South Carolina The History of an American State Chapter 11: Sectionalism, States’ Rights, and Democracy ©2006 Clairmont Press

South Carolina The History of an American State Chapter 11: Sectionalism, States’ Rights, and Democracy Section 1: Sectionalism Section 2: States’ Rights and Democracy

Section 1: Sectionalism Essential Question How did sectional differences affect the American people after the War of 1812?

Section 1: Sectionalism What terms do I need to know? sectionalism free state slave state Missouri Compromise caucus mud-slinging platform spoils system

US Presidents in Order

A Southern Personality sectionalism: extreme loyalty to one’s region instead of the country as a whole Many southerners developed the myth that they were descended from important and wealthy English families – northerners were thought to be from poor Puritans Planters were described as noble and honorable Southern ladies were described as pure and proper The myth described slaves as loyal and childlike Many southerners encouraged the idea that their experiences were different from the northern ones

Growing Differences Differences with the north included: vegetation, climate, soil, and land regions – created differences in experiences and economies Southern states mostly farmers – cash crops (rice, tobacco, cotton) important to economy Rural southerners did not want or need a strong national government in their lives Northern states grew rapidly – immigrants poured into the region working in new factories Slavery was a big difference in the regions – legal in the south but not in the north

Growing Differences Invention of cotton gin caused increase in number of slaves Planters could make lots of money planting cotton using the gin with slave labor In S.C., Up Country and Low Country citizens worked to improve transportation and develop a huge cotton industry across the state The number of slaves in S.C. more than doubled from 1790 to 1820 More northerners began to speak out against slavery, but southerners felt they were being pushed around As the country grew westward, a new section, “the West” added another side to America’s sectionalism

The Missouri Compromise In 1819, the numbers of slave and free states represented in the Senate were equal – no side could force the other on the slavery issue Missouri wanted to enter the U.S.A. as a slave state – northern states did not want this so Maine was allowed to enter as a free state to maintain balance Also, slavery would not be allowed north of Missouri’s southern border John C. Calhoun (S.C.) was for the compromise and as Secretary of War supported it to President Monroe Charles Pinckney (S.C.) was in Congress and believed that the states should decide the slavery issue for themselves

The Election of 1824 Issues in S.C. were falling cotton prices and slave revolts Calhoun wanted to run for president, but many in S.C. believed he did not pay enough attention to his state and region John Quincy Adams was elected president; Calhoun was elected Vice President Andrew Jackson lost the election and was bitter – began campaigning for 1828 election

A Split in the Republican Party The fight for president split the Republicans National Republicans: President Adams and his supporters Democratic-Republicans: Andrew Jackson and his supporters Jackson was seen as a “common man”; however, he was a wealthy planter Jackson worked to get support from uneducated, average men – talked against “the rich” Jackson won the 1828 election, but John C. Calhoun (S.C.) remained as vice president Brain Pop - Andrew Jackson

The People’s Government As president, Jackson wanted all men to have the right to vote, not just property owners Democrats had a new kind of campaign – barbecues, parades, rallies, and “mud-slinging” spoils system: appointing people to jobs in the government based on their loyalty not their experience or qualifications “kitchen cabinet”: friends of Jackson who had no government job but served as unofficial advisors “King Andrew”: name given to Jackson because he tended to do what he wanted to do Calhoun became his bitter enemy and resigned as vice president

Section 2: States’ Rights and Democracy Essential Question How did economics play a role in people’s attitudes towards government?

Section 2: Growing Tensions in the Colonies What terms do I need to know? treason Nullifiers Unionists capital test oath

The Nullification Crisis Calhoun believed strongly in states’ rights – Jackson believed in a strong national government National tariff (1816): tax on foreign goods to make it cheaper to buy American products The tariff caused prices in S.C. to rise over time and did not increase the amount of manufacturing jobs Great Britain did not like the tariff and threatened to stop importing cotton from S.C. Calhoun wrote The South Carolina Exposition and Protest – it said the states could nullify a tariff by special convention

A National Debate on Nullification By 1830, the senate was having tough debates about states’ rights and the power of the federal government Southerners believed that a state could nullify (cancel) any federal law or even secede (leave) the Union President Jackson was against nullification Vice-President Calhoun believed that nullification was an option for the states

South Carolina and Nullification Nullifiers: people who believed in the nullification option (known as States Rights & Free Trade party) Unionists: States Rights & Union Party in S.C. Nullifiers won most of the seats in the 1832 S.C. General Assembly – had enough votes to nullify the tariff General Assembly voted to ignore the tariff and to secede if the federal government tried to force them to collect the tax President Jackson prepared to send troops to S.C. Senators worked out a compromise in 1833 before any shots were fired

The Second Bank of the United States Bank that held the nation’s money It made loans and tried to regulate state’s banks Jackson did not like the bank and did not allow it to stay open – moved government money to state banks Without the national bank, many other banks lost the ability to do business and failed – “Panic of 1839” 1839: economic depression – in S.C. many farmers lost their farms Price of cotton fell and did not recover People blamed President Van Buren for the depression even though it was Jackson who created the problems

Opposition to Jackson Whig party started to oppose Jackson S.C. Nullifiers worked to destroy the Unionists test oath: candidates would be required to swear an oath of loyalty to the nation – Nullifiers wanted an oath to S.C. to be above the U.S. Calhoun grew more powerful in S.C. controlling most state politics The Whig party lasted only until the Civil War