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1800s Dbq Essay

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The half century between 1810 and 1860 may seem like a brief period of time, but these fifty years were packed full of changes and innovations. Some of these drastic modifications include but are not limited to; professions becoming an expanding market (chapter 8 notes), the focus on becoming self-sustaining, as evidenced by the Monroe Doctrine of 1823 and the American System, developed by Henry Clay (chapter 9 notes). The clashing of politics and morality also came into the news (chapter 10 notes), as well as the desire for westward expansion (chapter 11 notes). With individuals spreading out across the continental United States, a Second Great Awakening occurred in order to revitalize the church (chapter 12 notes), as new territories were …show more content…

Many Americans such as James Monroe and Henry Clay put their ideas into motion by crafting documents and plans to further their respective progress. Monroe, who was president at the time, teamed up with Secretary of State John Quincy Adams to form the Monroe Doctrine. This was a determined effort to end all European colonialism in the Western Hemisphere, this plan was formatted around for major points: (1) the American continents are no longer subjects for future European colonization; (2) Any political system of European that tried to be enforced in the Western Hemisphere is “dangerous to our peace and safety”; (3) the U.S. is not to interfere with any existing European colonies; (4) finally that the United States would not take part in internal affairs or wars between European nations (America Shi, Tindall 309)(week 9 notes). Henry Clay, on the other hand, crafted the American System, a plan to strengthen and unify the United States. Clay promoted the use of high tariffs on imports to block the sale of British goods in the U.S. in order to protect the fragile domestic market from foreign competition. In order to rally support, Clay beckoned the federal government to utilize this influx in revenue to improvements in the West such as roads, canals, and other “internal improvements”. Clay also endorsed a strong national bank to create single national currency and to regulate the

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