1816: America RisingThe year 1816 found America on the cusp of political, social, cultural, and economic modernity. Celebrating its fortieth year of independence, the country's sense of self was maturing. Americans, who had emerged from the War of 1812 with their political system intact, embraced new opportunities. For the first time, citizens viewed themselves not as members of a loose coalition of states but as part of a larger union. This optimism was colored, however, by bizarre weather. Periods of extreme cold and severe drought swept the northern states and the upper south throughout 1816, often referred to as The Year Without a Summer. Faced with thirty-degree summer temperatures, many farmers migrated west in search of better weather and more fertile farmlands. In 1816, historian C. Edward Skeen illuminates this unique year of national transition. Politically, the era of good feelings allowed Congress to devise programs that fostered prosperity. Social reform movements flourished. This election year found the Federalist party in its death throes, seeking cooperation with the nationalistic forces of the Republican party. Movement west, maturation of political parties, and increasingly conte |
Contents
Year Without a Summer | vii |
Legacy of the War of 1812 | 7 |
The Fourteenth Congress Begins | 25 |
A Tariff and a Bank | 43 |
Compensation Act of 1816 | 67 |
Internal Improvements | 87 |
Fourth of July Celebrations | 111 |
National Defense | 125 |
Crime and Punishment | 159 |
The Humanitarian Impulse | 177 |
Election of 1816 | 199 |
Epilogue | 221 |
Notes | 225 |
Bibliographical Essay | 269 |
Index | 279 |
State Developments | 141 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
14th Cong 1st Sess 2nd Sess Albany Argus amendment American Andrew Jackson Annals April asserted bank Bible Society bill Boston British Calhoun canal Carson caucus Christopher Gore citizens City Clay Colonization committee Compensation Act congressmen Constitution convention Court Crawford Cyrus King Daily National Intelligencer Dartmouth College debate December declared election England established February federal Federalist Party Federalists Fourteenth Congress Gazette Governor Hartford Convention Henry Hezekiah Niles House Ibid internal improvements Jackson James Monroe January Jefferson John Randolph Journal June Kentucky legislature March Massachusetts ment military militia million motion murder Niles North Carolina noted NYHS Ohio Oration Papers party passed Pennsylvania percent Philadelphia political President proposed quotation Republican resolution Richmond Enquirer roads Rufus King Senate session slavery slaves South tariff Thomas Timothy Pickering tion toasts Tompkins treaty United Virginia vote Washington weather Weekly Register West William York York Evening Post