The Young Republic

Introduction

Painting of Lewis and Clark on the Lower Columbia With the foundation of an effective Constitution and a developing political system, the young republic continued to grow and expand. Thomas Jefferson took office at the beginning of the 19th Century and despite his small government philosophy, authorized the purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France. Economic expansion continued with the early rumblings of the Industrial Revolution taking root in New England. The South grew even more dependent on the plantation system with the growth of cotton as a major cash crop.

A second war with Great Britain, the War of 1812, despite it being a military draw saw the U.S. emerge as a nation that could hold its own against the odds. This growing national pride and growth along the frontier eventually led to the rise of Andrew Jackson to the presidency. Jackson expanded the power of the presidency as he took decisive action in a variety of areas.

This time period was also an era of reform movements including religious and philosophical ideas, social reform, improvements in education and prisons, abolition, women's rights, and workers' reforms. This spirit of reform: rapid social, technological, and economic changes were revolutionizing American life.

Essential Questions

As the nation expanded, what forces and factors caused regional differences and divisions to grow?
Which reform movements began and influenced society during the first half of the 19th century?
What events showed that the young nation was growing and expanding?

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Textbook Assignment

Read the chapter in your textbook that relates to this module. Your instructor will provide you with a specific reading schedule.

Key Terms

Look over your key terms for this module. Then review them with the activity below.

Louisiana Purchase - In 1803 the U.S. purchased the Louisiana Territory from France and nearly doubled the size of the nation.
Lewis and Clark - two explorers sent by Jefferson to explore the Louisiana Territory. In a little over 16 months they traveled all the way to the Pacific Ocean and back.
War of 1812 - began over American concerns about British kidnapping of sailors (impressment) and trade restrictions, among other factors. Militarily a draw but viewed as a victory by the U.S.
American System - promoted by Henry Clay, it sought to use funds raised from the tariff to build roads and canals that would connect the West to East, tying the regions closer together economically and politically.
Erie Canal - opened in 1825 and connected Lake Erie to the Hudson River which flowed into the Atlantic Ocean. It revolutionized the economy and growth of the region.
New York City - by 1835 New York passed Philadelphia to become the largest city in the U.S. and it has been ever since. It is the center of artisans and commercial activities.
Monroe Doctrine - issued by President Monroe and warned European powers not to meddle in the affairs of North and South America.
Industrial Revolution - the stage when power-driven machines operated by semiskilled or unskilled workers replaced hand tools operated by skilled workers.
Eli Whitney - inventor whose cotton gin and interchangeable parts fundamentally altered economics in the U.S.
Cotton Gin - a machine that rapidly removes cotton plant seeds from valuable cotton fiber.
Interchangeable Parts - identical parts that could be used to repair an item that was broken. It made it possible for semiskilled workers to mass-produce products.
Second Great Awakening - a religious revival in the first half of the 19th Century that resulted in the formation of new religious groups and spawned many reform movements.
Temperance Movement - a reform movement that was for the banning or restriction of alcohol. It was strongly supported by many women and church groups.
Abolitionism - the most controversial of the reform movements. It said that slavery should be abolished immediately.
Public School Reform - many changes in education took place during this time as the right to vote was opened up to all adult white males regardless of income. Movements for requiring school attendance, trained teachers, and overall improvement of the quality of schools
grew in strength.
Women’s Suffrage - women at this time did not have suffrage, or voting rights. Some began to work toward changing this.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton - a reformer who was outspoken in her attempts for women to have full rights as citizens (including voting rights) and legal rights in custody and other cases.
Seneca Falls Convention - organized by Stanton and Lucretia Mott, it was the beginning of the organized women’s rights movement and convention attendees voted to push for the right to vote.
Old Immigration - a period of large-scale immigration in the mid 19th Century. Many of these immigrants came from Northern and Western Europe, in particular from Ireland and Germany.
Jacksonian Democracy - this period was characterized by suffrage for all adult white males, an increase in presidential power, and emphasis on the “common man” rather than the educated class. Andrew Jackson is seen as the father or the Democratic Party.
National Bank - first proposed by Hamilton and would serve the function of a depository for federal funds, making loans to stimulate economic growth, and issuing paper money. President Andrew Jackson saw the bank as a tool of the wealthy aristocracy and successfully moved to shut it down.
American Nationalism - national pride and unity in many areas was strong during the Jacksonian Era.
Sectionalism - is when a person is more loyal to their region (or section) of the nation rather than the country as a whole.

RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.