Introduction
Four decades of American history between the years 1790 and 1840 are rather controversial. Although the country managed to protect its independence, it still had great challenges ahead. In terms of politics, this time can be characterized by significant political tension within the country. Its economic development was also impeded by poor decision-making. Lastly, social movements that started to form during this time foreshadowed substantial shifts in people’s attitudes and vision. In this context, the political division into the North and South, financial crises, and the struggle for slavery abolitionism and women’s rights acknowledgment were the main changes of this period.
Political Change
Throughout the early decades of the 19th century, American politics could be described by its geographical division into northern and southern factions. Due to the differences in population composition, sources of income, and applied methods of its achievement, northern and southern states started pursuing different goals. For instance, northern states were troubled by the influence Virginia had on the federal government, mainly because most presidents were Virginians.
In turn, southern states feared the unprecedented rise in the population of northern states due to immigration. Additionally, as northern states steadily abandoned slavery, southern governments increased their reliance on slave labor, exacerbating political tension. This, combined with the question of expanding slavery practices into the development of the Western region, posed further threats to the country’s political unity.
Several particular political crises that illustrate the growing division in the nation’s political establishment include the Missouri and Nullification crises. The former was mainly focused on the issue of whether the newly established Missouri state would become an enslaved person or a non-slave state. Although the crisis did not provoke a civil war, it showcased the volatility of the slavery issue.
In turn, the Nullification Crisis raised the trade issue around the primary source of income in the northern and southern states. Mainly, taxes aimed at protecting manufacturing in the North affected the ability of the South to export raw materials, prompting the latter to ignore federal tariffs and the former to retaliate politically. Eventually, the tension between factions sown during the first decades of the country’s existence will lead to direct confrontation and a civil war.
Economical Change
In terms of the country’s economy, the US’s economic development during the chosen period faced two severe downturns. Firstly, in 1819, the downturn was caused by the actions of the Bank of the United States: the Bank lent gold irresponsibly and refused to support smaller banks and their clients afterward. Due to Jackson’s effort, the Bank ceded its function; however, it eventually led to the financial crisis of 1837. Specifically, without a central bank to control the amount of issued paper currency with actual gold reserves, the situation went out of control. The inability of banks to redeem their banknotes caused the prices to fall drastically, depleting the hard currency reserves across the nation. Overall, this period illustrated the US banking system’s incompetence, resulting in the inability to fully realize the country’s economic potential and damage its international image.
Social and Cultural Changes
Solidification and radicalization of social movements indicated the population’s dissatisfaction with current affairs. Specifically, abolitionism and women’s rights movements accumulated since the 18th century finally solidified into actual force. In terms of the former, the movement had become radicalized in the 1830s among free African Americans and middle-class evangelists due to a rising tide of anticolonization attitudes. It was a response to a so-called colonizationist movement that, despite its genuine intent to end slavery, also intended to expel African Americans from the country. Abolitionists used various methods of agitation and outreach to achieve their objectives successfully.
In the North, abolitionists founded many antislavery organizations and collaborated with established Black activist groups to form schools, churches, and non-profit organizations. They encouraged people to unite regardless of their skin color to overcome racial discrimination. Abolitionists also produced many antislavery leaflets and newspapers, capitalizing on the possibilities of new ways of printing and communication. For instance, abolitionists launched the Great Petition Campaign to overwhelm Congress with anti-slavery-related petitions. Another example is the utilization of the postal service to appeal to southern enslavers.
Regarding the latter, between 1830 and 1840, the struggle for women’s rights paralleled the antislavery movement’s growth in the North. The family was considered the cornerstone of civic morality and moral authority. Because of this, women were primarily confined to home duties, where they were in charge of raising the next generation and upholding the virtue of the family. However, women could employ the same philosophy to define their public roles.
For instance, the Declaration of Sentiments was created to encompass the variety of problems that the early women’s rights movement faced. The Declaration of Independence served as the basis for the document, which clarified the relationship between women’s liberation and the foundational principles of the US. As a result, eleven resolutions and fifteen complaints were listed in the Declaration of Sentiments. They supported the right to own property, have access to the workforce, and, most importantly, voting rights. Overall, it can be seen that during the chosen time period, both the abolitionist and women’s rights movements managed to secure the ground for future achievements.
Conclusion
As a young country, the US struggled to develop a stable political leadership, economy, and nation as a whole. In terms of politics, individual states tended to prioritize their own interests at the expense of federal unity. Economically, the country struggled to realize its potential due to financial mismanagement. Lastly, when it came to social and cultural life, many new voices that used to be shunned finally solidified and called for the very principles on which the country was established. These trends indicate that the dream of the Founding Fathers has yet to be achieved.
Bibliography
The American YAWP. “Democracy in America.” Web.
The American YAWP. “Religion and Reform.” Web.
National Archives and Records Administration. “Conflict with the Executive:The Bank War.” Treasures of Congress. Web.
National Archives and Records Administration. “Missouri Compromise (1820).” Milestone Documents. Web.
Sinha, Manisha. The Slave’s Cause: A History of Abolition. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2016.
Walker, David. “Walker’s Appeal,…to the colored citizens of the world…1829. Second edition by David Walker, 1830.” Library of Congress. Web.