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the U.S. Army and the market revolution, 1815-1844
The end of the War of 1812 spawned a resurgence of American nationalism in the United States, as well as initiated a debate over the best way for the federal government to promote economic growth and development. On 30 April 1824, the U.S. Army was placed between the forces of privilege and equality, as President James Monroe signed the General Survey Act, authorizing the employment of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on surveys for those roads and canals the president deemed nationally important, from either a commercial or military point of view. As a consequence of changes at the United States Military Academy enacted during John C. Calhoun's tenure as secretary of war, recently-commissioned army officers not only received a free education, but held a virtual monopoly over engineering expertise at a time when demand for such knowledge was high. President John Quincy Adams's latitudinarian definition of national internal improvements and the liberal terms of employment granted to army officers for such work earned West Point the reputation of not only being the source of an aristocratic, privileged officer corps, but also being a prop for Henry Clay's American System, with these officers extending federal patronage to those best able to secure it from the national government. In a series of attacks that began with Jackson's Maysville Road Veto and continued with presidential orders limiting military employment on internal improvements, the repeal of the Survey Act in 1838, the prohibition of army officers from working for private companies, and a statute requiring West Point-trained officers to serve four years in the U.S. Army, Jacksonian Democrats launched a campaign to end the extension of federal privilege. By restricting military assistance to projects more readily defined as national in importance and limiting the opportunities presented to army officers after receipt of their commission, Jackson and his successor, Martin Van Buren, ensured that all Americans would benefit equally from the national government in its efforts to promote the public prosperity.
Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilm Inc.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 295-319).