Changes

The British soldiers began an all-out charge against the American troops led by Jackson, but the Americans were ready for them.  The British were no match for the marksmen from Tennessee and Kentucky, who used their own rifles to mow down and decimate the charging British in the Battle of New Orleans.  Jackson became an overnight hero to the entire country for destroying the British there.  This was the greatest military victory the United States achieved up to that time.

The British soldiers began an all-out charge against the American troops led by Jackson, but the Americans were ready for them.  The British were no match for the marksmen from Tennessee and Kentucky, who used their own rifles to mow down and decimate the charging British in the Battle of New Orleans.  Jackson became an overnight hero to the entire country for destroying the British there.  This was the greatest military victory the United States achieved up to that time.

The battles with Indians also created a war hero.  William Henry Harrison had defeated the Indians at Tippecanoe Creek several years earlier, in November 1811.  Then Harrison destroyed Indian confederacy in Ohio.  But Jackson was a bigger hero for defeating the British.  Years later, first Jackson would become president based in his popularity as a hero, and later Harrison would also be elected president.

The battles with Indians also created a war hero.  William Henry Harrison had defeated the Indians at Tippecanoe Creek several years earlier, in November 1811.  Then Harrison destroyed Indian confederacy in Ohio.  But Jackson was a bigger hero for defeating the British.  Years later, first Jackson would become president based in his popularity as a war hero, and subsequently Harrison would also be elected president.

There was a surprise effect of the War of 1812 as well.  Near the end of the war there was an extraordinary meeting called the Hartford Convention, which Federalists convened in Hartford, Connecticut, in late 1814.  They drew up plans to oppose the war and perhaps even secede from the United States, out of friendship with England.  But around the same time the United States signed the peace treaty with England and the Federalists looked like traitors.  This ended the Federalist Party.  They would never again be a factor in American politics.

There was a surprise effect of the War of 1812 as well.  Near the end of the war there was an extraordinary meeting called the Hartford Convention, which Federalists convened in Hartford, Connecticut, in late 1814.  They drew up plans to oppose the war and perhaps even secede from the United States, out of friendship with England.  But around the same time the United States signed the peace treaty with England and the Federalists suddenly looked like traitors.  This embarrassment destroyed the Federalist Party.  They would never again be a factor in American politics.

Before leaving office, the Democratic-Republican James Madison vetoed the Bonus Bill in 1817, which would have required a bonus made available by the Second Bank of the United States to be spent on internal improvements.

Before leaving office, the Democratic-Republican James Madison vetoed the Bonus Bill in 1817, which would have required that a bonus made available by the Second Bank of the United States be spent on internal improvements.

== The Conservative President:  James Monroe ==

== The Conservative President:  James Monroe ==

In 1820, the successful "Missouri Compromise" resolved for several decades disputes about whether slavery would be permitted in new territories, and how to admit new states.  This Compromise was between the North and the South, neither of which wanted to give up power by adding a state friendly to the other side.  The Senate was evenly balanced at this time, and adding just one new state on one side would tip the balance in its favor.  At the time there were 11 free states and 11 slave states (notice that, perhaps surprisingly, Delaware and Kentucky were slave states).   

In 1820, the successful "Missouri Compromise" resolved for several decades disputes about whether slavery would be permitted in new territories, and how to admit new states.  This Compromise was between the North and the South, neither of which wanted to give up power by adding a state friendly to the other side.  The Senate was evenly balanced at this time, and adding just one new state on one side would tip the balance in its favor.  At the time there were 11 free states and 11 slave states (notice that, perhaps surprisingly, Delaware and Kentucky were slave states).   

So the Missouri Compromise added Maine as a free state (which would side with the North), and Missouri as a slave state (which would side with the South until the Civil War, when it refused to join the southern Confederacy).  The other new states to be added from the Louisiana Purchase (once they had enough population) would be free:  slavery was banned by this Compromise above the latitude of 36 degrees, 30 minutes.

So the Missouri Compromise added Maine as a free state (which would side with the North), and Missouri as a slave state (which would side with the South until the Civil War, when it refused to join the southern Confederacy).  Many of the other new states to be added from the Louisiana Purchase (once they had enough population) would be free:  slavery was banned by this Compromise above the latitude of 36 degrees, 30 minutes.

The most lasting contribution of James Monroe was his "Monroe Doctrine" in 1823, which stated that Europe should not add any new colonies in North or South America because Europe's political and economic systems are vastly different from those in America.  In fact, Monroe stated that Europe should not interfere further in the Western Hemisphere.  To this day presidents continue to cite the Monroe Doctrine whenever a European country tries to do something in our hemisphere.

The most lasting contribution of James Monroe was his "Monroe Doctrine" in 1823, which stated that Europe should not add any new colonies in North or South America because Europe's political and economic systems are vastly different from those in America.  In fact, Monroe stated that Europe should not interfere further in the Western Hemisphere.  To this day presidents continue to cite the Monroe Doctrine whenever a European country tries to do something in our hemisphere.

After Monroe served two terms and retired just like Washington, a bitter race for president developed.  Jackson started his own Democratic Party and ran against John Quincy Adams of Massachusetts, the son of the former President John Adams.  Other candidates, such as Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky, also ran.  John Quincy Adams, a Democratic-Republican (and later a National Republican), was a former Federalist who supported a strong national government.  He had previously served as a minister to Russia when it acted as mediator to help negotiate the Treaty of Ghent to end the War of 1812.

After Monroe served two terms and retired just like Washington, a bitter race for president developed.  Jackson started his own Democratic Party and ran against John Quincy Adams of Massachusetts, the son of the former President John Adams.  Other candidates, such as Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky, also ran.  John Quincy Adams, a Democratic-Republican (and later a National Republican), was a former Federalist who supported a strong national government.  He had previously served as a minister to Russia when it acted as mediator to help negotiate the Treaty of Ghent to end the War of 1812.

Until 1824 presidential candidates were nominated by congressmen in an informal political meeting called a "caucus" (a favorite political term of John Adams).  The caucus is still used today at some political conventions.  As a presidential candidate in 2008, [[Barack Obama]] did better than [[Hillary Clinton]] in States that used caucuses (rather than an election by voters), which enabled Obama to defeat Clinton for the Democratic nomination despite Clinton having defeated Obama in many States that used open primaries.  But in 1824, all the leading candidates for president were from the same political party (the Democratic-Republican Party), everyone who was nominated by the congressional caucus was on the ballot on Election Day for the voters to decide.

Until 1824 presidential candidates were nominated by congressmen in an informal political meeting called a "caucus" (a favorite political term of John Adams).  The caucus is still used today at some political conventions.  As a presidential candidate in 2008, [[Barack Obama]] did better than [[Hillary Clinton]] in states that used caucuses (rather than an election by voters), which enabled Obama to defeat Clinton for the Democratic nomination despite Clinton having defeated Obama in many states that used open primaries.  But in 1824, all the leading candidates for president were from the same political party (the Democratic-Republican Party), and everyone who was nominated by the congressional caucus was on the ballot on Election Day for the voters to decide.

Jackson won more votes than Adams on Election Day but not enough to become president, so the election went into the House of Representatives.  There Clay apparently struck a private bargain with Adams, whereby Clay persuaded congressmen to vote for Adams, and Adams, after he won, appointed Clay to be Secretary of State.  Supporters of Jackson ("Old Hickory") harshly criticized this as the "corrupt bargain."  Jackson, campaigning four years later against this "corruption", crushed Adams in the next presidential election.

Jackson won more votes than Adams on Election Day but not enough to become president, so the election went into the House of Representatives.  There Clay apparently struck a private bargain with Adams, whereby Clay persuaded congressmen to vote for Adams, and Adams, after he won, appointed Clay to be Secretary of State.  Supporters of Jackson ("Old Hickory") harshly criticized this as the "corrupt bargain."  Jackson, campaigning four years later against this "corruption", then crushed Adams in the next presidential election.

'''Debate:  Is it wrong for a politician to cut a deal with another politician like the "corrupt bargain" between Adams and Clay?'''

'''Debate:  Is it wrong for a politician to cut a deal with another politician like the "corrupt bargain" between Adams and Clay?'''

Under the John Quincy Adams Administration, Congress continued to pass tariffs to increase its funding, such as the Tariff of 1824.  Henry Clay adopted a term, the "American System," to justify use of protective tariffs along with nationwide internal improvements, in order to expand the domestic economy and decrease our dependence on foreign nations.

Under the John Quincy Adams Administration, Congress continued to pass tariffs to increase its funding, such as the Tariff of 1824.  Henry Clay adopted a term, the "American System," to justify use of protective tariffs along with nationwide internal improvements, in order to expand the domestic economy and decrease our dependence on foreign nations.

The steamboat, invented in 1807 by Robert Fulton, with the first one constructed in America called the ''Clermont'', had a major effect on economy by 1820s.  The steamboat enabled goods to be transported quickly and cheaply over water.  Canals were then built.  The most important canal was the Erie Canal, finished in 1825, to connect the Hudson River and New York City with the Great Lakes.  Spectacular economic success enabled our nation's economy to grow immensely.  The Erie Canal allowed New York City to become the financial center and biggest city in the United States.  That canal cost $7 million but was soon generating profits of $3 million per year!

The steamboat, invented in 1807 by Robert Fulton, with the first one constructed in America called the ''Clermont'', had a major effect on the economy by 1820s.  The steamboat enabled goods to be transported quickly and cheaply over water.  Canals were then built.  The most important canal was the Erie Canal, finished in 1825, to connect the Hudson River and New York City with the Great Lakes.  Spectacular free market success enabled our nation's economy to grow immensely.  The Erie Canal allowed New York City to become the financial center and biggest city in the United States.  That canal cost $7 million but was soon generating profits of $3 million per year!

Another tariff was passed in 1828, partly due to a misguided attempt to help Jackson in the upcoming presidential election.  Discussed in greater detail below, the supporters of free trade in the South were outraged and called this the Tariff of Abominations.  John Quincy Adams left Andrew Jackson a big political problem for him to deal with.

Another tariff passed in 1828, supported by some Democrats who wanted to anger the public against John Quincy Adams, so that Jackson would win the upcoming presidential election.  Discussed in greater detail below, the supporters of free trade in the South were outraged and called this the Tariff of Abominations.  Andrew Jackson had a political problem in keeping the United States together after he was elected in 1828.

After serving only one term as President, John Quincy Adams was remarkable in how he then continued to participate in politics.  While virtually all other presidents and vice presidents felt that Congress was beneath them after they served, John Quincy Adams returned to Congress as a member of the House of Representatives from Massachusetts.  There he fought for 17 more years against slavery and in favor of abolitionism, though the "gag rule" (see below) muzzled his anti-slavery efforts for some of that time.  He also ran unsuccessfully for the position of governor of Massachusetts.  John Quincy Adams eventually died by collapsing on the floor of the House of Representatives as he prepared to give a speech, and is interred in Quincy, Massachusetts.

After serving only one term as President, John Quincy Adams was remarkable in how he then continued to participate in politics.  While virtually all other presidents and vice presidents felt that Congress was beneath them after they served, John Quincy Adams returned to Congress as a member of the House of Representatives from Massachusetts.  There he fought for 17 more years against slavery and in favor of abolitionism, though the "gag rule" (see below) muzzled his anti-slavery efforts for some of that time.  He also ran unsuccessfully for the position of governor of Massachusetts.  John Quincy Adams eventually died by collapsing on the floor of the House of Representatives as he prepared to give a speech, and is interred in Quincy, Massachusetts.