James Monroe

Birth-Death: (1758 - 1831 ) Term: (1817-1825 )

The Federalist party had self-destructed after the Hartford Convention. During and prior to the War of 1812, the Federalists condemned the possibility fo war with Britain, and threatened secession. When the United States was victorious, the Federalists disappeared. With very little political division, and a country that was enjoying relative peace, James Monroe tended to let things remain the same, though sectionalism was growing.

Domestic Events of James Monroe

    After the Federalists self-destructed in the aftermath of the Hartford Convention, there was no division in the nation and Monroe ruled during the "Era of Good Feelings." From the surface the country seemed united and peaceful; there was no opposition to his bid for reelection in 1820, and he received all but one of the electoral votes.

    However, all was not as good as it seemed. Sectionalism was hiding around the corner and the country had begun to split among regional lines. On most of the important issues the Senate was divided into the North, the South and the West section. The North was in constant disagreement with the South, and, therefore, it was the West which had the power to pass or kill any legislation.

    The Country saw its first major crack with the Compromise of 1820. The Missouri compromise as it is also known, divided the United States into a slave South and a free North. After the compromise every slave state that joined the Union had a sister state that was free, and vice-versa.

    The division continued, and in 1824 a tariff was passed. The tariff increased the already high protective rates. The South was strongly opposed to the tariff because it hindered its trade, while the North voted for the tariff because industries had already begun to grow and needed to be protected from the developed industries of Europe. The deciding factor was once again the West, and Henry Clay insisted that the tariff be passed because the revenue received would go towards improving the life in the West: building roads, cities, etc. In the end the tariff passed on a sectional vote, the South being strongly against, the rest of the country pro.