The Growth of America

The growth of America was important to us because if we didn,t grow, we would have lost everything. Also, if we didn't grow, we would have been cast away as a third world country.

Election of Madison

     James Madison left the presidents office after 2 terms. The war between England and France was causing America a lot of problems. England punished America for trading with France, and France punished America for trading with England. England also encouraged the Indians in the west to attack the American settlers. James Madison felt that war was necessary. After two weeks of debating in Congress, America declared war on England. Several federalists who did not support the war secretly provided British troops with food, supplies, and money. New England did not let its troops fight outside of the state.

The Monroe Doctrine

     During the Congress of Vienna form 1814 through 1815, the Holy alliance halted liberal movements in Italy. Six years later, the alliance subdued Spanish rebels. The following year, France crossed into Spain and restored all power to the Spanish king. Britain, however, had benefitted greatly by trading with the Spanish republic in South America, and did not want the monarchy to resume. Britain tried to ally with the U.S. against the Holy Alliance, but the U.S. did not see this as a very intelligent course of action. This decision was made by John Adams, and supported by Monroe. Monroe created a statement of American policy in his seventh annual message to Congress.
     The first point he raised was that colonization had ended in the Americas. They were free of European influence and all powers in Europe should not try to interfere. He believed that the two political systems, those of Europe and the Americas, were entirely too diferent to be merged in any way. Secondly, he made it known that Americans would not interfere with existing European colonies in any way. This statement had little immediate effect, but it led to patriotism throughout the America's.

Jefferson Embargo

     Because of many hostile and unfavorable actions made by England, Jefferson created an embrago. This stopped all American exports. It was not a very effective course of action for him to take. Actually, it damaged America more than anyone else. Farmers and manufacturers now had no outlets for their products. Jefferson's popularity dropped drastically due to this. He repealed the embargo only a few days before he left office.

John Marshall

      While he was on the bench, there were many important cases considered by the court. Three major principles that that these famous cases involved were contract rights protection, the supremacy of federal legislation over the laws of the states, and regulation of interstate commerce. In the contract rights case of Fletcher v. Peck, members of the Georgia legislature were bribed to sell thirty-five million acres in Mississippi for a small amount to private speculators. The following year, a new Georgia legislature rescinded the sale.
      In another case, the state of New Hampshire tried to alter Dartmouth College's charter. A New Hampshire court tried to change it from a private to a public institution. It was ruled that the charter could not be changed. In Martin v. Hunter's Lessee, the state of Virginia confiscated land owned by a British Loyalist names Denny Martin Fairfax. Virginia gave 800 acres of the confiscated lands to David Hunter. Denny Martin Fairfax was trying to get his land back. The Supreme Court and Justice Marshall overruled the Virginia court, declaring that the land belonged to Fairfax and took the land away from Hunter.
      Many people say that McCulloch v. Maryland the John Marshall's most important case while Supreme Court Chief Justice. It dealt with the division of power between the federal government and the states. The state of Maryland placed an annual tax on the Bank of the United States and other "foreign" banks in order to protect its local banks. The Maryland branch of the Bank of the United States refused to pay, and Maryland bought suit against the chief bank emplouee called the "head cashier," John W. McCulloch. Marshall upheld the constitutionality of the Bank of the United States. Since the bank was legal, the tax was unconstitutional and Maryland lost its case.

Marbury V. Madison

In 1801, John Marshall created the Judiciary Act of 1801, which created 16 new federal judgeships and a few other jobs, caused a large amount of controversey with the people. This act was eventually repealled and caused William Marbury to sue and this was taken to the supreme court. The supreme court ruled in favor of Marbury, but they could not do anything about it. This was fixed when The Chief of Justice Marshall gave more power to the courts. Then, in 1804, this cause a revolt of the people against Samuell Chase, but he was never convicted of anything, so, he was let free.