Patricia McGuire December 4, 2011 Mr. DeMazza History 11H Nationalism vs.

Sectionalism

Since the establishment of the united States of America, the country had been dominated by feelings of nationalism and patriotism. The desire to form a unified country took over all aspects of the economy and governmental systems. Despite the different political parties and regions of the country, the peoples loyalties lay in the federal government and union of the states. By the time of the Era of Good Feelings, beginning in 1816, the North and South had already established their differences on the issue of slavery, but had experienced no major disagreements on the subject in Congress (Newman 140). The Panic of 1819, bringing an end to the Era of Good Feelings, was a big financial blow to the country as a whole, causing economic and political discord. The value of the dollar deflated, land was foreclosed, and job opportunities disappeared. It became difficult for people to believe in the power of the country when this financial panic was ruining their economy (Newman 142). After this depression, the economy slowly began to re-stabilize itself, bringing with it the growth of the manufacturing industry in the North. As this industrial growth began to surpass the agricultural system of the South, a distinct separation formed between the two sections of the economy (Newman 154). Despite Congress' efforts to keep a balance between slave and free states, this balance could not undermine the efforts from the South to keep slavery in place (Newman 174). Although feelings

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of nationalism were present in the time between 1816 and 1860, the nation could not overcome their disagreements preventing unity, and sectionalism ultimately prevailed. With the Panic of 1819 came unfamiliar and overwhelming economic confusion that caused the American people to question their faith in the nation as a whole. This economic and political shock was preceded by the Era of Good Feelings, a time so full of patriotism and nationalism that it is difficult to believe the crippling depression came so soon afterwards. With the election of 1816 and Monroe's inauguration, the country accepted the simple optimistic belief that the country could improve and stay together despite continuous disagreements over the issue of slavery in the South. Our Country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong! toasted Stephen Decatur at the beginning of this era (Decatur 163). The American people were characterized by thoughts of nationalistic optimism. No matter what was going on in the country, good or bad, it would still be America, and therefore one country, unified by its people. But these beliefs lasted only a short three years, ending in what was the beginning of the national crisis called sectionalism (Newman 142). When the national bank system fell through and left thousands of people in debt, many Americans changed their opinions on the political system. Though the Supreme Court remained nationalistic, generally siding with the federal government in their cases, the rest of the country was left to develop their own beliefs. With the decline of the federalist party that could not keep up with the economic changes in America, the Republican party became the dominant political group. In the election of 1824, this political party became separated itself, when four Republican candidates ran against each other (Newman 143). This was the beginning of sectionalism in the united States.

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The industrialization in the North and increase of agriculture in the South caused a distinct separation between the two sections of the country. The population was increasing in all areas of the country due to both immigration and high birth rates. This included the slave population (Newman 150). The cotton gin, originally introduced to decrease the need for slavery, had become so useful that it ultimately caused more dependence on slavery in the south. The world had become so dependent on the production of cotton in the south that there was a demand to increase production rates as much as possible, to keep providing cotton for textile manufacturing purposes. This caused a somewhat interdependence between the North and the South, with the North depending on the South for raw materials, and the North providing a means of manufacturing something out of the raw goods to export, which would benefit the national economy (Newman 153). But without the South, the North could not keep up their industrial economy. Ultimately, the North was inhabited with much more nationalistic belief than the South. Cotton could be exported to areas other than the North Britain, France, Prussia. But the North could find raw cotton no other place besides the Southern area of their own country. Despite the North's reliance on the South for goods, they still had a very different economical system. The industrial system of the North and the agrarian system of the South worked well together, but were holed up in themselves, and could never fully combine as one economic system. The ongoing battle in the Senate to keep the number of slave and free states equal was not a battle to hold onto nationalistic beliefs, but merely to balance and control the sectionalism that was present. People had expected the issue of slavery to right itself; they expected it to disappear on its own. But when the issue of Missouri entering the Union as a slave state arose, it became apparent that the South was holding on tightly to slavery. The proposed Tallmadge

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Amendment was not passed, because it would eventually lead to Missouri becoming a free state, after a few generations. Henry Clays Proposals were accepted instead. Missouri was admitted to the Union as a slave state, along with Maine as a free state (Newman 146). Though perhaps this was balance, it was balanced sectionalism. Though the two sections of the nation worked hard to stay in tune with each other and work together for the good of the country, neither side was willing to do anything for the other that would make itself weaker. The South still advocated for slavery, and the North still strongly opposed it. This disagreement was a main source for the sectionalism of the time. Though the country strove to keep their nationalistic values the driving force of the country, sectionalism overtook any feeling of unity that the nation possessed. From the Era of Good Feelings to the Panic of 1819, optimism and hope for a well-running and economically sound country were diminished greatly. The North and the South, once believed to be only superficial sections of the country, became more and more distinctly different, and stuck fast in their own beliefs. Slavery became an unsolvable issue; it was a question of national economy or ethicality. The country could come to no answer on the matter other than to keep the issue from spreading further, as was seen with the Missouri Compromise. For a nation so big that encompassed such varying levels of economy, it was nearly impossible to stay unified. The North and South were too different from each other for nationalism to take a true hold on the country. In the end, sectionalism triumphed.

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Works Cited

Newman, John J. United States History: Preparation for the Advanced Placement Examination. Amsco School Publications, Inc. New York: 2010.

Decatur, Stephen. Toast given at Norfolk, Virginia, April, 1816. Document. United States History: Preparation for the Advanced Placement Examination. Amsco School Publications, Inc. New York: 2010.