Coming Together - Nationalism Ascendant Project

Political Developments
a Louisiana Purchase The acquisition of the western French land through the Louisiana Purchase was significant for the United States greater sense of nationalism. The purchase eliminated a foreign presence in control of a major port which was believed would eventually cause conflicts with more war ready European powers. In addition, the Louisiana Purchase more than doubled the American land. Many American farmers settled in the new west and contributed the growth of the country. Embargo The Embargo Act passed by Congress in 1807 caused considerable amounts of internal damage to the economy and is considered Jeffersons worst political mistake. However it was noteworthy that out of desperation caused by not being to trade with any other country, the American people reopened old factories and became manufacturers of goods once more. The fact that the United States were becoming more self-sufficient and ridding itself of the need other countries boosted the Americans sense of nationalism. War of 1812 The War of 1812 viewed as a second revolutionary war inspired a renewed sense of strong nationalism. The United States Navy won major naval battles because of superior shipbuilding and American valor. Even though the war was technically declared a draw and decided by the Treaty of Ghent, General Andrew Jackson led a powerful army of different cultures including blacks and Native Americans against the British forces in New Orleans. Jackson defeated the enemy which severed as encouragement for the American people.
John Marshall Supreme Court Cases

1) McCulloch v. Maryland John Marshalls decision regarding the McCulloch v. Maryland case stated that the federal government possessed implied powers that did not need to be explicitly written in the constitution. Marshall stated that states did not have the right or the power to impose taxes upon federal establishments because national laws overpower regional laws. Marshalls decision increased the power of the federal government as it established a hierarchy between federal and state laws with the national laws at the top. 2) Dartmouth College v. Woodward Marshall identified that the state could not change a private corporations contract. The decision created some extra security for private corporations from control of the state legislatures. Marshall decreased the states dominion over companies which in turn empowered the central government.

3) Gibbon v. Ogden Marshall decided that the New York steamboat monopoly was unconstitutional. According to Marshall, states could not have the power to allow monopolies if they conflicted with charters authorized by congress. Marshall established a general control over interstate commerce for the central government where the federal government has the powers to regulate almost anything that moves across state lines. The decision prevented states from hurting other states commercially which decreased sectionalism. e Adams - Onis Treaty The 1818 Adams - Onis Treaty sponsored advancements toward nationalism as it added to the ever-expanding nation. The United States removed a major foreign presence surrounding its borders. The treaty encouraged nationalism because the United States territory grew larger. f Monroe Doctrine The Monroe Doctrine promoted nationalism because it established that no European countries could not to interfere with affairs in the Western Hemisphere by addition of new colonies or attempting to overthrow United States territories. In return the United States were not going to involve themselves in European matters. The Monroe Doctrine prevented national threats from Russia, Spain and Portugal who were all after differing land areas which were also in Americas sights. The Monroe Doctrine was a vital step establishing worldwide respect by asserting their powers through intimidation.

Cultural Developments
Hudson River School
Thomas Cole The Falls of the Kaaterskill, 1826

John Frederick Kensett Mount Washington, 1869

Thomas Cole, credited as the founder of the Hudson River School, initially conveyed paintings from the area for the New York Evening Post in 1825, finding the upstate New York autumns brilliant and inspirational. The Hudson River School painters were the first to stray away from European views of painting. Americans opted to paint nature with a sense of realism. The wilderness was not harmed by man in America unlike in Europe. The paintings become Thomas Cole and other artists way of expressing American pride and the beauty of America. Rocky Mountain School
Thomas Moran The White Mountains, 1874

Albert Bierstadt Estes Park, Colorado, 1877

The artists of the Rocky Mountain Schools vision of the Western landscape were critical to the creation of Yellowstone National Park. Specifically, Moran's artwork was presented to members

of Congress. These powerful images of Yellowstone helped inspire Congress to establish the National Park System in 1916. Genre artists
William Sidney Mount The Power of Music, 1847

John Quindor The Return of Rip Van Winkle, 1849

Genre Artists depicted American people within natural surroundings doing ordinary tasks. The art style would emphasize the ease of American life and how joyful the United States society was. Genre Artists were unique to the United States.

Architecture
Capitol of Virginia

Monticello

Jefferson embraced revival styles over the British Georgian style as he believed that the United States were commencing a new democracy based upon Athenian ideals. It was an aesthetic break with his colonial past, and a subtle nod to the origins of democracy.

Literature
John Greeleaf Whittier Snow-Bound, 1866 Whittiers poem conveys a countryside New England household as a snowstorm ensues outside for three days straight. Being stuck in their home, the family members interchange stories by their fireplace. The use of storytelling by the fire was a metaphor against modernity in a postCivil War United States. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Paul Revere's Ride, 1860 Longfellows poem memorializes the actions of American patriot Paul Revere on April 18, 1775, although with significant inaccuracies. Longfellow's poem is credited with creating the national legend of Paul Revere, a previously little-known Massachusetts silversmith. Nathanial Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter, 1850 Throughout the Hawthornes book themes of a puritan society built upon hypocritical views of sin and ethics. The community comes together regardless of personal beliefs to forgive a woman for her crimes of adultery, which symbolizes a sense of nationalism. The Scarlet Letter was one of the earliest mass-produced books in America.