Unit 4 – American Expansion (1800-1848)

• Relationships with Foreign:

  • Since the 1970s, the U.S. government has paid tribute to the barbary states of North Africa in exchange for their protection of American merchant ships
  • This was a policy put in place by prior Federalist presidents (Washington and Adams). But, Jefferson was oppsed to this policy and stopped it
• After Jefferson stopped the policy with the barbary states, the barbary pirates began attacking U.S. merchant ships. As a response, Jefferson sent the U.S. Navy to retaliate. To avoid an outbreak of war, Jefferson's administration negotiated a reduced payment to the barbary states.
• Democratic-Republicans desired to restrict federal power (opposite of Federalists)
• Democratic-Republicans adopted a strict constructionist view of the Constitution. The federal government was only able to do what was explicitly listed in the Constitution.
• Federalists were loose constructionists, meaning they believed the federal government had a lot more flexibility with the written word of the Constitution.
• As a result of the Haitian Revolution, Jefferson saw an opportunity to gain navigation rights on the Mississippi River in New Orleans, which was French territory.
• James Monroe was sent to France with 2 million dollars to secure those navigation rights from Napoleon. However, now that Haiti was lost, Napoleon had little use for the Louisiana Territory. So, he offered America the territory for 15 million dollars. Monroe took the deal
• Since Jefferson was a strict constructionist and the Constitution doesn't state that the president can buy land, he justified the Louisiana Purchase to himself by arguing that by owning the land, the Indians could be removed further westward, and it would cut off European influence in the region and open up trading.
• Federalists envisioned a manufacturing economy while Democratic-Republicans an agricultural one.
• Marbury vs. Madison

  • On his way out of office, Adams appointed several Federalist judges, one of whom was William Marbury. This move was to ensure continued Federalist influence in the courts after the shift in power.
  • Jefferson wasn't too happy about this, so his secretary of state, James Madison, refused to deliver those appointments. The court agreed with Marbury (he deserves a spot).
  • However, judicial review called the Judiciary Act (which this whole thing was based on) unconstitutional. So, Marbury didn't get his appointment.
• We can see that with judicial review, the power of the supreme court increased. And, it will continue to increase
• As a result of McCulloch vs. Maryland, the Supreme Court decided that federal law trumps state law.
• War of 1812 Causes

  • Britain vs. France - America wanted to remain neutral, but Britain and France were both seizing American merchant ships
  • Americans moving westward had problems with the Natives, and Americans believed the British encouraged Native resistance
  • British Impressment - British ships were forcibly capturing Americans and forcing them to serve in the Royal Navy. They were still doing this after American Independence
• In June of 1812, America declared war on Britain. The Democratic-Republicans supported the war effort, while the Federalists hated it.
• The Federalists so opposed the war that they met at the Hartford Convention to discuss how to end the war. They also discussed that as a result of the war, New England should secede from the Union. Some also thought of rejoining Britain
• War of 1812 consequences

  • Victory led to an increase in nationalism among Americans
  • Final demise of the Federalist Party. Because everyone was rejoicing in victory, it seemed that the Federalists were not of American reality. This led to the era of good feeling, where everyone was supposedly united under one political party.
• Even though the U.S. won the war, it showed the nation's glaring weaknesses. Since Democratic-Republicans had let the National Bank Charter expire in 1811, there was no national bank. This meant that it was difficult to raise funds without a reliable source of credit.
• Additionally, without a reliable means of infrastructure and transportation, they found it very difficult to move men and supplies for the war effort.
• Henry Clay's American System


  • Goal was to unify the American economy
  • Federally funded internal improvements (this did not pass, the other two did)
  • Implementation of protective tariffs (protect the U.S. manufacturers)
  • Re-establish Bank of the United States
• Missouri Compromise

  • Missouri wanted to become a state however there was debate whether it would be a slave or free state.
  • To preserve the free state, slave state balance in the Senate, Missouri was added as a slave state and Maine as a free state.
  • Also, the southern border of Missouri was decided to form a line that separated slave states and free states (below - slave above - free)
• The major goals of the U.S. during this time period (1800-1848) were to gain more territory and firm our boundaries.
• In 1816, James Monroe won the presidency and sent John Quincy Adams to London to settle some territorial claims. Adams negotiated treaties that established the border between Canada and the U.S. Also, he established joint U.S.-British occupation of the Oregon Territory
• Because Monroe wanted to limit the influence of Spain on the continent, he had Adams negotiate the Adams-Onis Treaty. This sold Spanish Florida to the U.S. and established the nation's southern border.
• Market Revolution: the linking of northern industries with western and southern farms, which was created by advances in agriculture, industry, communication, and transportation.
• American System of Manufacturing:

  • machines
  • division of labor into small repeatable tasks performed by unskilled laborers
  • mass production
• The building of canals, such as the Erie Canal allowed for the transportation of goods over longer distances
• By the 1820s and 30s, railroads began to replace canals. Local and state governments helped fund the construction of these railroads. As a result of these railroads, the U.S. economy became more interconnected.
• American cities blew up population-wise. Large immigrant influx
• Urban areas were transformed (there was a growing urban poor) and health conditions were horrible in the cities
• Many immigrants formed communities that were similar to their communities back home. For example, Jewish people established synagogues. Also, you have Little Italy, etc.
• The growing middle class led to an increase in leisure activities. For example, circuses, etc.
• Cult of Domesticity

  • Norm: women's identity and purpose resolved around childbearing and making her home a haven of rest for her husband
  • Mostly seen in middle class families
• The husband's purpose was to work and bring food to the table
• In lower classes, women had to work in order for the family's survival.
• Voting was limited to property-owning white males. As the century progressed, however, the right to vote became a demand by lower classes, such as small farmers.
• Panic of 1819 causes


  • irresponsible banking practices
  • decreased in demand for exported American goods
• Panic of 1819 effects


  • It was laboring men who were hit hardest by this panic. They wanted to hold the politicians accountable but couldn't because they didn't have the right to vote. The movement grew and grew and eventually, most states lowered the qualifications for voting
• With the influx of new voters, there was a realignment of political parties. For instance, the election of 1824 led to a split in the Democratic-Republican Party. The two factions were: National Republicans and the Democrats
• National Republicans held this expansive view of federal power (basically loose constructionists) while the Democrats held this restrictive view of federal power (basically strict constructionists)
• Nominees for President:

  National Republicans: Quincy Adams and Henry Clay

  Democrats: Andrew Jackson