Jefferson knew that American farmers needed more land, and he had to go against his belief of a strict constitution. However during the same time the Federalists became strict constructionists of the constitution. They argued that this transfer of land was unconstitutional. The Federalists said that this new land was worthless and would only put the country even more in debt. Their main reason for that was that the creation of new states would decrease their power in congress.
After the War of 1812 many problems over keeping the balance between slave and Free states, arose which contributed to the growth of sectionalism in America. Thomas Jefferson referred to the Missouri Compromise as the geographical line that would cause more irritation in America every time an issue came about (Doc F.) Although the Missouri compromise created a new slave state in Missouri and a free one in Maine, this did not totally resolve the conflicts about allowing slavery in certain parts of the nation. Jefferson feared that the nation’s perseverance would be affected due to this dividing line.“The agriculturists bear the whole brunt of the war and taxation, and remain poor, while the others run in the ring of pleasure, and fatten upon them.” (Doc. A). The Tariff of 1816 placed a high tariff on manufactured imports in order to place a protective veil around typically northern businesses.
Hamilton argued that since congress has been given so many monetary and fiscal powers it would be practical to create a central bank to carry them out (3). Johnson also recognizes the fact that people feared the power the central bank would have. He states in the book that farmers, businessmen, politicians and state-chartered banks viewed the bank as a giant monster standing in their way. Johnson looks at another important figure in the controversy of the central bank. He looks at Henry Clay, who was Jackson’s opponent in the 1832 election.
In source 4 we also learn that much must have depended on diplomatic relations with Maximilian and Ferdinand, however Henry’s allies proved unfaithful and unreliable. Source 4, is written by a member of the Government of England. The government is who Henry and Wolsey would go to for Money for these situations. The Government did not like how much Money Henry kept asking for so this could have been reflected in Keith Randall’s report. Henry spent 1.4 millions pounds on fighting wars between 1511-25 and this set England back a far way.
His efforts to improve U.S. status and influence won him the hatred of many anti-imperialist groups. (81) In 1904, when the Dominican Republic was deeply in debt to European bond holders Roosevelt created a new U.S. policy (88). The policy stated the United States could intervene in conflicts between European countries and Latin American countries to enforce legitimate claims of the European powers, rather than having the Europeans press their claims directly (88). The President claimed that the United States had direct interest and the obligation to impose order in the affairs of Latin American countries.
The populist movement was a period in history where America was plagued with a lot of corruption and economic issues. The gold standard was causing deflation, the farmers were trying to gain political power, many businesses were being monopolized, and so much more. The gold standard was one of the biggest debate points of the election of 1896. William Jennings Bryan, the Democratic candidate, was a large supporter of free silver. Free silver, if put into the economy, would most likely cause inflation and help the farmers.
However, some people, such as Jefferson and small farmers opposed his ideas, because they believed in states' rights and a strict interpretation of the constitution, which led to the split of two different political parties. Before Hamilton's plan, America was having financial problems. There were war debts that were unpaid and individual states and even Congress issued worthless paper money. Hamilton created a plan that would first pay down the national debt and then assume the debt of the states. This was called the Assumption Plan.
Manifest Destiny and territorial expansion divided the United States more than it united the United States from 1830 to 1860. Manifest Destiny increased the division between the North and the South. A major division among the States were the annexation of Texas to statehood. Since Texas is below the 36° 30 line, it will be admitted as a slave state. Northerners don’t want to annex Texas because it will throw off the balance of Free states and slave states.
The production of federal agencies to control every aspect of the political and economic life of citizens and individual states was seen as an aggressive step to control the state and citizen under the might of the Federal Government. The public was very concerned of the socialistic steps taken by the Federal Government to regulate business and state government (Document B). Besides regulation, the government was given power to negotiate the issues between the labor and management in businesses. This first step towards a nationalized economy is expressed shows that the Federal government had overstepped its constitutional boundaries (Document F and G). The public were very weary of these actions by the Roosevelt Administration as the advancing of socialism in America.
Even though there were some trusts which were effective, still there were so many corrupted companies. With his urge, congress established the department of commerce and labor to eliminate monopolies. Roosevelt also encouraged congress to pass the “Hepburn Act” which gave the power to the Interstate Commerce Commission. “… giving the ICC power to examine railroads’ business records and to set reasonable rates, a significant step in the development of federal intervention in the corporate economy” (Liberty, 706). So he could have power to control the railroad business which was one of the biggest industries and corrupted business.