The leading events of the War of 1812 were the unsuccessful invasion of Canada and surrender at Detroit, August 12, 1812; sea fight in which the “Constitution” took the “Guerriere,” August 19th; sea fight in which the “United States” took the “Macedonian,” October 25, 1813; defeat at Frenchtown, January 22nd; victory on Lake Erie, September 10th; loss of the “Chesapeake” to the “Shannon,” June 1st; victory at Chippewa, July 5, 1814; victory at Lundy’s Lane, July 15th; Lake Champlain, September 11th; British burned public buildings in Washington, August 25th; American defeated British at Baltimore, September 13th; American under Jackson defeated the British at New Orleans, December 23rd and 28th.

Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio, were admitted as states, in 1792, 1796, and 1803, respectively.  In 1806, the federal government began a wagon road, from the Potomac River to the West through the Cumberland Gap.  New York State finished the Erie Canal, in 1825.  The population increased so rapidly, that six new states, west and south of the Allegheny Mountains, were admitted between 1812 and 1821.  A serious conflict arose in 1820 over the admission of Missouri.  The Missouri Compromise resulted in the prohibition of slavery in the Louisiana Purchase, north of 36 deg. and 30’ north latitude.  Missouri was admitted in 1831, and Maine, as a free state, in 1820.

With the passing of protective tariff measures in 1816 a readjustment of party lines took place.  Protection brought over New England from Federalism to Republicanism.  Henry Clay of Kentucky was the leading advocate of protection.  Everybody was agreed upon this point in believing that tariff was to benefit all classes.  This time was known as “The Era of Good Feeling.”

Spain ceded Florida to the United States for $5,000,000.00, throwing in claims in the Northwest, and the United States gave up her claim to Texas.  The treaty was signed in 1819.

The Monroe Doctrine was contained in the message that President Monroe sent to Congress December 2, 1823.  The colonies of South America had revolted from Spain and had set up republics.  The United States recognised them in 1821.  Spain called on Europe for assistance.  In his message to Congress, Monroe declared, “We could not view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing them, or controlling in any other manner their destiny by any European power, in any other light than as a manifestation of an unfriendly feeling toward the United States....The American Continents are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonisation by any European power.”  Great Britain had previously suggested to Monroe that she would not support the designs of Spain.

Protective measures were passed in 1824 and 1828.  Around Adams and Clay were formed the National-Republican Party, which was joined by the Anti-Masons and other elements to form the Whig Party.  Andrew Jackson was the centre of the other faction, which came to be known as the Democratic Party and has had a continuous existence ever since.  South Carolina checked the rising tariff for a while by declaring the tariff acts of 1828 and 1832 null and void.