kevin dinicola period 5. thesis james monroe contributed to the development of the united states...
TRANSCRIPT
Kevin Dinicola
Period 5
Thesis
• James Monroe contributed to the development of the United States– Diplomatically by: Establishing important
foreign policies such as the Monroe Doctrine and the Adams-Onís Treaty
– Politically by: Ushering in the “Era of Good Feelings” and enacting domestic policy regarding sectionalism
– Economically by: Managing the ensuing depression and the “American System”
Background ofJames Monroe (1758-1831)
• Continued the “Virginia Dynasty”
• Served as a minister to France
• Was involved in the purchasing of the Louisiana Terr.
• Not a distinguished president
• Served two terms The American Pageant p. 242
DIPLOMATIC ISSUESForeign Relations and Policies
Adams-Onís Treaty - 1819
• Also Florida Purchase Treaty
• Spain’s troops were crushing revolutions in South America
• Andrew Jackson acquired permission to enter Florida to punish Indians & Slaves using Florida as a refuge
• Spanish ports seized
Adams-Onís Treaty - 1819
• Monroe and Cabinet were dismayed by Jackson’s actions
• Decided to use this opportunity to gain Spanish Florida (and some areas of land in Oregon)
• United States paid $5,000,000 in American claims against the Spanish
Cont.
Cession of Florida
http://medicolegal.tripod.com/mapus1803.jpg
Monroe Doctrine - 1823
• British offer alliance to U.S. to stop future colonization of the Americas– U.S. refused this offered alliance
• Monroe issued warning to European powers: Noncolonization and nonintervention
• Concerned with developing regions in Latin America
• Didn’t want foreign monarchial governments in the Americas
Monroe Doctrine - 1823
• European powers were angered at Monroe’s Doctrine– Held to Monroe Doctrine anyways
• Mainly for defense against future invasion of U.S.– Protection for new Latin American was
secondary concern
• Seldom invoked
Cont.
POLITICAL ISSUESPolitical Parties and the Slavery Question
The “Era of Good Feelings”
• Reflected the Democratic-Republican party’s gain of control
• James Monroe won election in landslide against federalists
• Applies to the administrations of Monroe
• Was abruptly interrupted– Panic of 1819
Problems with Sectionalism
• North and South divided by slavery– Equal free and slave states, equal power in
Senate
• Missouri wanted to enter the Union as slave state– Imbalance of power would be created
• Restrictions on Missouri slave trade could be placed to maintain a balance
• Resolved by Missouri Compromise
Missouri Compromise
• Missouri entered Union as an unrestricted slave state
• Maine entered as free state
• Mason-Dixon line divided the North and South for future free and slave states, respectively
• James Monroe himself tried to avoid debating this issue with Congress
North vs. South
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/slavery/slave-maps/mason-dixon-map-650.jpg
ECONOMIC ISSUESEconomic Crisis and Development
Panic of 1819
• Interrupted Monroe’s “Era of Good Feelings”
• First American economic depression
• Among other things, was caused by over speculation of the unsettled land to the west
• Lasted only a few years. A temporary setback– Remedied by proper legislation and creation of
new states
The “American System”
• Proposed by Henry Clay
• Government should fund the construction of interstate roads & canals and increase tariffs on imported goods to protect American business
• Monroe disliked the American system– Didn’t believe Congress had power to do this
The “American System”
• Monroe disagreed with first part of Clay’s System– Voted bills passed by Congress
• Monroe agreed part of the “American System”– Tariffs passed in 1818 and 1824 on imported
goods to protected budding businesses and manufacturers in America
Cont.