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

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

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

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

5. US Presidents in Order

8. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

14. 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

17. 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

18. 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

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

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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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