1. The Monroe Presidency ► President 1817-1825 ► Monroe had cautious attitude toward governmental powers & was a “hands-off” leader ► He was the last of the “Revolutionary generation” to hold high office James Monroe Click

2. “Era of Good Feelings” ► A period of national harmony & political cooperation ► Early in his presidency, Monroe toured the United States to visit and meet Americans (George Washington was the last President to do this.)  Monroe paid his own expenses & tried to travel without an official escort  Former President John Adams commended Monroe’s “unassuming manner”

3. Nationalism ► Nationalism – pride and loyalty to a nation ► There were strong feelings of nationalism and unity during the “Era of Good Feelings.”

4. Sectionalism ► Sectionalism – loyalty to the region where you live ► Regional differences soon started to divide the nation ► People thought of themselves as Northerners, Southerners, or Westerners

5. Sectionalism - Differences ► The different U.S. regions disagreed on:  slavery  the need for tariffs (taxes on imports/ exports)  a national bank  internal improvements (funded projects such as canals and roads)

6. The South ► John C. Calhoun  SOUTH  Slavery  States’ Rights  War Hawk

7. The North ► Daniel Webster  NORTH  Free Trade  American Businesses  Tariffs  Great orator (speaker)

8. The West ► Henry Clay  WEST  War Hawk  Resolved disputes through compromise  Missouri Compromise  “American System”

9. The Panic of 1819 ► Economic recession began in 1818 ► Banks failed; unemployment and foreclosures soared ► Monroe took small actions ► Ended by 1823 Some Possible Causes: inflation, public debt from the War of 1812, beginning of American boom-and-bust economic cycle, and the Louisiana Purchase

10. “The American System” ► Henry Clay’s idea to boost the economy and prevent future problems included:  a protective tariff  a program of internal improvements (canals & roads)  national bank ► Many people disagreed with this plan & thought it favored wealthy business owners in the North. Very little of this plan went into effect.

11. Florida Cession - 1819 ► Florida ruled by Spain, but Spain had very little presence  Inhabited by pirates, outlaws (criminals), and Native Americans ► Seminole Indians attacked across the border (encouraged by British privateers)

12. Florida Cession ► Andrew Jackson “dealt with” the Native Americans and British  Troops invaded Florida  Jackson captured & hung British instigators British instigators ► U.S. negotiated with Spain for Florida ► Spain ceded Florida without a fight

13. The Missouri Controversy ► The South wanted Missouri admitted as a slave state. ► The North wanted Missouri admitted as a free state. ► Either way, power in the Senate would be unbalanced.

14. The Missouri Compromise - 1820 ► Question of whether to permit slavery in new states and territories ► No clear way to determine Missouri’s status ► Admission as a slave state would skew political balance

15. The Missouri Compromise ► Maine applied for admission at the same time ► Missouri admitted as a slave state, Maine as a free state ► Balance in Senate preserved ► Set 36º30' as boundary between slave and free territories 36º30'

16. The Monroe Doctrine - 1823 ► Stated that the U.S. would defend the Western Hemisphere from European interference ► The U.S. would not bother any existing European colonies but would oppose any new ones. ► Basically - “You stay in your hemisphere, we’ll stay in ours.”

17. Effect of the Monroe Doctrine ► Monroe changed U.S. foreign policy by stating that the United States would take action against European nations that tried to build new colonies in the Americas. ► It has remained an important part of U.S. foreign policy for over 180 years.