The Return of Sectionalism and the Rise of Andrew Jackson

Unit 4, Lesson 4

Essential Idea

• Sectionalism returned as the country expanded and evolved and when Andrew Jackson rose to power.

Era of Good Feelings?

• Misnomer?• Even during the “Era of

Good Feelings,” signs of sectionalism arose

• Sectionalism- growing separation and tension between the North and South (and West)

North vs. South: Federal Power• Issue #1:• Federal Power• North’s View:• Strong federal government,

weak state governments• South’s View:• Weak federal government,

strong state governments• Why Sectionalism

Increased:• John Marshall’s rulings

strengthened federal power over states

• The South feared a strong federal government threatened slavery

North vs. South: Vision for Country

• Issue #2: • Vision for Country• North’s View:• Economy based on

manufacturing and commerce

• South’s View:• Economy based on

agrarianism—especially slavery-based cotton

North vs. South: American System

• Why Sectionalism Increased:• Federal policies, like the American

System, favored manufacturing and commerce

• The South and West did not trust the BUS

• The South hated protective tariffs and had fewer internal improvements

North vs. South: Westward Expansion

• Issue #3: • Westward Expansion• North’s View:• Did not want slavery to expand

westward• South’s View:• Wanted slavery to expand

westward• Why Sectionalism Increased:• North and South disagreed on

future of slavery in America• Imbalance between free and

slave states would allow one side to dominate in Congress

The Missouri Compromise (1820)• Conflict:• Missouri wanted to be admitted as a slave state, which would upset the balance• Tension rose because this would upset the free/slave state balance in Congress• Compromise:• Missouri Compromise• Proposed by Henry Clay, the “Great Compromiser”

The Missouri Compromise (1820)• Terms:• Part 1:• Missouri admitted as a slave state,

Maine admitted as a free state• Effect:• Free and slave states stayed equal in

number• Part 2:• 36’30⁰ Line- divided the rest of the

Louisiana Territory• Future state above the line would be

free• Future states below the line would be

slave• Effect: • Issue of slavery in the West temporarily

settled, easing tension• Missouri Compromise

Election of 1824

• Major Candidates in 1824:

• Andrew Jackson- “Old Hickory,” the war hero

• Andrew Jackson• John Quincy Adams-

son of ex-president John Adams

• Henry Clay- “Great Compromiser,” developer of the American System

The Election Hits a Snag

• Initial Results:• Jackson won

the most electoral votes, but no one won the MAJORITY

• The election was decided in the House of Representatives

The “Corrupt Bargain”• The “Corrupt Bargain:”• In the House, Clay gave

his votes to Adams, who became president

• Adams made Clay his secretary of state

• Jackson was furious and called it a “corrupt bargain”

Political Parties Return• Political Parties Return:• The Democratic-Republican

party split• The two-party system and

political tension returned • New Party:• Democrats• Supported:• Andrew Jackson• Location of Supporters: • South and West• Government Power:• Weak federal, strong states

Political Parties Return

• New Party:• Whigs• Supported:• Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams• Location of Supporters:• North• Government Power:• Strong federal, weak states

Universal White Male Suffrage• Universal White Male

Suffrage:• From 1824 to 1828, many

states dropped their property requirements for voting

• Consequences:• Universal White Male

Suffrage- white men, even poor (“common”), could vote

• This gave the “common man” more influence in elections

• The common man loved Andrew Jackson

Election of 1828• Candidates in 1828:• Democrats- Andrew Jackson• Whigs- John Quincy Adams • Impact of Universal White Male Suffrage:• Jackson got more votes than in 1824 because he

appealed to the common man, who could now vote• Candidates had to campaign for the first time to attract

votes from the common man• Mudslinging- candidates used negative criticism of each

other to attract votes

Election of 1828• Results:• Jackson won

easily• Sectionalism

returned to politics

• Jackson’s election helped usher in the “Era of the Common Man”