Transcript Monroe Administration

THE MONROE
ADMINISTRATION

James Monroe was
elected president in
1816. The time period
after the War of 1812
was known as the Era
of Good Feelings.
There were no major
political divisions
because the Federalist
Party had become too
weak to be effective.

There was,
however, a
growth in
sectionalism.
Sectionalism is
loyalty to a
region.

Americans saw
themselves first as
Southerners,
Northerners, or
Westerners and they
felt a strong allegiance
to their region. Their
regional loyalty grew
when differences of
opinion arose over
national issues.

These issues
included the
national bank,
internal
improvements
(like building
roads and
canals), and the
tariff.

The greatest conflict
between regions
seemed to be over
slavery. White
southerners believed
that slavery was an
economic necessity
while more and more
northerners opposed it.

Southerners used the
“states’ rights” argument
to protect slavery; the
Constitution reserves
certain rights for the
states, and southerners
argued that slavery was
a state, not federal,
issue.

Southerners
argued that the
national
government
abolishing slavery
would infringe
upon the rights of
the state and its
citizens.
Three powerful
Congressmen
became
spokespersons
for their regions-- John C. Calhoun
 Daniel Webster
 Henry Clay

JOHN C. CALHOUN

Southerner who had
been a Warhawk
and supported many
federalist programs.
His views changed
in the 1820’s; he
became a strong
supporter of states’
rights and opposed
high tariffs.
DANIEL WEBSTER

Northerner who
supported free
trade and tariffs to
protect American
industry. He was
one of America’s
greatest orators.
HENRY CLAY

From the West,
he became
known as the
Great
Compromiser
because he tried
to settle sectional
disputes through
compromise.

In the 1820’s,
sectional
differences
intensified over
the issue of
whether newly
admitted states
would allow
slavery.

Missouri, part of the
Louisiana Purchase,
applied for
statehood.
Southerners wanted
it admitted as a
slave state and
northerners wanted
it admitted as a free
state.

Members of Congress
wanted to maintain a
balance between slave
and free states.
Admitting Missouri as a
slave state would give
an advantage to
Southern states when
votes were taken in
Congress.
THE MISSOURI
COMPROMISE

Written by Henry
Clay
 Missouri entered as
a slave state.
 Maine entered as a
free state.
 Slavery was banned
in the remainder of
the Louisiana
Territory north of the
36 30 parallel.
SUPREME COURT CASES DURING
THE MONROE ADMINISTRATION

McCulloch v.
Maryland—upheld
the necessary and
proper clause or
elastic clause. The
Constitution
stretches to meet
the needs of the
times.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

President
Monroe’s goal
was to put an end
to disputes that
the United States
had with Britain
and Spain.
ADAMS-ONIS TREATY
Signed between Spain and the U.S.
 Spain gave Florida to the U.S.
 U.S. gave up claim to Spanish Texas.
 U.S. took responsibility for $5 million
debt owed to U.S. citizens by Spain.
 Border agreement between western
possessions, giving the U.S. a large
piece of the Pacific Northwest.


At the same time
Spain was losing
territory in North
America, many of
its Central and
South American
colonies were
having wars for
independence.
LATIN AMERICAN
REVOLUTIONARIES

Miguel Hidalgo—
Mexico
 Simon Bolivar—
Venezuela,
Colombia, Panama,
Bolivia, Ecuador
 Jose de San MartinChile and Peru

By 1824, most of
South America
was free from
Spanish control.

In 1822, the Spanish
government asked
other European
nations to help them
regain control of
their Latin American
colonies.

Because of the
possibility of
increased European
involvement in the
western
hemisphere,
President Monroe
issued the Monroe
Doctrine.
THE MONROE DOCTRINE

Stated that the U.S. would not interfere
with existing European colonies in the
western hemisphere, but would not
allow any new ones. Any attempt by
European powers to establish new
colonies or regain old ones would result
in a military response by the United
States.

The U.S. did not
have the military
capability to
enforce the
Monroe Doctrine,
but war-weary
European nations
did not challenge
the doctrine.

Latin American
leaders were wary—
it did not say that
the U.S. would not
interfere in the
Western
Hemisphere, only
that it would not
permit European
nations to do so.

The Monroe
Doctrine has
remained an
important part of
American foreign
policy for almost
200 years.