Monroe's Blog

1. Sectionalism

The definition of sectionalism is a tendency among sections in bureaucracy to blindly focus on the interest of a section at the expense of the whole. In simpler terms, sectionalism is when a section of a bureaucracy is extremely focused on the best interest of one section, despite the fact it is not in the best interest of the other sections, or that they are possibly being negligent towards the needs of those sections. In the U.S., sectionalism became a major problem and the nation's fastest growing influence when Missouri applied for statehood in 1819. Most of those living in Missouri wanted slavery, but if that had happened, it would have upset the balance of power in the country, making 12 states allow slavery and 11 not. This issue was solved by the Missouri Compromise, which added two new states to the Union, Maine and Missouri. Maine would be a state that didn't allow slavery and Missouri would be a state that did allow slavery.





2. Daniel Webster

Daniel Webster was born on January 18, 1782, and lived a long, fulfilling 70 year life until October 24, 1852. He was a leading American politician during the U.S.'s antebellum era. He was a very prominent [important] political, figure of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. He started off his career through his defense of the New England shipping business/interests. His "nationalistic" views and efficiency led him to become an orator and influential Whig leader of the Second Party System. Despite his three failed attempts at Presidency, he held many important positions, including an attorney and Secretary of State.





3. Era of Good Feelings


The presidency of James Monroe is often referred to as "The Era of Good Feelings." This era started in 1817, after the War of 1812 was over. This was just an overall good period of time, when America was strengthening and growing as a united nation. Nationalism was surging, political rivalries were disappearing, and the nation was united under the Democratic-Republican Party. On top of all that, technology was advancing and the economy was growing. This era was short-lived though. After the Panic 1819 and the Missouri Compromise of 1820, the national mood grew less happy and the Era of Good Feelings came to a close.

4. Tariff of 1816

The Tariff of 1816, also known as the Dallas tariff, was a protective tariff introduced in 1816 in the U.S. and was in effect until 1824. It was placed on all imported British iron and textile goods. Many were upset by this tariff, but it shaped the Compromise of 1833. This in turn, ended the Nullification Crisis, in which South Carolina threatened to secede from the United States.

5. The American System

There are many different types of American Systems. The American System of manufacturing, involves semi-skilled labor using machine tools to produce products. The American School, also known as "National System," represents politics, policy, and philosophy.

6. McCulloch V. Maryland

McCulloch V. Maryland is the name used for a court case that occurred in 1819 and ended with the Supreme Court of the United States making a landmark decision that greatly affected America. The case started when the state of Maryland had imposed a tax on a branch of the Second Bank of the United States. When James McCulloch refused to pay this tax, the case was taken to court, then the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled that since the State governments didn't have authority over the federal government, and the federal government didn't authorize the tax, it had to be removed immediately.

7. Dartmouth College V. Woodward

Dartmouth College V. Woodward was an important Supreme Court case in 1819 that dealt with contracts with private corporations. It occurred when the state of New Hampshire attempted to change the college's charter and convert it from a private school to a public school. Of course, the school board took the case to court in hopes of the legislature's actions being declared unconstitutional. The Supreme Court did in fact, declare the act unconstitutional and declared that if you make a contract and both sides hold up their part of the deal, you must remain loyal to it until it expires.

8. Gibbons V. Ogden

Gibbons V. Ogden was yet another major Supreme Court case of the nineteenth century. It took place in New York/New Jersey in 1824, when New York and New Jersey were debating over who had the right to control Ellis Island and all the profit it made. They took the case to court, and each state hired some of America's most famous and capable attorney's at the time. Gibbons hired William Wirt and Daniel Webster, while Ogden hired Thomas Addis Emmet and Thomas J. Oakley. It was a suspenseful case as representatives from each state waited for the verdict. In the end, the Supreme Court ruled that since Ellis Island had been operated and owned byNew York for so long, it was still in their control, but they had to buy it at a set price of around $7,000,000.

9. Adams-Onis Treaty

The Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819 has meny names, including the Transconstitutional Treaty of 1819 and sometimes the Florida Purchase Treaty. It was a historical agreement between the United States and Spain that settled the border argument between the two nations. The treaty was a result of tension between the two nations regarding the boundaries of each, and along with expanding the U.S. into Florida it also distinguished boudaries along the Sabine River in Texas and extended the United States into the Rocky Mountains and to the Pacific Ocean.

10. Simon Bolivar

Simon Bolivar was born July 24, 1783 in Caracas, Captaincy General of Venezuela, and died December 17, 1830, in Santa Marta, Colombia. He was a leader of several independence movements in South America. These movements became known as Bolivar's War. Together with Jose de San Martin, Bolivar is considered as one of the Liberators of Spanish South America.

11. Miguel Hidalgo

Miguel Hidalgo was born on May 8, 1753, and died on July 30, 1811, at 58 years old. He is also knoan as Cura Hidalgo, Mexican priest and revolutionary rebel leader. He is considered the founder of the Mexican War of Independence Movement, and fought in the war against Spain in the early mineteenth century. In fact, he was such an important political figure of the early 1800's, that they named the state of Hidalgo in Mexico after him.

12. Monroe Doctrine

The Monroe Doctrine is a U.S. doctrine [political movement] that proclaimed that the affairs of the Europe would no longer interfere with those of the independent American nations. The U.S. planned to stay neutral in all European affairs. President James Monroe first stated the doctrine during his seventh annual State of the Union Address to Congress on December 2, 1823.

Madison's Blog

1. The Battle of Tippecanoe

The Battle of Tippecanoe was fought in 1811 between United States forces, led by Governor William Henry Harrison of the Indiana Territory, and Tecumseh's growing American Indian Nation. It took place just outside Prophetstown, which is near present-day Battle Ground, Indiana. The battle was an important part of what is sometimes called "Tecumseh's War," which continued into the War of 1812. Although the U.S. side suffered many casualties, the battle was an important political victory for the U.S. forces.

2. Nationalism

Nationalism, by definition, is devotion to national interests, unity, and independence. In its simplest terms, nationalism is extreme pride in a nation. There are many different types of nationalism, including civic [civil] nationalism, ethnic nationalism, and cultural nationalism. Civic nationalism is when the state gets its power from the "active participation of its citizenry," and represents "the will of the people." Ethnic nationalism, also known as ethnonationalism is when the nation is "defined" by ethnicity, including cultures shared between people and their ancestors. Finally, cultural nationalism is when membership in the nation is determined by culture, and members may be considered outsiders if they are part of a minority culture.

3. Henry Clay

Henry Clay was born on April 12, 1777, and lived until June 12, 2852, making him about 75 years old when he died. You're probably asking "What made this guy so important?" Well, he was a nineteenth century American statesman and orator [public speaker]. He represented the state of Kentucky in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. He was also an important figure in both the First Party [political] System, and the Second Party System after that, and as a War Hawk in Congress, serving as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, he made a huge impact during his first congressional term. Despite his many failed attempts at presidency, he was the idol of soon-to-be President, Abraham Lincoln.

4. John C. Calhoun

John Caldwell Calhoun from South Carolina, lived from March 18, 1782 until March 31, 1850, to be 68 years old. He was a leader in U.S. Southern politics and became a political philosopher during the first half of the nineteenth century. He was best known a spokesperson for slavery, nullification [the act of declaring a law null or void], and the rights of electoral minorities, like the Southern States, and the founder of the short-lived Confederate States of America. After a short term in the South Carolina legislature, Calhoun served in many high federal-government offices. He became the seventh Vice President of the United States, under J.Q. Adams, then Andrew Jackson, then a member of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate the Secretary of War under James Monroe, and the Secretary of State under John Tyler.

5. War Hawks

A War Hawk, by definition, is a term originally used to describe a member of the U.S. House of Representatives of the Twelfth Congress who advocated waging war against Great Britain in the War of 1812. War Hawks were mostly young Republicans from Southern and western sates. For example, Henry Clay of Kentucky was a War Hawk in congress, and he made a huge impact on America.

6. Impressment

Impressment is the act of signing people up to serve in the military or navy, usually by force and without notice. During the early 1800's, impressment of American sailors by England and France was a considerable issue, which eventually led up to the War of 1812. During the war, France agreed to stop impressing American sailors and seizing American ships in hopes to gain their help in the War, although Britain did not. Despite the continuing rivalry between England and America, the British stopped impressing sailors and seizing ships after Napoleon was defeated in 1814, and never resumed.

7. Tecumseh

Tecumseh was born in the year of 1768 and died on October 5, 1813. He was a famous Shawnee [American Indian] leader who spent most of his life desperately trying to recruit and unify Native American tribes to defend Indian territory from the Americans, who were expanding into Western lands. This was especially true after the Louisiana purchase. He was semi-successful, although his small Indian nation was eventually defeated in the War of 1812, when Tecumseh died.

8. The War of 1812

The War of 1812 (A.K.A. The American War of 1812 - said to distinguish it from the war with Napoleon 1 of France that happened the same year) started in 1812 and ended in 1814. It occurred on both land and sea. The war was fought between America and The United Kingdom & its colonies, including Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Bermuda, and parts of Canada. On June 18, 1812, America declared war on Britain for a number of reasons, especially for the seizing and impressing of American ships and sailors. By the end of the war, in 1814, both America and Britain had experienced a considerable number of casualties.

9. The Hartford Convention

The Hartford Convention took place in the U.S., 1815, during the War of 1812. New England citizenz so strongly opposed the War that their succession from the United States was discussed. This was the Hartford Convention. On December 15, 1814 delegation from all five New England stated were arranged to meet in Hartford, Connecticut. Althogh the seccesion never actually happened, the Hartford had a large impact on the New England states and their connections with the rest of America.

10. Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson, who lived from March 15, 1767 until June 8, 1845, was the 7th President of the United States. He was also the military Governor of Florida, and commander of the American forces at the battle of New Orleans. One major event that occurred during his presidency was the War of 1812. All of Jackson's accomplishments as a very important political figure of the nineteenth century, shaped the modern Democratic Party.

11. The Treaty of Ghent

The Treaty of Ghent was the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812 between America and the U.K. It was signed on December 24, 1814, in Ghent, Belgium. It greatly restored and improved relations between the two countries. It had a huge impact on the two countries, but due to the slow communication speed of that time, took two weeks for news of the treaty to reach America.