IX
WAR AND PEACE, 1812-1829
Books for Study and Reading
References.--Higginson's Larger History, 365-442;
Scribner's Popular History, IV; Lossing's Field-Book of
the War of 1812; Coffin's Building the Nation,
149-231.
Home Readings.--Barnes's Yankee Ships; Roosevelt's
Naval War of 1812; Seawell's Midshipman Paulding;
Holmes's Old Ironsides; Goodwin's Dolly Madison.
CHAPTER 25
THE SECOND WAR OF INDEPENDENCE, 1812 1815
American plan of campaign, 1812.
Objections to it.
260. Plan of Campaign, 1812.--The American plan of
campaign was that General Hull should invade Canada from Detroit.
He could then march eastward, north of Lake Erie, and meet another
army which was to cross the Niagara River. These two armies were to
take up the eastward march and join a third army from New York. The
three armies then would capture Montreal and Quebec and generally
all Canada. It was a splendid plan. But there were three things in
the way of carrying it out: (i) there was no trained American army;
(2) there were no supplies for an army when gathered and trained;
and (3) there was a small, well-trained and well-supplied army in
Canada.
[Illustration: DETROIT, ABOUT 1815.]
Hull's march to Detroit.
His misfortunes.
He surrenders Detroit, 1812.
261. Hull's Surrender of Detroit, 1812.--In those days
Detroit was separated from the settled parts of Ohio by two hundred
miles of wilderness. To get his men and supplies to Detroit, Hull
had first of all to cut a road through the forest. The British
learned of the actual declaration of war before Hull knew of it.
They dashed down on his scattered detachments and seized his
provisions. Hull sent out expedition after expedition to gather
supplies and bring in the scattered settlers. Tecumthe and the
other Indian allies of the British captured one expedition after
another. The British advanced on Detroit, and Hull surrendered. By
this disaster the British got control of the upper lakes. They even
invaded Ohio.
[Illustration: PERRY'S BATTLE FLAG.]
Battle of Lake Erie 1813. McMaster, 234-235.
Battle of the Thames, 1813.
262. Perry's Victory on Lake Erie, 1813.--But the British
triumph did not last long. In the winter of 1812-13 Captain Oliver
Hazard Perry built a fleet of warships on Lake Erie. They were
built of green timber cut for the purpose. They were poor vessels,
but were as good as the British vessels. In September, 1813, Perry
sailed in search of the British ships. Coming up with them, he
hoisted at his masthead a large blue flag with Lawrence's immortal
words, "Don't give up the ship" (p. 212), worked upon it. The
battle was fiercely fought. Soon Perry's flagship, the
Lawrence, was disabled and only nine of her crew were
uninjured. Rowing to another ship, Perry continued the fight. In
fifteen minutes more all the British ships surrendered. The control
of Lake Erie was now in American hands. The British retreated from
the southern side of the lake. General Harrison occupied Detroit.
He then crossed into Canada and defeated a British army on the
banks of the river Thames (October, 1813).
[Illustration: THE "CONSTITUTION." From an early painting of the
escape of the Constitution from the British fleet. The men
in the boat are preparing to carry out a small anchor.]
The Constitution.
Chased by a British fleet, 1812.
She escapes.
263. The Frigate Constitution.--One of the first
vessels to get to sea was the Constitution, commanded by
Isaac Hull. She sailed from Chesapeake Bay for New York, where she
was to serve as a guard-ship. On the way she fell in with a British
squadron. The Constitution sailed on with the whole British
fleet in pursuit. Soon the wind began to die away. The
Constitution's sails were soaked with water to make them
hold the wind better. Then the wind gave out altogether, Captain
Hull lowered his boats and the men began to tow the ship. But the
British lowered their boats also. They set a great many boats to
towing their fastest ship, and she began to gain on the
Constitution. Then Captain Hull found that he was sailing
over shoal water, although out of sight of land, so he sent a small
anchor ahead in a boat. The anchor was dropped and men on the ship
pulled in the anchor line. This was done again and again. The
Constitution now began to gain on the British fleet. Then a
sudden squall burst on the ships. Captain Hull saw it coming and
made every preparation to take advantage of it. When the rain
cleared away, the Constitution was beyond fear of pursuit.
But she could not go to New York, so Captain Hull took her to
Boston. The government at once ordered him to stay where he was;
but, before the orders reached Boston, the Constitution was
far away.
Constitution and Guerrière,
1812.
Reasons for the victory.
264. Constitution and Guerrière,
1812.--For some time Hull cruised about in the Gulf of St.
Lawrence. One day he sighted a British frigate--the
Guerrière--one of the ships that had chased the
Constitution. But now that Hull found her alone, he steered
straight for her. In thirty minutes from the firing of the first
gun the Guerrière was a ruinous wreck. All of her
masts and spars were shot away and most of her crew were killed or
wounded. The Constitution was only slightly injured, and was
soon ready to fight another British frigate, had there been one to
fight. Indeed, the surgeons of the Constitution went on
board of the Guerrière to help dress the wounds of
the British seamen. The Guerrière was a little
smaller than the Constitution and had smaller guns. But the
real reason for this great victory was that the American ship and
the American guns were very much better handled than were the
British ship and the British guns.
Wasp and the Frolic.
Effect of these victories.
265. The Wasp and the Frolic, 1812.--At
almost the same time the American ship Wasp captured the
British brig Frolic. The Wasp had three masts, and
the Frolic had only two masts. But the two vessels were
really of about the same size, as the American ship was only five
feet longer than her enemy, and had the lighter guns. In a few
minutes after the beginning of the fight the Frolic was a
shattered hulk, with only one sound man on her deck. Soon after the
conflict a British battleship came up and captured both the
Wasp and her prize. The effect of these victories of the
Constitution and the Wasp was tremendous. Before the
war British naval officers had called the Constitution "a
bundle of sticks." Now it was thought to be no longer safe for
British frigates to sail the seas alone. They must go in pairs to
protect each other from "Old Ironsides." Before long the
Constitution, now commanded by Captain Bainbridge, had
captured the British frigate Java, and the frigate United
States, Captain Decatur, had taken the British ship
Macedonian. On the other hand, the Chesapeake was
captured by the Shannon. This victory gave great
satisfaction to the British. But Captain Lawrence's last words,
"Don't give up the ship," have always been a glorious inspiration
to American sailors.
[Illustration]
Plan of campaign, 1814.
Battle of Lundy's Lane, 1814.
266. Brown's Invasion of Canada, 1814.--In the first two
years of the war the American armies in New York had done nothing.
But abler men were now in command. Of these, General Jacob Brown,
General Macomb, Colonel Winfield Scott, and Colonel Ripley deserve
to be remembered. The American plan of campaign was that Brown,
with Scott and Ripley, should cross the Niagara River and invade
Canada. General Macomb, with a naval force under McDonough, was to
hold the line of Lake Champlain. The British plan was to invade New
York by way of Lake Champlain. Brown crossed the Niagara River and
fought two brilliant battles at Chippewa and Lundy's Lane. The
latter battle was especially glorious because the Americans
captured British guns and held them against repeated attacks by
British veterans. In the end, however, Brown was obliged to
retire.
Invasion of New York.
Battle of Plattsburg, 1814.
267. McDonough's Victory at Plattsburg, 1814.--General
Prevost, with a fine army of veterans, marched southward from
Canada, while a fleet sailed up Lake Champlain. At Plattsburg, on
the western side of the lake, was General Macomb with a force of
American soldiers. Anchored before the town was McDonough's fleet.
Prevost attacked Macomb's army and was driven back. The British
fleet attacked McDonough's vessels and was destroyed. That put an
end to Prevost's invasion. He retreated back to Canada as fast as
he could go.
[Illustration: FORT McHENRY.]
Burning of Washington, 1814.
"The Star-Spangled Banner."
268. The British in the Chesapeake, 1814.--Besides their
operations on the Canadian frontier, the British tried to capture
New Orleans and the cities on Chesapeake Bay. The British landed
below Washington. They marched to the capital. They entered
Washington. They burned the Capitol, the White House, and several
other public buildings. They then hurried away, leaving their
wounded behind them. Later on the British attacked Baltimore and
were beaten off with great loss. It was at this time that Francis
Scott Key wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner." He was detained on
board one of the British warships during the fight. Eagerly he
watched through the smoke for a glimpse of the flag over Fort
McHenry at the harbor's mouth. In the morning the flag was still
there. This defeat closed the British operations on the
Chesapeake.
[Illustration: FLAG OF FORT McHENRY. Fifteen stars and fifteen
stripes--one of each for each state.]
Jackson's Creek campaign, 1814.
269. The Creek War.--The Creek Indians lived in Alabama.
They saw with dismay the spreading settlements of the whites. The
Americans were now at war. It would be a good chance to destroy
them. So the Creeks fell upon the whites and murdered about four
hundred. General Andrew Jackson of Tennessee commanded the American
army in the Southwest. As soon as he knew that the Creeks were
attacking the settlers, he gathered soldiers and followed the
Indians to their stronghold. He stormed their fort and killed most
of the garrison.
[Illustration: BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS. From a sketch by one of
Jackson's staff.]
Battle of New Orleans, 1815.
Hero Tales, 139-147.
270. Jackson's Defense of New Orleans, 1814-15.--Jackson
had scarcely finished this work when he learned of the coming of a
great British expedition to the mouth of the Mississippi River. He
at once hastened to the defense of New Orleans. Below the city the
country greatly favored the defender. For there was very little
solid ground except along the river's bank. Picking out an
especially narrow place, Jackson built a breastwork of cotton bales
and rubbish. In front of the breastwork he dug a deep ditch. The
British rushed to the attack. Most of their generals were killed or
wounded, and the slaughter was terrible. Later, they made another
attack and were again beaten off.
Naval combats, 1814.
271. The War on the Sea, 1814.--It was only in the first
year or so of the war that there was much fighting between American
and British warships. After that the American ships could not get
to sea, for the British stationed whole fleets off the entrances to
the principal harbors. But a few American vessels ran the blockade
and did good service. For instance, Captain Charles Stewart in the
Constitution captured two British ships at one time. But
most of the warships that got to sea were captured sooner or
later.
The privateers. Hero Tales, 129-136.
272. The Privateers.--No British fleets could keep the
privateers from leaving port. They swarmed upon the ocean and
captured hundreds of British merchantmen, some of them within sight
of the shores of Great Britain. In all, they captured more than
twenty-five hundred British ships. They even fought the smaller
warships of the enemy.
Treaty of peace, 1814.
273. Treaty of Ghent, 1814.--The war had hardly begun
before commissioners to treat for peace were appointed by both the
United States and Great Britain. But they did nothing until the
failure of the 1814 campaign showed the British government that
there was no hope of conquering any portion of the United States.
Then the British were ready enough to make peace, and a treaty was
signed at Ghent in December, 1814. This was two weeks before the
British disaster at New Orleans occurred, and months before the
news of it reached Europe. None of the things about which the war
was fought were even mentioned in the treaty. But this did not
really make much difference. For the British had repealed their
orders as to American ships before the news of the declaration of
war reached London. As for impressment, the guns of the
Constitution had put an end to that.
[Illustration: THE OLD STATE HOUSE. Where the Hartford
Convention met.]
New England Federalists.
Hartford Convention, 1814.
274. The Hartford Convention, 1814.--While the New
commissioners were talking over the treaty of peace, other debaters
were discussing the war, at Hartford, Connecticut. These were
leading New England Federalists. They thought that the government
at Washington had done many things that the Constitution of the
United States did not permit it to do. They drew up a set of
resolutions. Some of these read like those other resolutions drawn
up by Jefferson and Madison in 1798 (p. 175). The Hartford debaters
also thought that the national government had not done enough to
protect the coasts of New England from British attacks. They
proposed, therefore, that the taxes collected by the national
government in New England should be handed over to the New England
states to use for their defense. Commissioners were actually at
Washington to propose this division of the national revenue when
news came of Jackson's victory at New Orleans and of the signing of
the Treaty of Ghent. The commissioners hastened home and the
Republican party regained its popularity with the voters.
[Illustration: A REPUBLICAN SQUIB ON THE HARTFORD
CONVENTION.]
Gains of the war.
The American nation.
275. Gains of the War.--The United States gained no
territory after all this fighting on sea and land. It did not even
gain the abolition of impressment in so many words. But what was of
far greater importance, the American people began to think of
itself as a nation. Americans no longer looked to France or to
England as models to be followed. They became Americans. The
getting of this feeling of independence and of nationality was a
very great step forward. It is right, therefore, to speak of this
war as the Second War of Independence.
[Illustration: JAMES MONROE.]
CHAPTER 26
THE ERA OF GOOD FEELING, 1815-1824
Monroe elected President, 1816, 1820.
Characteristics of the Era of Good Feeling. McMaster,
260.
276. The Era as a Whole.--The years 1815-24 have been
called the Era of Good Feeling, because there was no hard political
fighting in all that time--at least not until the last year or two.
In 1816 Monroe was elected President without much opposition. In
1820 he was reëlected President without any opposition
whatever. Instead of fighting over politics, the people were busily
employed in bringing vast regions of the West under cultivation and
in founding great manufacturing industries in the East. They were
also making roads and canals to connect the Western farms with the
Eastern cities and factories. The later part of the era was a time
of unbounded prosperity. Every now and then some hard question
would come up for discussion. Its settlement would be put off, or
the matter would be compromised. In these years the Federalist
party disappeared, and the Republican party split into factions. By
1824 the differences in the Republican party had become so great
that there was a sudden ending to the Era of Good Feeling.
Hard times, 1816-18.
Emigration to the West, 1816-18. McMaster, 241, 266-273.
Four states admitted, 1816-1819.
Maine and Missouri apply for admission.
277. Western Emigration.--During the first few years of
this period the people of the older states on the seacoast felt
very poor. The shipowners could no longer make great profits. For
there was now peace in Europe, and European vessels competed with
American vessels. Great quantities of British goods were sent to
the United States and were sold at very low prices. The demand for
American goods fell off. Mill owners closed their mills. Working
men and women could find no work to do. The result was a great rush
of emigrants from the older states on the seaboard to the new
settlements in the West. In the West the emigrants could buy land
from the government at a very low rate, and by working hard could
support themselves and their families. This westward movement was
at its height in 1817. In the years 1816--19, four states were
admitted to the Union. These were Indiana (1816), Mississippi
(1817), Illinois (1818), and Alabama (1819). Some of the emigrants
even crossed the Mississippi River and settled in Missouri and in
Arkansas. In 1819 they asked to be admitted to the Union as the
state of Missouri, or given a territorial government under the name
of Arkansas. The people of Maine also asked Congress to admit them
to the Union as the state of Maine.
Objections to the admission of Missouri.
278. Opposition to the Admission of Missouri.--Many
people in the North opposed the admission of Missouri because the
settlers of the proposed state were slaveholders. Missouri would be
a slave state, and these Northerners did not want any more slave
states. Originally slavery had existed in all the old thirteen
states. But every state north of Maryland had before 1819
either put an end to slavery or had adopted some plan by which
slavery would gradually come to an end. Slavery had been excluded
from the Northwest by the famous Ordinance of 1787 (p. 135).
In these ways slavery had ceased to be a vital institution north of
Maryland and Kentucky. Why should slavery be allowed west of the
Mississippi River? Louisiana had been admitted as a slave state
(1812). But the admission of Louisiana had been provided for in the
treaty for the purchase of Louisiana from France. The Southerners
felt as strongly on the other side. They said that their slaves
were their property, and that they had a perfect right to take
their property and settle on the land belonging to the nation.
Having founded a slave state, it was only right that the state
should be admitted to the Union.
[Illustration: (Map) Missouri Compromise of 1820]
This Missouri Compromise, 1820. Higginson,
254-256; Eggleston, 258-261.
Both states admitted, 1820. McMaster,274-276.
279. The Missouri Compromise, 1820.--When the question of
the admission of Maine and Missouri came before Congress, the
Senate was equally divided between the slave states and the free
states. But the majority of the House of Representatives was from
the free states. The free states were growing faster than were the
slave states and would probably keep on growing faster. The
majority from the free states in the House, therefore, would
probably keep on increasing. If the free states obtained a majority
in the Senate also, the Southerners would lose all control of the
government. For these reasons the Southerners would not consent to
the admission of Maine as a free state unless at the same time
Missouri was admitted as a slave state. After a long struggle Maine
and Missouri were both admitted--the one as a free state, the other
as a slave state. But it was also agreed that all of the Louisiana
purchase north of the southern boundary of Missouri, with the
single exception of the state of Missouri, should be free soil
forever. This arrangement was called the Missouri Compromise. It
was the work of Henry Clay. It was an event of great importance,
because it put off for twenty-five years the inevitable conflict
over slavery.
THE UNITED STATES IN 1819
Reasons for the purchase of Florida.
Jackson invades Florida, 1818.
The Florida purchase, 1819.
280. The Florida Treaty, 1819.--While this contest was
going on, the United States bought of Spain a large tract of land
admirably suited to negro slavery. This was Florida. It belonged to
Spain and was a refuge for all sorts of people: runaway negroes,
fugitive Indians, smugglers, and criminals of all kinds. Once in
Florida, fugitives generally were safe. But they were not always
safe. For instance, in 1818 General Jackson chased some fleeing
Indians over the boundary. They sought refuge in a Spanish fort,
and Jackson was obliged to take the fort as well as the Indians.
This exploit made the Spaniards more willing to sell Florida. The
price was five million dollars. But when it came to giving up the
province, the Spaniards found great difficulty in keeping their
promises. The treaty was made in 1819, but it was not until 1821
that Jackson, as governor of Florida, took possession of the new
territory. Even then the Spanish governor refused to hand over the
record books, and Jackson had to shut him up in prison until he
became more reasonable.
[Illustration: OLD HOUSES, ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.]
Formation of the Holy Alliance.
It interferes in Spanish affairs.
The Spanish Americans colonists rebel against Spain.
Russian attempts at colonization.
281. The "Holy Alliance."--Most of the people of the
other Spanish colonies were rebelling against Spain, and there was
a rebellion in Spain itself. There were rebellions in other
European countries as well as in Spain. In fact, there seemed to be
a rebellious spirit nearly everywhere. This alarmed the European
emperors and kings. With the exception of the British king, they
joined together to put down rebellions. They called their union the
Holy Alliance. They soon put the Spanish king back on his throne.
They then thought that they would send warships and soldiers across
the Atlantic Ocean to crush the rebellions in the Spanish colonies.
Now the people of the United States sympathized with the Spanish
colonists in their desire for independence. They also disliked the
idea of Europeans interfering in American affairs. "America for
Americans," was the cry. It also happened that Englishmen desired
the freedom of the Spanish colonists. As her subjects Spain would
not let them buy English goods. But if they were free, they could
buy goods wherever they pleased. The British government therefore
proposed that the United States and Great Britain should join in a
declaration that the Spanish colonies were independent states. John
Quincy Adams, son of John Adams, was Monroe's Secretary of State.
He thought that this would not be a wise course to follow, because
it might bring American affairs within European control. He was all
the more anxious to prevent this entanglement, as the Czar of
Russia was preparing to found colonies on the western coast of
North America and Adams wanted a free hand to deal with him.
The Monroe Doctrine, 1822. McMaster,
262-265.
Action of Great Britain. End of European interference in
America.
282. The Monroe Doctrine, 1823.--It was under these
circumstances that President Monroe sent a message to Congress. In
it he stated the policy of the United States as follows: (1)
America is closed to colonization by any European power; (2) the
United States have not interfered and will not interfere in
European affairs; (3) the United States regard the extension of the
system of the Holy Alliance to America as dangerous to the United
States; and (4) the United States would regard the interference of
the Holy Alliance in American affairs as an "unfriendly act." This
part of the message was written by Adams. He had had a long
experience in diplomacy. He used the words "unfriendly act" as
diplomatists use them when they mean that such an "unfriendly act"
would be a cause for war. The British government also informed the
Holy Allies that their interference in American affairs would be
resented. The Holy Alliance gave over all idea of crushing the
Spanish colonists. And the Czar of Russia agreed to found no
colonies south of fifty-four degrees and forty minutes north
latitude.
Meaning of the Monroe Doctrine.
283. Meaning of the Monroe Doctrine.--The ideas contained
in Monroe's celebrated message to Congress are always spoken of as
the Monroe Doctrine. Most of these ideas were not invented by
Monroe or by Adams. Many of them may be found in Washington's
Neutrality Proclamation, in Washington's Farewell Address, in
Jefferson's Inaugural Address, and in other documents. What was new
in Monroe's message was the statement that European interference in
American affairs would be looked upon by the United States as an
"unfriendly act," leading to war. European kings might crush out
liberty in Europe. They might divide Asia and Africa among
themselves. They must not interfere in American affairs.
CHAPTER 27
NEW PARTIES AND NEW POLICIES, 1824-1829
End of Monroe's administrations.
284. End of the Era of Good Feeling.--The Era of Good
Feeling came to a sudden ending in 1824. Monroe's second term as
President would end in 1825. He refused to be a candidate for
reëlection. In thus following the example set by Washington,
Jefferson, and Madison, Monroe confirmed the custom of limiting the
presidential term to eight years. There was no lack of candidates
to succeed him in his high office.
J.Q. Adams
285. John Quincy Adams.--First and foremost was John
Quincy Adams of Massachusetts. He was Monroe's Secretary of State,
and this office had been a kind of stepping-stone to the
presidency. Monroe had been Madison's Secretary of State; Madison
had been Jefferson's Secretary of State; and Jefferson had been
Washington's Secretary of State, although he was Vice-President
when he was chosen to the first place. John Quincy Adams was a
statesman of great experience and of ability. He was a man of the
highest honor and intelligence. He was nominated by the
legislatures of Massachusetts and of the other New England
states.
[Illustration: John C. Calhoun.]
W.H. Crawford.
Tenure of Office Act.
The Crawford machine.
286. William H. Crawford.--Besides Adams, two other
members of Monroe's cabinet wished to succeed their chief. These
were John C. Calhoun and William H. Crawford. Calhoun soon withdrew
from the contest to accept the nomination of all the factions to
the place of Vice-President. Crawford was from Georgia and was
Secretary of the Treasury. As the head of that great department, he
controlled more appointments than all the other members of the
cabinet put together. The habit of using public offices to reward
political friends had begun in Pennsylvania. Washington, in his
second term, Adams, and Jefferson had appointed to office only
members of their own party. Jefferson had also removed from office
a few political opponents (p. 187). But there were great
difficulties in the way of making removals. Crawford hit upon the
plan of appointing officers for four years only. Congress at once
fell in with the idea and passed the Tenure of Office Act, limiting
appointments to four years. Crawford promptly used this new power
to build up a strong political machine in the Treasury Department,
devoted to his personal advancement. He was nominated for the
presidency by a Congressional caucus and became the "regular"
candidate.
Henry Clay.
Andrew Jackson.
287. Clay and Jackson.--Two men outside of the cabinet
were also put forward for Monroe's high office. These were Andrew
Jackson of Tennessee and Henry Clay of Kentucky. Clay and Calhoun
had entered politics at about the same time. They had then believed
in the same policy. Calhoun had abandoned his early ideas. But Clay
held fast to the policy of "nationalization." He still favored
internal improvements at the national expense. He still favored the
protective system. He was the great "peacemaker" and tried by means
of compromises to unite all parts of the Union (p. 222). He loved
his country and had unbounded faith in the American people. The
legislatures of Kentucky and other states nominated him for the
presidency. The strongest man of all the candidates was Andrew
Jackson, the "Hero of New Orleans." He had never been prominent in
politics. But his warlike deeds had made his name and his strength
familiar to the voters, especially to those of the West. He was a
man of the people, as none of his rivals were. He stood for
democracy and the Union. The legislatures of Tennessee and other
states nominated Jackson for the presidency.
The election of 1824.
It goes to the House of Representatives.
The House chooses Adams.
288. Adams chosen President, 1824.--The election was
held. The presidential electors met in their several states and
cast their votes for President and Vice-President. The ballots were
brought to Washington and were counted. No candidate for the
presidency had received a majority of all the votes cast. Jackson
had more votes than any other candidate, next came Adams, then
Crawford, and last of all Clay. The House of Representatives,
voting by states, must choose one of the first three President.
Clay, therefore, was out of the race. Clay and his friends believed
in the same things that Adams and his friends believed in, and had
slight sympathy with the views of Jackson or of Crawford. So they
joined the Adams men and chose Adams President. The Jackson men
were furious. They declared that the Representatives had defeated
the "will of the people."
[Illustration: JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.]
Adams appoints Clay Secretary of State.
Charges of a bargain.
Weakness of Adams's administration.
289. Misfortunes of Adams's Administration.--Adams's
first mistake was the appointment of Clay as Secretary of State. It
was a mistake, because it gave the Jackson men a chance to assert
that there had been a "deal" between Adams and Clay. They called
Clay the "Judas of the West." They said that the "will of the
people" had been defeated by a "corrupt bargain." These charges
were repeated over and over again until many people really began to
think that there must be some reason for them. The Jackson men also
most unjustly accused Adams of stealing the nation's money. The
British government seized the opportunity of Adams's weak
administration to close the West India ports to American
shipping.
Early tariff laws.
The tariff of 1816.
Tariff of 1824.
290. Early Tariffs.--Ever since 1789 manufactures had
been protected (p. 155). The first tariff rates were very low. But
the Embargo Act, the non-intercourse law, and the War of 1812 put
an end to the importation of foreign goods. Capitalists invested
large amounts of money in cotton mills, woolen mills, and iron
mills. With the return of peace in 1815, British merchants flooded
the American markets with cheap goods (p. 220). The manufacturers
appealed to Congress for more protection, and Congress promptly
passed a new tariff act (1816). This increased the duties over the
earlier laws. But it did not give the manufacturers all the
protection that they desired. In 1824 another law was drawn up. It
raised the duties still higher. The Southerners opposed the passage
of this last law. For they clearly saw that protection did them no
good. But the Northerners and the Westerners were heartily in favor
of the increased duties, and the law was passed.
Agitation for more protection, 1828.
Scheme of the Jackson men.
Tariff of 1828.
291. The Tariff of Abominations, 1828.--In 1828 another
presidential election was to be held. The manufacturers thought
that this would be a good time to ask for even higher protective
duties, because the politicians would not dare to oppose the
passage of the law for fear of losing votes. The Jackson men hit
upon a plan by which they would seem to favor higher duties while
at the same time they were really opposing them. They therefore
proposed high duties on manufactured goods. This would please the
Northern manufacturers. They proposed high duties on raw materials.
This would please the Western producers. But they thought that the
manufacturers would oppose the final passage of the bill because
the high duties on raw materials would injure them very much. The
bill would fail to pass, and this would please the Southern cotton
growers. It was a very shrewd little plan. But it did not work. The
manufacturers thought that it would be well at all events to have
the high duties on manufactured goods--perhaps they might before
long secure the repeal of the duties on raw materials. The Northern
members of Congress voted for the bill, and it passed.
Election of 1828.
Jackson elected President. McMaster, 301.
292. Jackson elected President, 1828.--In the midst of
all this discouragement as to foreign affairs and this contest over
the tariff, the presidential campaign of 1828 was held. Adams and
Jackson were the only two candidates. Jackson was elected by a
large majority of electoral votes. But Adams received only one vote
less than he had received in 1824. The contest was very close in
the two large states of Pennsylvania and New York. Had a few
thousand more voters in those states cast their votes for Adams,
the electoral votes of those states would have been given to him,
and he would have been elected. It was fortunate that Jackson was
chosen. For a great contest between the states and the national
government was coming on. It was well that a man of Jackson's
commanding strength and great popularity should be at the head of
the government.
QUESTIONS AND TOPICS
CHAPTER 25
§§ 260-262.--a. Explain by a map the American
plan of campaign and show its advantages and disadvantages.
b. Describe Perry's victory. How did this turn the scale
of war?
§§ 263-265.--a. Describe the escape of the
Constitution from the British fleet. Describe the
destruction of the Guerrière and of the
Frolic. What was the reason for the American successes?
b. Why was the effect of these victories so great?
c. Why did the capture of the Chesapeake cause so
much delight in England? Why are Lawrence's words so inspiring?
§§ 266, 267.--a. Compare the second plan for
the invasion of Canada with the earlier one.
b. Discuss the events of Brown's campaign and its
results.
c. Compare Prevost's campaign with Burgoyne's. Why was it
unsuccessful?
d. What do Perry's and McDonough's victories show?
§§ 268.--a. Why were the British attacks
directed against these three portions of the country?
b. Describe the attack on Washington. Was the burning of
the public buildings justifiable?
c. Read the "Star-Spangled Banner" and explain the
allusions.
§§ 269, 270.--a. Describe Jackson's plans for
the defense of New Orleans. Why were they so successful?
b. Why did not this success of the Americans have more
effect on the peace negotiations?
§§ 271, 272.--a. Why were most of the naval
conflicts during the first year of the war? What is a blockade?
What is a privateer?
b. What work did the privateers do?
§ 273.--a. Why was so little advance made at first
toward a treaty of peace?
b. Why was the news of the treaty so long in reaching
Washington?
c. What was settled by the war?
§ 274.--a. Were the Federalists or the Republicans
more truly the national party?
b. What propositions were made by the Hartford
Convention? If such proposals were carried out, what would be the
effect on the Union?
c. Compare the principles underneath these resolutions
with those of the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions.
§275.--a. Note carefully the effect of this war.
b. Why is it called the Second War of Independence?
CHAPTER 26
§§ 276, 277.--a. What is meant by the Era of
Good Feeling? Is this period more important or less important than
the period of war which preceded it? Why?
b. What matters occupied the attention of the people?
c. What shows the sudden increase in Western
migration?
§§ 278, 279.--a. State carefully the objections
to the admission of Missouri on the part of the Northerners. Why
did the Southerners object to the admission of Maine?
b. Trace on a map the line between the free states and
the slave states. Why was slavery no longer of importance north of
this line? Why was it important south of this line?
c. Why were the free states gaining faster than the slave
states?
d. Explain the Missouri Compromise. How did the
Compromise postpone the conflict over slavery?
§ 280.--a. Why was Florida a danger to the United
States?
b. What people in the United States would welcome the
purchase of Florida?
c. What does this section show you as to Jackson's
character?
§ 281.--a. Why was the Holy Alliance formed? What
did the allies propose as to America?
b. How was this proposal regarded by Americans? Why?
c. How was it regarded by Englishmen? Why?
§§ 282, 283.--a. Explain carefully the four
points of Monroe's message.
b. Were these ideas new? What is an "unfriendly act"?
c. What action did Great Britain take? What was the
result of the declarations of the United States and Great
Britain.
d. What was the new point in Monroe's message?
e. Do we still keep to the Monroe Doctrine in all
respects?
CHAPTER 27
§§ 284-288.--a. Who were the candidates for
President in 1824? Describe the qualities and careers of each of
them. For whom would you have voted had you had the right to vote
in 1824?
b. How were these candidates nominated? What is a
caucus?
c. Describe the Tenure of Office Act. Should a man be
given an office simply because he has helped his party?
d. In what respects was Jackson unlike the early
Presidents?
e. What was the result of the election? Who was finally
chosen? Why? If you had been a Representative in 1824, for whom
would you have voted? Why?
f. What is a majority? A plurality?
§ 289.--a. Why was the appointment of Clay a
mistake?
b. What charges were made against Adams?
c. Describe the misfortunes of Adams's
administration.
§§ 290, 291.--a. How are manufactures
protected?
b. Why were the protective tariffs of no benefit to the
Southerners?
c. Why was an attempt for a higher tariff made in
1828?
d. Explain the plan of the Jackson men. Why did the plan
fail?
§ 292.--a. Describe the election of 1828.
b. How was Jackson fitted to meet difficulties?
GENERAL QUESTIONS
a. Why was the navy better prepared for war than the
army?
b. Why did slaveholders feel the need of more slave
territory in the Union?
c. Jackson has been called "a man of the people." Explain
this title.
TOPICS FOR SPECIAL WORK
a. Early life of Andrew Jackson (to 1828).
b. A battle of the War of 1812, e.g. Lake Erie, Lundy's
Lane, Plattsburg, New Orleans, or a naval combat.
c. The frigate Constitution.
d. The career of Clay, of Calhoun, of J.Q. Adams, or of
Monroe.
SUGGESTIONS
The results of the War of 1812 should be carefully studied and
compared with the proposals of the Hartford Convention. These last
can be taught by comparison with the Kentucky and Virginia
Resolutions.
To the Missouri Compromise much time and careful explanation
should be given. Touch upon the economic side of slavery, and
explain how the continued supremacy of the slave power was
threatened.
The Monroe Doctrine is another difficult topic; but it can be
explained by recent history.
The election of 1824 can be carefully employed to elucidate the
mode of electing President, and the struggle over the tariffs can
be illustrated by recent tariff contests.
[Illustration: FLAG ADOPTED IN 1818. A star for each state and a
stripe for each of the original states.]
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