Ch+8+Sectionalism

=__The Limits of Nationalism__=

The early nineteenth century was marked by an overall sense of nationalism among the American people. Americans shared a sense of pride in their country and its ideas and revered the history of the Revolution and the framers of the Constitution. Members of Congress supported nationalistic policies both in domestic and foreign policy. This shared feeling served to bring the nation together, but it could not be ignored that growing forces of sectionalism were beginning to drive the country apart.

The issue of course arose around controversy over slavery. By this point the practice of slavery had been outlawed throughout the northern states, while it continued to thrive in the South. The beginnings of industrial advancement only served to make these differences more pronounced. Beginning with the growth of the textile industry, the economy of the North would gradually become more and more centered on manufacturing, while the growing demand for cotton to supply the northern mills would drive the South to expand the system of slave labor. This tension would be intensified by the surge of westward expansion that began during this period, with both North and South attempting to gain the upper hand in influence over the nation's Western regions. However, the situation at this point was, for the most part, controlled. The unifying force of nationalism was enough to prevent the underlying sectionalist tensions from erupting into a crisis, for a time at least.

=__Westward Expansion__=

Following the War of 1812 people began to move into the western regions of the nation in great numbers. This occurred for a number of reasons, including growing population, depletion of fertile soil in the east, and a decreased threat from Native Americans. This trend of westward migration, which would continue for the rest of the century, would prove to be a powerful force in American history in many different ways. Along with the profound effects that expansion had on the growing economy, it also had a great political impact which could be seen in the often violent controversies that would arise in the coming decades. Though the situation was far from critical at this point, the groundwork for these future tensions was laid during the early nineteenth century when significant expansion began.

By 1820 the northern states had become quite different from those in the south. What became apparent, though, was that these differences were carried into the west as settlers from both North and South moved there. Regions in the "Old Northwest" (now the Midwest) were populated mostly by small farmers who would become linked to the growing Northeastern economy especially as transportation improved. Things were quite different in the southern portion of the western territories, though. The textile industry had produced an unprecedented demand for cotton and plantation-owners were eager to make a profit from this lucrative crop. However, since most of the soil in the Old South had been overworked, many wealthy planters moved to the west in search of more fertile land. Moving to areas with rich soil such as Mississippi and Alabama, these western planters became a new aristocracy of sorts, transplanting the Southern lifestyle, as well as slavery, in the Southwestern regions.

The result was that two very different societies were beginning to emerge in the west. As the differences between North and South became more profound, the two regions would vie for control over the the new territories, a conflict that would become a major issue beginning in 1819.

=__The Missouri Compromise__=

Up until 1819 the sectionalist tensions had remained in the background due to the tradition of admitting states in pairs - one free state and one slave state. However, the issue came to the forefront when Missouri, a territory where slavery had already been established, applied for statehood. Despite the existing practice of slavery in Missouri, Representative James Tallmadge (NY) proposed an amendment to Missouri's statehood bill that would prohibit slavery there. This suggestion sparked a massive controversy, greatly angering southerners who felt that the North was trying to exert too much power in creating a majority of free states over slave state. Complicating the issue was Maine's application for statehood as a free state, which would give the North an even greater majority if the Tallmadge Amendment passed.

In the end, the issue was settled by maintaining the balance of free and slave states by admitting Maine as a free state and Missouri as a slave state. However, to prevent crises like this in the future, Henry Clay worked to push a bill through the House which would define the boundaries of slavery. Later hailed as the Missouri Compromise, this bill drew a line through the Louisiana Purchase territory that lined up with the southern border of Missouri (the 36°30' line). All territories above the line would become free states, while those below it would become free states. For the time being, at least, this compromise was able to prevent the sectionalist crisis. However, the incident revealed that the unifying forces of nationalism were not necessarily as strong as people had believed.

=External Links=
 * [|Overview of the events contributing to growing sectionalism]
 * [|Summary of the Missouri Compromise]
 * [|Timeline of Events Leading to the Civil War]

=Sources=
 * //A Survey: American History//, by Alan Brinkley
 * Cotton Plantation Image: [|askart.com]
 * Missouri Compromise Image: [|Prentice Hall]