Chapter 9: Nationalism and Sectionalism, 1815–1828
CORE OBJECTIVES
1. Analyze how the new spirit of nationalism that emerged after the War of 1812 affected
TRUE/FALSE
1. The United States experienced a period of economic prosperity in the years after the War of
1812.
2. Support for the Tariff of 1816 came primarily from the South.
3. Internal improvements such as the National Road were largely financed by the federal
government.
4. The national bank, federal tariffs, and federally financed internal improvements of the early
nineteenth century were all part of a national economic plan called the “American System.”
5. Henry Clay argued that high tariffs on imported goods were necessary to keep consumer
process low.
6. At the end of his second term President James Madison vetoed a bill for federal
expenditures on internal improvements because the Constitution did not specifically
authorize such spending.
7. The “Era of Good Feelings” was marked by peace and prosperity.
8. The Bank of the United States quickly ended the panic of 1819 by making credit more
easily available.
9. As a territory, Missouri had not allowed slavery.
10. The Missouri Compromise was almost undone when Missouri put into its constitution a
provision excluding free blacks and mulattoes.
11. The Transcontinental Treaty gave Florida to the United States and clarified the western
boundary of the nation.
12. The Monroe Doctrine had no standing in international law.
13. Four presidential candidates received electoral votes in 1824.
14. John Quincy Adams displayed superb political skills during his term as president.
15. The election of 1828 saw many personal insults levied against the candidates.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. In the immediate aftermath of the War of 1812 there was a distinct __________ sentiment
among the people and politicians.
a. nationalist
b. communal
c. religious
d. capitalist
e. segregationist
2. Which of the following statements describes James Madison’s second term as president?
a. Madison remained an enemy of a national bank but saw the wisdom of a larger military.
b. Madison embraced tariffs but feared economic nationalism in general.
c. After the War of 1812, Madison drastically cut America’s army and navy.
d. Madison’s political views remained unchanged during his years in office.
e. Madison drifted away from Jefferson’s ideas and adopted some principles of the
Federalists.
3. In the first half of the nineteenth century, economic nationalism was characterized by
support for
a. a national bank, income taxes, and road building.
b. a national bank, protective tariffs, and a larger military.
c. a national bank, lower taxes, and canals.
d. a national bank, reduced federal power, and protective tariffs.
e. income taxes, canals, roads, and bridges.
4. When it was established by Congress, the Second Bank of the United States was
a. feared by Federalists.
b. intended to keep and distribute all federal funds.
c. intended to print all the paper money needed by the government.
d. opposed by Calhoun, Clay, and Madison.
e. intended to stop economic growth in the unstable United States.
5. Which of the following statements correctly describes the result of Congress’s passage of
the Tariff of 1816?
a. It heavily taxed exported goods to aid southern planters.
b. It lightly taxed domestic goods and benefited those in the Northeast.
c. It heavily taxed all imported goods and hindered the North.
d. It heavily taxed many imported goods, which largely benefited the Northeast.
e. It lightly taxed some imported goods and benefited southerners.
6. The first national roadway authorized by Congress was called the
a. Washington Road.
b. Federal Road.
c. National Road.
d. Western Road.
e. Road of the Nation.
7. Which of the following occurred because of the efforts of Supreme Court Chief Justice John
Marshall?
a. The powers of the federal government grew, as did those of the states.
b. The powers of the federal government and the judicial branch increased.
c. The Court took control of governing the United States.
d. The states got stronger, but the Court weakened itself.
e. The Court and the federal government lost authority.
8. In the case of McCulloch v. Maryland, the Marshall court did which of the following?
a. It upheld the constitutionality of the national bank.
b. It ruled against Congress.
c. It ruled in favor of the state of Maryland.
d. It delivered a split decision.
e. It established judicial review for the Supreme Court.
9. The Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Marshall affirmed the right of Congress to
regulate commerce between states in the case
a. Marbury v. Madison.
b. Cohens v. Virginia.
c. Martin v. Hunter’s Lessee.
d. Gibbons v. Ogden.
e. Fletcher v. Peck.
10. Henry Clay sought to sustain Alexander Hamilton’s vision of a diversified national
economy, which would include
a. low tariffs, cotton production, and trade with China.
b. agriculture, industry, and commerce.
c. refining, transportation, and research and development.
d. modern diversified farming at the expense of industrialization.
e. industrialization at the expense of diversified agriculture.
11. Which of the following correctly described the American System?
a. It was an effort to decentralize government in the United States.
b. It referred to a group of policies designed to help America work with Great Britain.
c. It was a federal government-led initiative intended to get America’s various regions to
work and thrive together.
d. It was clearly motivated by the idea of states’ rights.
e. It ignored the concerns of individual regions.
12. Under the American System, which of the following was true?
a. Tariff revenues would be used to finance internal improvements.
b. Eligibility to vote in federal elections would be increased.
c. State and local banks would be abolished.
d. States operated completely independently of each other.
e. The South would always benefit.
13. Which of the following is a true statement describing the American System?
a. It was immediately popular and resulted in long-term regional harmony.
b. It was initially popular but ultimately led to increasing sectionalism.
c. It was never popular except in New England.
d. It was supported by Federalists in New England and the Northwest only.
e. There were never any internal improvement projects financed under it.
14. As America moved __________ during the nineteenth century, __________ became more
controversial.
a. south; immigration
b. north; tariffs
c. west; slavery
d. east; a national bank
e. east; slavery
15. According to Thomas Jefferson, __________ was “like a firebell in the night.”
a. increasing sectionalism
b. economic nationalism
c. judicial nationalism
d. expansion of slavery westward
e. foreign immigration
16. President James Monroe was
a. part of a “Virginia dynasty” of elected presidents.
b. a Virginian and a Federalist.
c. politically inexperienced.
d. completely unqualified for the presidency.
e. not well respected among his peers.
17. By the time James Monroe became president, the __________ party was the dominant
political entity in the nation.
a. Democratic
b. Whig
c. Republican
d. Know-Nothing
e. Independent
18. Which of the following statements about James Monroe’s election to the presidency was
true?
a. It corresponded with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent.
b. It meant the party in charge of the country changed.
c. It ended the Virginia Dynasty.
d. It coincided with the start of the “Era of Good Feelings.”
e. It was the first time a slaveholder had been president.
19. The “Era of Good Feelings” was
a. a decade of peace and prosperity.
b. an era of economic strength and political goodwill.
c. actually begun under the presidency of Jefferson.
d. ended by the Mexican-American War.
e. dominated by the Federalist Party.