John C. Calhoun and The Problem With Southern Nationalism Rough Draft
Disunity in Post 1812 America
Shortly after the War of 1812 had ended under Madison’s reign, America had come to a period popularly known as the “Era of Good Feelings.” The Americans had just come out of a great battle, emerging victorious, thus proving themselves to be a competent world power. However, although the time period after the War of 1812 was dubbed the “Era of Good Feelings,” growing tension due to a sudden rise of southern nationalism under John C. Calhoun, too much involvement from the government, and disagreements over slavery created such disunion that the nation descended into utter chaos. The so-called “Era of Good Feelings” was, in fact, a misnomer – not only was it not a time of good feelings, but it was actually a period of great disunion.
Federal power had been expanding ever since George Washington was voted first President of the United States in 1789. Since then, the Whiskey Rebellion was quelled with force in 1794, Jefferson had gone against the Constitution by buying the Louisiana territory in 1803, and the judiciary branch “extended its authority over the province of state courts, again reducing the power of the states.” (insert citation here) Tariffs issued by the federal government, too, had been expanding and angering the South – starting back again in the year Washington stepped into office when the very first Tariff Act was passed. The Tariff Act of 1789 raised revenue through tariffs on imported goods. Then, the Tariff of 1816, the United States tariff structure changed from revenue producing to protectionist. Following this, the Tariff of Abominations prompted angry southerners to protest, going as far as to publish a pamphlet called The South Carolina Exposition. This pamphlet candidly suggested that the states nullify the tariff. Soon after, Congress’s new Tariff of 1832 rekindled the fire that was southern nationalism, taking another step along the road of the Nullification Crisis. More federal involvement came with the
Shortly after the War of 1812 had ended under Madison’s reign, America had come to a period popularly known as the “Era of Good Feelings.” The Americans had just come out of a great battle, emerging victorious, thus proving themselves to be a competent world power. However, although the time period after the War of 1812 was dubbed the “Era of Good Feelings,” growing tension due to a sudden rise of southern nationalism under John C. Calhoun, too much involvement from the government, and disagreements over slavery created such disunion that the nation descended into utter chaos. The so-called “Era of Good Feelings” was, in fact, a misnomer – not only was it not a time of good feelings, but it was actually a period of great disunion.
Federal power had been expanding ever since George Washington was voted first President of the United States in 1789. Since then, the Whiskey Rebellion was quelled with force in 1794, Jefferson had gone against the Constitution by buying the Louisiana territory in 1803, and the judiciary branch “extended its authority over the province of state courts, again reducing the power of the states.” (insert citation here) Tariffs issued by the federal government, too, had been expanding and angering the South – starting back again in the year Washington stepped into office when the very first Tariff Act was passed. The Tariff Act of 1789 raised revenue through tariffs on imported goods. Then, the Tariff of 1816, the United States tariff structure changed from revenue producing to protectionist. Following this, the Tariff of Abominations prompted angry southerners to protest, going as far as to publish a pamphlet called The South Carolina Exposition. This pamphlet candidly suggested that the states nullify the tariff. Soon after, Congress’s new Tariff of 1832 rekindled the fire that was southern nationalism, taking another step along the road of the Nullification Crisis. More federal involvement came with the