1. A Growing Sense of Nationhood
Chapter 13

2. I. Developing a Nation in a Land of Differences
American Landscape in the Early 1800s
2/3 of Americans lived within 50 miles of Atlantic Coast
Land between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi was “the west”
Travel ( of anything) was difficult and slow
Regional lifestyles developed
Yankees (northeast) – enterprising, thrifty, growing cities and bustling trade
Plantation owners of South – gracious, cultured, lazy
Frontiersmen (west) – rugged, hardy, crude
Symbols & Values
After British burned Washington, Congress had architects rebuild in style that would rival buildings of Europe
“Uncle Sam” (a butcher) had provided army with meat during War of 1812 (legend)
Americans saw themselves devoted to individualism and equality

4. II. Politics: Era of Good Feelings
Economic Nationalism
Congressman Henry Clay thought future lay in capitalism but also believed the national government had a role to play in encouraging economic growth
High tariffs to protect industry
Federal spending on transportation projects
National bank to standardize currency and provide credit (1816 – 2nd Bank of US)

5. II. Politics: Era of Good Feelings
Judicial Nationalism
Chief Justice John Marshall – most important court decisions in history,
2 major impacts
1- Strengthened the role of the Court, as well as federal power over states
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) – Court confirmed Congress’s power to create a national bank free from state interference
2- Encouraged the growth of capitalism
Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) – Court struck down a monopoly that NY had granted to steamboat company operating between NY and NJ. Only Congress had authority to regulate interstate commerce
End of the Era
1824 – 4 candidates competed for President
Ended up in hands of the House of Representatives
House elected John Quincy Adams
Those who rallied around Andrew Jackson created “Democrats”

6. Era of Good Feelings

7. III. Early American Art Folk art Portraits Landscapes
Simple, direct, often colorful
Weathervanes, quilts, flags
Portraits
1. Gilbert Stuart – painted Washington, used for picture on dollar
Landscapes
Thomas Cole – American landscapes
John Audubon – 435 detailed portraits of birds
George Catlin – Native Americans’ traditional ways

9. IV. Early American Music
In the North
Orchestras played classical music from Europe
Formal dancing
In the South
Slaves combined the hymns of white churchgoers with African musical styles to create spirituals
Square dances
Patriotic Anthems
1. Grew with demand for popular songs
Minstrel Songs
1. Honored black music by mimicking it but also mocked African Americans by making themselves look like them

10. V. Early American Literature
Washington Irving
Drew on German folklore but set them in upstate NY
“Rip Van Winkle”, “Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
James Fenimore Cooper
Wrote about the adventures of rugged frontiersmen venturing into the wilderness
Last of the Mohicans
Davy Crockett
real-life frontiersman who spun tall tales about his life as a hunter, scout, soldier, explorer
His autobiography gave literature an American accent
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
First American poet
Touched on patriotic themes – “Paul Revere’s Ride”