Reading 27 Knitting the Nation Together

- Conquering Distance
During this time period it would take approximately 5 days to get word from Washington DC to Philadelphia. When George Washington died this is how long it took. There was no way in communicating besides the original “Human Communication.” Imagine having an important message or question that needs to be sent across the country and you had to wait 5 to 11 days to get your very important statement or question answered. This was a major obstacle. By the 1820’s major changes had already been made. Turnpikes had been developed and also the first national road. This very much reduced time travel but to some people prices were too high and people stuck to there horse. People often preferred to travel over water. In the early 19th century the first steamboat was launched by Robert Fulton called the Clermont. Another tool that helped greatly improved communication is printing. The first news paper was developed and drastically changed communication. After this period the American Postal System expanded, from the time of Washington to the early 1800’s the postal system expanded from nearly 75 post offices to 8500 post offices.

- Strengthening American Nationalism
As we know rituals of patriotic celebration suck as 4th or July and Washington ’s Birthday helps unify our country. National unity was also strengthened through Supreme Court cases such as Marbury v. Madison, Martin v. Hunter Lessee, and McCulloch v. Maryland.

- The Specter of Sectionalism
After the War of 1812 the Nation tried unite themselves through rituals and celebrations. There was talk of disunion which comes to show that the attempt to strengthen American Nationalism did not work. Slavery was one of the main concerns. Because of the Norhtwest ordinance slavery was prohibited north of the Ohio River but allowed expansion in the south. Before entering the Union Senator Rufus said that Missouri must prohibit slavery. His proposal led to a debate about the regulation of slavery. In the end Missouri was able to enter the union as a slave state while Maine a free state. The line was drawn at latitude 36 degrees 309 to the Rocky Mountains and lands south of this line would be open to slavery and areas north would not. How much of an effect do you think this would have leading up to the civil war?