulate trade between the states. Some people believed it gave the Federal govt. too much power.

Trail of Tears Native American groups lived between the Miss. River and Atlantic Ocean. Indian Removal Act forces them to relocate to Oklahoma. Worcester v. Georgia: Supreme Court rules that Cherokees cannot be forced to move from their lands. Jackson ignores decision and forces the Native Americans off of their lands. The forced march was known as the Trail of Tears. Thousands of Cherokee died of starvation, disease, and exposure (frostbite).

Abolitionists Abolition – elimination Wanted to eliminate slavery. William Lloyd Garrison begins writing a newspaper called the Liberator. Groups such as the Quakers and some freed slaves begin speaking against the practice of slavery.