Page 234 - American Stories, A History of the United States

9

nation Building

and nationalism 1815-1825

A Revolutionary War Hero
Revisits America in 1824
W a peaceful and prosperous nation. For more than

hen the Marquis de Lafayette
returned to the United States in 1824, he found

a year, the great French hero of the American
Revolution toured the country that he had
helped to create and marveled at how much had changed since
he had fought beside George Washington more than 40
years before. Lafayette hailed “the immense improvements”
and “admirable communications” and was moved by “all the
grandeur and prosperity of these happy United States, which
. . . reflect on every part of the world the light of a far superior
political civilization.”
Americans had good reasons to make Lafayette’s return
the occasion for patriotic celebration and reaffirmation. Since
the War of 1812, the nation had been free from serious for-
eign threats to its independence and way of life. Its popula-
tion, size, and wealth were growing rapidly. Its republican
form of government, which many had considered a risky
experiment, was apparently working well. James Monroe,
the current president, had proclaimed in his first inaugu-
ral address that “the United States have flourished beyond
example. Their citizens individually have been happy and
the nation prosperous.” Expansion “to the Great Lakes and

Le AR ning O b J E c T I v E S

9.1 9.2 9.3

What key How did What
forces drove developments decisions did
American in transportation the federal
expansion support the government
westward growth of face as the
during this agriculture and country ElEction Day in PhilaDElPhia, 1815 An exuberant crowd celebrates in the square
period? p. 203 manufacturing? expanded? outside Independence Hall in this painting by German American artist John Lewis Krimmel.
p. 208 p. 214

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