Changes

In 1831, gossip and social scandal hit the White House, demonstrating that "National Enquirer" or tabloid-style stories were just as big back then as today.  The White House was like a social club, with members of the President's Cabinet of advisers and their wives being the members of this club.  In what  became known as the "Peggy Eaton Affair," gossip about the wife of the Secretary of War caused others in the Cabinet (and particularly the wives of Cabinet members) to turn against Peggy Eaton and her husband-Secretary of War.  Jackson, who still resented gossip about his now-deceased wife which occurred before he was elected president, instinctively defended Peggy Eaton.  Much of the Cabinet then resigned, forcing Jackson to form an entirely new Cabinet.

In 1831, gossip and social scandal hit the White House, demonstrating that "National Enquirer" or tabloid-style stories were just as big back then as today.  The White House was like a social club, with members of the President's Cabinet of advisers and their wives being the members of this club.  In what  became known as the "Peggy Eaton Affair," gossip about the wife of the Secretary of War caused others in the Cabinet (and particularly the wives of Cabinet members) to turn against Peggy Eaton and her husband-Secretary of War.  Jackson, who still resented gossip about his now-deceased wife which occurred before he was elected president, instinctively defended Peggy Eaton.  Much of the Cabinet then resigned, forcing Jackson to form an entirely new Cabinet.

   

   

The North-South conflict boiled over in late 1832.  The South Carolina legislature went one step further and passed the Ordinance of Nullification, prohibiting the collection of federal duties and declaring that the use of force by the federal government would be justification for South Carolina to secede from the Union.  Jackson issued a proclamation that "disunion by armed force is treason."  But South Carolina remained defiant.  Jackson was furious, declaring that "if a single drop of blood is shed there in opposition to the laws of the United States, then I will hang the first person I can lay my hand on, upon the first tree I can reach."<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=_34AAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA363&lpg=PA363&dq=%22Andrew+Jackson%22+tree+hang+Calhoun&source=web&ots=Q_px3n4woz&sig=44JZJpNJNxKrQjFAbYlVCj0nv_4&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result "A Students' History of the United States," By Edward Channing]</ref>

The North-South conflict boiled over in late 1832.  The South Carolina legislature went one step further and passed the Ordinance of Nullification, prohibiting the collection of federal duties and declaring that the use of force by the federal government would be justification for South Carolina to secede from the Union.  Jackson issued a proclamation that "disunion by armed force is treason."  But South Carolina remained defiant.  Jackson was furious, declaring that "if a single drop of blood is shed there in opposition to the laws of the United States, then I will hang the first person I can lay my hand on, upon the first tree I can reach."

In early 1833, Jackson requested the Force Bill in order to authorize federal troops to enforce the revenue laws, but Jackson also approved lowering the tariff to appease South Carolina.  South Carolina then suspended its ordinance of nullification and the conflict was defused.

In early 1833, Jackson requested the Force Bill in order to authorize federal troops to enforce the revenue laws, but Jackson also approved lowering the tariff to appease South Carolina.  South Carolina then suspended its ordinance of nullification and the conflict was defused.

== Other Developments 1800-1840 ==

== Other Developments 1800-1840 ==

[[Image:1840 map.gif|thumb|600px|right|The United States in 1840]]

[[Image:1840 map.gif|thumb|600px|right|The United States in 1840<br><small>([http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/map1a.html Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies])</small>]]

<br><br>There were other significant developments as the United States grew immensely in population and wealth from 1800 to 1840.  Not everything in history is politics, war and foreign policy!

<br><br>There were other significant developments as the United States grew immensely in population and wealth from 1800 to 1840.  Not everything in history is politics, war and foreign policy!

In 1836, Texas fought and won its independence from Mexico.  The Texans sought independence based on Mexico's violation of settlers' rights under Mexico Constitution.  In March of 1836, the Mexicans massacred the Texans at the Alamo (including Davey Crockett, who came from Tennessee to help), but in April the Texans defeated the Mexican army and its General Santa Anna.  Sam Houston was elected the first President of the Republic of Texas (it did not yet join the United States).  General Santa Anna was released from captivity in November of 1836, and traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with federal officials.<ref>http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/alamo/timeline/timeline2.html</ref>

In 1836, Texas fought and won its independence from Mexico.  The Texans sought independence based on Mexico's violation of settlers' rights under Mexico Constitution.  In March of 1836, the Mexicans massacred the Texans at the Alamo (including Davey Crockett, who came from Tennessee to help), but in April the Texans defeated the Mexican army and its General Santa Anna.  Sam Houston was elected the first President of the Republic of Texas (it did not yet join the United States).  General Santa Anna was released from captivity in November of 1836, and traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with federal officials.<ref>http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/alamo/timeline/timeline2.html</ref>

There were social changes in the early-to-mid 1800s worth noting.  In 1826, the Lowell System consisted of factory-based cities, with the planning of the city and its housing based on the existence of jobs in the local factory.  Lowell, Massachusetts, was the first example.

There were social changes in the early-to-mid 1800s worth noting.  In 1826, the Lowell System consisted of factory-based cities, with the planning of the city and its housing based on the existence of jobs in the local factory.  Lowell, Massachusetts, was the first example, where the jobs in its textile mills were filled by single, white women from surrounding rural areas.

There were numerous reform movements worth noting: prison reform which included the elimination of "debtors' prison" (imprisonment of people simply because they could not pay their debts); a movement to help the disabled; a movement to ban alcohol ("prohibition", or the "temperance movement") which began in 1826 and lasted until the 18th Amendment passed in 1919 to ban alcohol nationwide (it was later repealed by the 21st Amendment during the [[Great Depression]]); and many experimental communities ("utopias") established from the 1820s to the 1840s, based on a belief in perfectionism and attempts to create "perfect" communities, which were all unsuccessful.  The largest religion founded entirely in America, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), began during the 1830s; Mitt Romney is one of its leading members and was the Republican nominee for president in 2012, when he was defeated by Barack Obama.

There were numerous reform movements worth noting: prison reform which included the elimination of "debtors' prison" (imprisonment of people simply because they could not pay their debts); a movement to help the disabled; a movement to ban alcohol ("prohibition", or the "temperance movement") which began in 1826 and lasted until the 18th Amendment passed in 1919 to ban alcohol nationwide (it was later repealed by the 21st Amendment during the [[Great Depression]]); and many experimental communities ("utopias") established from the 1820s to the 1840s, based on a belief in perfectionism and attempts to create "perfect" communities, which were all unsuccessful.  The largest religion founded entirely in America, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), began during the 1830s; Mitt Romney is one of its leading members and was the Republican nominee for president in 2012, when he was defeated by Barack Obama.